In addition to the roundhouse, visitors will tour the maintenance area, where vehicles are brought back to life by a dozen or so workers skilled in restoration. The 1942 Grand Trunk Western locomotive used to pull President Harry Truman's campaign train in 1948. With more than 10 years of writing experience and a background in news reporting for Ohio newspapers, she's published pieces in multiple print and online publications. During the state's peak years it was home to 2,000 miles of rails several now-fallen flag lines. Hocking Valley Scenic Railway's restored Chesapeake & Ohio GP7, #5833, is seen here next to the preserved C&O depot in Nelsonville, Ohio on July 27, 2009. Please know that information can change due to weather, updated health and safety challenges, etc. Drop us a comment below and let us know! What are you planning to visit this year? But the intention was always to open it up and share it with everybody., Age of Steam Roundhouse in Sugarcreek, OH, Monday, April 15, 2019. This non-profit group is located in Orrville and generally aims to preserve Ohio's rich history with railroads. These include: Such a far-reaching selection can be attributed to Ohio's location and industrial might in bygone days. The state is currently served by Class I's CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern while numerous short lines make up the rest. It is a 40 minute ride that is perfect for all ages. 2022 Advance Local Media LLC. The train runs on most weekends throughout the year and on select weekdays. To learn more about what this railway will offer this season, find them on Facebook or click. In 1998 a gentleman by the name ofAndre Kristopans put together a web page highlighting virtually every unit out-shopped by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division. It witnesses tens of thousands of visitors annually, offering all sorts of special trips throughout the year. (Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer) The Plain Dealer. On display inside is what is believed to be the largest private collection of steam locomotives in the world. However, following his death the organization now offers public tours. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. While the great carver passed away many years ago, his legacy and carvings live on at his home and property in Dover. The organization hosts a 15-mile round trip on trackage once owned by the "Nickel Plate Road." They have rides on the Pumpkin Train, bounce houses, horse cart races, corn cannons and more! In 1858, however, the road abandoned its original alignment between Sandusky and Tiffin in favor of a better route built by theSandusky City & Indiana Railroad via Clyde, Ohio. Built in 1915 for use on a Cuban sugar plantation, this locomotive made its way to Sugarcreek four years ago. This organization began in 1964 as a non-profit to preserve local railroad history. (Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer) The Plain Dealer. You can take one of their family friendly rides, a Dinner on the Train ride, a Murder Mystery Train Ride, Grape Escape Train Ride and much more! You can also take a scenic ride through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the year until the first weekend in October. By 1995 Ohio contained just 5,123 miles, a number which has more or less remained steady since that time. Throughout the year they host special events (such as the popularDay Out With Thomasand holiday festivities such as during Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas). They host Ohio's Friendliest Train Robbery. (Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer) The Plain Dealer. This railroad preservation is most known for its fall events. Headlamp and number plate from Nickel Plate Road No. We have done our very best to ensure that the accuracy of events, hours, addresses, etc are up to date. Built by American Locomotive Co.'s Schenectady Works, the locomotive was purchased by Jacobson in 1993. This particular depot is recognized as a National Historic Landmark.

However, Don Strack rescued the data and transferred it over to his, If you are researching anything EMD related please visit, If you are researching active or abandoned corridors you might want to check out the, main tourist trains section of this website, Cedar Point & Lake Erie Railroad (a component of the Cedar Point amusement park), Hocking Valley Scenic Railway (the only place to ride behind a historic, standard-gauge steam locomotive! Although the collection includes vehicles that span nearly a century of railroad history, the museum plans to focus on what Poirier calls the golden age of steam, roughly the 1920s to the 1940s, before diesel engines, air travel and the interstate highway system relegated steam trains to the rear view mirror. This museum is a living roundhouse where restoration specialist work to preserve railroad cars, locomotives, and other items from train history.

