Iowa Valentine's Train Rides

Published: January 27, 2026

About an hour northwest of Des Moines—the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad & Museum (BSVRR) offers one of the Midwest’s most satisfying heritage-rail experiences: a historic depot and museum complex, classic passenger cars, and a route that quickly escapes town for a surprisingly dramatic river valley landscape. Whether you’re coming for a summer dinner run, a fall color trip, or a wintertime special, the Boone line has a knack for turning a simple outing into a “real railroad” memory—complete with the click of jointed rail, wide windows, and that unmistakable sense of going somewhere you can’t reach by highway.

While the railroad’s calendar is packed with seasonal events, few are as popular—or as tailor-made for couples—as the Valentine Dinner Train, a romantic evening ride that pairs scenic views with an onboard meal in the railroad’s dining equipment. For anyone looking to do Valentine’s Day a little differently (and with a lot more atmosphere), BSVRR’s Valentine trains are the kind of experience you talk about long after dessert.

The Route

Boone is not a big city, but the scenery BSVRR reaches is exactly the sort of setting that makes excursion railroading shine. The railroad operates on a former main line of the Fort Dodge, Des Moines & Southern - a once successful interurban known as the "Fort Dodge Line" - that runs out of Boone and into the Des Moines River Valley, passing wooded slopes, open fields, and—most famously—towering bridges that give the ride a genuine “wow” factor. The route is often described as running from Boone through the old coal-mining town of Fraser and onward toward the former junction site at Wolf.

Those place names matter because they hint at what makes BSVRR feel authentic: this isn’t a tiny loop around a park. The railroad has room to stretch its legs, build anticipation, and deliver a sense of progression—depot to countryside to valley to bridge—before bringing you back. In excursion railroading, that journey structure is everything.

Bass Point Creek High Bridge

Ask repeat riders what they remember most, and you’ll hear about the bridges—especially the Bass Point Creek High Bridge, which rises 156 feet above the valley below. The Valentine Dinner Train (like other excursions) is promoted around this highlight, because it’s the kind of crossing that changes the mood inside the car: conversations pause, people reach for phones and cameras, and suddenly everyone is leaning toward the windows.

The railroad also notes crossings of the Des Moines River Bridge, another scenic focal point on the line. Together, these spans give the ride a “big railroad” feel and make Boone stand out from many dinner-train operations that never leave industrial corridors.

The Museum & Depot

Part of the Boone experience is that it begins before the whistle blows. BSVRR is anchored by a depot complex and the James H. Andrew Railroad Museum and History Center, which houses railroad artifacts and preserves Iowa rail history. The museum component is frequently cited as a major part of the overall visit—especially for families and railfans who want the context behind what they’re riding.

If you arrive early, it’s worth taking a quick lap through the grounds: the best excursion railroads create a “sense of place,” and Boone does that well—turning your evening into something closer to a special occasion than a simple dinner reservation.

Dining On The Rails

Dinner trains live or die on a simple formula: timing, comfort, and vibe. Boone’s dining experience is widely promoted as a sit-down meal served aboard vintage passenger equipment—an intentional nod to the golden age of American rail travel, when the dining car wasn’t an add-on but a centerpiece. Travel Iowa describes the railroad’s dinner train experience as a multi-course meal aboard classic passenger cars, merging fine dining with views of the countryside.

That matters for Valentine’s Day because the goal isn’t to rush. A meal on a moving train naturally slows the evening down. The scenery changes, the table stays put, and the experience becomes shared—two people in the same seat, watching the same landscape roll by, with no need to check the clock.

The Valentine Dinner Train

BSVRR markets its Valentine trains as an evening designed for couples—“a Valentine’s Day dinner they won’t forget”—and it’s easy to see why. You’re not just buying food; you’re buying an atmosphere: candlelight energy, window views, and the gentle rhythm of the rails.

2026 dates and departure time

For the 2026 season, the railroad lists the Valentine Dinner Train on February 6, 7, 13, and 14, with evening departures (commonly listed at 5:00 pm for these events). Because these trains tend to sell quickly, it’s smart to plan early—especially for Saturday night.

(Always double-check the live event listing before you go, since special-event operations can adjust.)

What the evening feels like

A Boone Valentine trip typically unfolds in three acts:Food and beverage notes

Arrival and boarding at Boone – You arrive to the depot/museum setting, check in, and step aboard a passenger car with your reserved seating. Even before the train moves, you feel the difference from a restaurant night: you’re part of an event.
The outbound run into the river valley – As the train leaves town, the landscape opens up. Dinner service begins, conversations settle in, and the ride becomes the backdrop to the evening rather than something competing for attention.
The bridge crossings – The dramatic stretch arrives when the train reaches the valley bridges, including the 156-foot-tall Bass Point Creek High Bridge. It’s the signature “moment,” and on a winter Valentine run, it can be especially striking—bare trees, open views, and a crisp, quiet countryside.

BSVRR’s Valentine trains are promoted as “dinner” experiences (not snack rides), and the railroad notes that alcoholic beverages are available for purchase on these events. Menu specifics can vary year to year and sometimes by date, so the most reliable move is to check the current listing at the time you buy tickets. To learn more about their Valentine Dinner Train please click here to visit the railroad's website.

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