All aboard! If trains are your preferred mode of transportation, Indiana offers a number of locomotive-oriented attractions and experiences to enjoy.
Railway Garden at Gabus Arboretum
Open May through October, the two-acre Railway Garden at Gabis Arboretum at Purdue Northwest in Valparaiso charms visitors with G-gauge model trains and miniature vignettes.
Jingle Rails
During the holiday season, rail buffs flock to the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis for Jingle Rails: The Great Western Adventure, a magical display of G-scale trains passing by recreated Indianapolis landmarks and Western sites.
Train Museums
Train museums abound all around the state. The Hesston Steam Museum in LaPorte educates visitors on the valuable contributions steam machinery has made in American industry, while the National New York Central Railroad Museum in Elkhart celebrates the glory days of the second largest railroad in the United States. The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society proudly preserves — and actually operates — historic Nickel Plate Road steam locomotive no. 765 to the delight of guests.
Terre Haute’s Wabash Valley Railroad Museum traces the lineage of railroading from past to present with a vintage freight depot, an elevated trainspotting platform and hands-on exhibits. And in Madison, the Jefferson County Historical Society’s History Center maintains a Train Station Museum to explore along with a recreated general store and a riverboat exhibit.
Tulip Trestle
For one of the most unique train-related destinations in the state, cruise out to the scenic Tulip Trestle — “the Viaduct” to locals — in Greene County to take in stunning views of the 2,300-foot-long, 157-foot-high steel girded structure, one of the longest bridges of its kind in the world still in operation today.
Ride a Train!
Looking for a chance to actually ride the rails? French Lick Scenic Railway, the Spirit of Jasper, the Whitewater Valley Rail Road and Hamilton County’s Nickel Plate Express all offer themed train adventures for the whole family to enjoy. And Riley’s Railhouse Bed and Breakfast in Chesterton allows guests to overnight in a former freight depot along an active railroad line (tip: bring earplugs). Or, sleep in an actual renovated train car at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Downtown Indianapolis in Union Station.