Jacobson, who passed away in 2017 at age 74, eventually acquired nearly two dozen steam locomotives, many of which have been painstakingly restored. To learn more pleasevisit their website. Also popular is the Fall Foliage Train Ride. He sold the operation in 2008 for more than $200 million, according to news reports at the time. Share your thoughts, train photos and railway experiences with us via our Facebook page. (Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer) The Plain Dealer, Vintage items representing a rail yard desk operation seen inside the visitors center of the Age of Steam Roundhouse, Monday, April 15, 2019. We are helping you to discover or re discover Ohio, one day at a time. This ride is a two hour ride and is suitable for the entire family. The public dinner train operates every Saturday throughout the year and features a three-hour train ride and a four-course meal. During the holiday season, the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad features the Santa Claus Express and the Polar Express. Home Train Rides in Ohio - 2022 For ALL Ages! Trains also operate every Saturday and Sunday between Memorial Day and the last weekend of October. (Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer) The Plain Dealer, Rivets on the exterior of a steam engine at the Age of Steam Roundhouse, Monday, April 15, 2019. Ohio scenery can be viewed from many stunning roadways throughout the state. The railway strives to provide educational, recreational and heritage experiences. Generally, these one-of-a-kind carving knives feature very short blades, most just a thumb-size in length, and can be easily interchanged to save time and energy. All rides start in Wellington Ohio. For more information click, This season, the Lorain and West Virginia Railway will feature a two-hour tour of the Age of Steam Roundhouse in Sugarcreek, Wine on Rails, Lorain County Fair train rides, a Murder Mystery Train and other events. It is a fully functional and operational roundhouse that acts as a locomotive/car repair operation. It's one of two steam locomotives certified to operate, at the Age of Steam Roundhouse in Sugarcreek. Jacobson, a paratrooper in the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division, would occasionally take the bus from Fort Bragg, N.C., to see the locomotive in action. They often host field trips as well. Today, there are tens of thousands of miles scattered throughout the country. (Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer) The Plain Dealer, Boxcar seen inside the Age of Steam Roundhouse, Monday, April 15, 2019. They have a few pieces of rolling stock on hand including GP7 #471 which hosts excursions. The Lorain and West Virginia Railway has lots of events scheduled each year. Theyre housed in an immense, stunning roundhouse, with stalls for 18 locomotives and a working turntable, open to the public for regularly scheduled tours for the first time next month.

What that means is you do your activity such as bike the trails in the National Park, and ride the train back (they load the bike for you). Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 12, built in 1905 by American Locomotive Co.'s Pittsburg Works. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. A rare compressed air locomotive, built by Pittsburgh's H.K Porter Co. specifically for workplaces that couldn't handle the heat and sparks associated with burning coal. The standard ride at this railway is superb. To be updated and stay connected, subscribe to our newsletter. It is a living history museum with fourteen historic buildings on hand. Perhaps most amazing is these models are mechanically operable and just static display pieces. (Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer) The Plain Dealer, Interior of boxcar seen inside the Age of Steam Roundhouse, Monday, April 15, 2019. Did you know that you can also view the beauty by taking a train ride in Ohio? Most notably the Lebanon Mason and Monroe Railway has special events such as the North Pole Express and a Day Out with Thomas. In the garage earlier this month: a relatively diminutive 1943 Baldwin Locomotive Works engine, commissioned by the U.S. Army and designed to be shipped to Europe. Here are a few: "Start right where you are and act as if no one is trying to hinder you. The Lorain & West Virginia Railway based in Elyria, Ohio operates on trackage originally built by the railroad of the same name. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. Into the 20th century, Ohio not only contained key through routes but was also an industrial powerhouse; Youngstown produced steel, Akron manufactured rubber, and Toledo was the so-called "Glass Capital Of The World.". The Lebanon Mason and Monroe Railway operates over 6 miles of track in Ohio. What Train Rides in Ohio have YOU been on? Options range from summer train rides to Polar Express Train Rides during the holiday season. Looking for a simple train ride in Ohio? Disclaimer:Always call ahead to make sure that the place you are visiting is open, has current open hours, etc. During the next several decades the railroad changed hands and names multiple times. It is difficult to truly articulate just how much material can be found at this website. All rights reserved (About Us). All of the train rides at Hocking Valley Scenic Railway are popular, but there are a few that are pretty unique as well! Thank you! Trains board from Lebanon for about a 1.5-hour trip while the railroad also offers numerous seasonal and special trains throughout the year. He also purchased a steam locomotive and several passenger cars, and operated a steam-powered tourist train from his hometown of Sugarcreek for 15 years. There are activities for all ages and interests in Ohio.

For more information click, The Orrville Railroad Heritage Society features several train ride excursions and events open to the general public such as Spring Circle Trips, National Train Day, Orrville Railroad Day, Fall Foliage Trips and more.

