Nebraska isn't exactly known for being a state of incredible scenic views. However, the state does have a long and interesting history with railroads even though this has not translated into a lot of excursion trains. Today, Nebraska train rides include just the Fremont & Elkhorn Valley Railroad and the Fremont Dinner Train. Both of these tourist trains are, interestingly, located in the same town of Fremont and both operate on the same stretch of rail line. However, while each is separately operated the dinner train merely uses its equipment to run on the Fremont & Elkhorn Valley's track. While you cannot find any operating steam locomotives in the state or elegant excursions (such as the Grand Canyon Railway and Napa Valley Wine Train operate), the Nebraska train rides located in Fremont offer very nice trips at quite a reasonable price.
As you are probably well aware, Nebraska has long been sustained by its agriculture industry and this is what drove so many railroads to the state in the 19th century. As time wore on Nebraska's classic lines included names like the Rock Island, Union Pacific, Wabash, Chicago & North Western and others. Due to the UP's significant presence in the state and major hub of Omaha famous passenger trains like the its City fleet regularly passed through Nebraska on their way to Chicago and points to the west. Today, the two tourist railroads in the state use a former C&NW line with trips lasting for well over an hour as the stretch of track covers several miles in length. The Fremont & Elkhorn Valley Railroad has a schedule that runs between May and October although you can catch the dinner train during the weekends all year long.
In any event, to learn more about the two Nebraska train rides available please read the information below about each. Also, if you may be interested in visiting one of the state's railroad museums please click here to visit the site's guide covering museums and tourist trains.
Nebraska Train Rides And Excursion Trains
Fremont & Elkhorn Valley Railroad
The Fremont & Elkhorn Valley Railroad based in Fremont, Nebraska operates on former Chicago & North Western Railway trackage that was put up for sale by the railroad in the 1980s. Today, the F&EV operates on 17-miles of track for a round trip that is over 30-miles. The following Fremont Dinner Train uses these very same tracks. For more information please visit their website by clicking here.
Fremont Dinner Train
The Fremont Dinner Train based in Fremont, Nebraska offers several different types of dinner trains to choose from (such as melodramas and murder mystery specials), including available wine, beer, and other alcoholic beverages). The dinner train actually operates on tracks owned by the Eastern Nebraska Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, which travels between Fremont and Hooper, a distance of about 17 miles. For more information please visit their website by clicking here.
To learn more about the history of Nebraska's railroads please click here. Also, for more information about Nebraska train rides you might want to consider the book Tourist Trains Guidebook, which is put together by the editors of Kalmbach Publishing's Trains magazine. The guide below is the latest, released in just April, 2011 that now includes more than 470 museums and tourist trains (it also lists all of Alabama's rail museums). In any event, if you're interested in perhaps purchasing this book please visit the link below which will take you to ordering information through Amazon.com, the trusted online shopping network.
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