The Zanesville and Western Scenic Railroad is located at 5705 SR 204, Mt Petty, Ohio 43760 - Website. -Known simply enough as the Pliers Tree. The HVSR now offers the only place in Ohio were one can enjoy train rides behind a historic, standard-gauge steam locomotive. Noel Poirier, Executive Director of the Age of Steam Roundhouse, peaks outside the facility in Sugarcreek, OH, Monday, April 15, 2019. As railroads transitioned from entities serving local interests to a unified, national network, Ohio was poised to flourish. When I tell people I designed a roundhouse, they think I mean I designed a round house, said Columbus architect Ted Goodman, who designed the building. It is one of two steam locomotives at the Age of Steam Roundhouse that are certified as operational. There are many interesting displays that will make your visit interesting and educational. You can expect to see an Easter Train, Engineer for an Hour, Summer Wine Train, Fall Foliage Train, Pumpkin Train, Sweetest Day Train, Santa Trains and more! (Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer) The Plain Dealer, Locomotives at the Age of Steam Roundhouse, Monday, April 15, 2019. Use the information on this website as a "starting point" for your travel planning. Admission is $7. Age of Steam Roundhouse is located at 213 Smokey Lane Road SW, Sugarcreek, Ohio 44681 - 330-852-4676 - Website. Ohio Railway Museum is located at 990 Proprietors Road, Worthington Ohio 43085 - 614-885-7345 -Website. In addition to the 22 steam locomotives, the facility is also home to a dozen diesel locomotives, passenger cars, freight cars and miscellaneous train equipment.

Instead, he developed his own style of carving knife, although he never manufactured it for sale.

The Warther Museum, located in Dover, Ohio, features very likely the most detailed and well-constructed train carvings you can find throughout the world. Historically, Utah railroads have only been known for main lines and the location of the Transcontinental Railroad. To learn more please visit their website. (Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer) The Plain Dealer, Locomotives on display at the Age of Steam Roundhouse, Monday, April 15, 2019. If you are researching anything EMD related please visit this page first. You can take a train ride on the Ohio Public Service 1925 car. Be sure to check out our complete listing of all Polar Express Ohio Train Rides! They have a large collection of preserved streetcar/interurban equipment on hand and a small carbarn to house the cars. Mr. Warther also carved other scenes such as a working steel mill, ornate canes, and a tree of folding pliers made from one, solid piece of wood. Thanks to the area's relatively flat topography, work proceeded quickly; in 1839 tracklayers arrived at Republic and then Tiffin by 1842. The Hocking Valley Scenic Railway is in the top of our Train Rides in Ohio list because it offers so many different types of train rides! The world of Ernest and Freida Warther has grown over the years. The Carillon Park Rail & Steam Society, based in Dayton, has a small selection of rolling stock on hand and also provides scale train rides on select days throughout the year. Someday I think wed like to get out there and run them again, he said. (Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer) The Plain Dealer. Please check the official websites and social media of the places you plan to visit before you go. Here are 9 train rides in Ohio that will entertain the entire family. Today, it operates several steam locomotives (all historic and well worth the visit for any rail aficionado!) Youre transported in time., Large wheel assembly of a locomotive at the Age of Steam Roundhouse, Monday, April 15, 2019. This one stayed stateside, and is being restored for the museums Steam to Victory event in early July, commemorating the 75th anniversary of D-Day. They have lots of fall themed weekends to take part in. The organization also provides officialPolar Expressrides in December. Just type in a town or city and click on the timeline of maps at the bottom of the page! (Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer) The Plain Dealer. This train ride provides a unique way to see the fall foliage in the Hocking Hills area. This organization is run by passionate volunteers. Until then, its enough to walk among these metal giants and hear their stories. Get even more stories delivered right to your email. Depending on where you are in Ohio, there can be quite a bit of beauty in the landscape. They do carry guns with only blanks to ensure the safety of all passengers. (Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer) The Plain Dealer, Train springs inside the Age of Steam Roundhouse, Monday, April 15, 2019. Your email address will not be published. A popular pastime for many is studying and/or exploring abandoned rights-of-way. Plan months ahead for this ride, as tickets are limited and go fast. Today, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th generation Warther's operate the Warther Museum, knife making shop, button collection, arrowheads, gardens and the gift shop.