Alabama's Valentine's Train Rides

Published: February 1, 2026

The Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum (HoDRM) is the kind of place where history isn’t parked behind ropes—it moves. As the museum describes it, its mission grew from “humble beginnings” as a chapter of the National Railroad Historical Society (NRHS) and continues today through preservation, restoration, and hands-on public experiences.

Just as importantly for visitors, HoDRM isn’t only about exhibits (though it has plenty). It’s a living, operating railroad museum with both standard-gauge and narrow-gauge train rides, restored depots, indoor artifacts, and an outdoor collection of historic railroad equipment. In other words: you can spend part of your day learning about Alabama railroading—and part of your day hearing a diesel notch up, feeling the cars sway, and watching the piney woods slide by from a vintage coach.

For the Valentine's Day weekend in 2026 the railroad will host their "Sweetheart Special," a wine tasting event to the nearby Ozan Winery & Distillery.

The museum's Calera & Shelby Railroad, an excursion train operating along a short segment of the former Louisville & Nashville out of Calera, Alabama. This museum photo features SW8 #2019 which often leads excursions. It was built in 1951 for the U.S. Army.

From Railfans To A Railroad Museum: A Brief History

HoDRM’s story begins in the early 1960s, when Birmingham-area railfans organized an NRHS chapter called the Heart of Dixie Railroad Club. Their purpose was simple and timeless: preserve railroading’s sights, sounds, and artifacts for future generations.

A key spark came in November 1962, when the Louisville & Nashville restored and toured the famed Civil War locomotive The General—an event that helped bring local enthusiasts together and pushed the idea of forming a Birmingham NRHS chapter into reality. The club soon began collecting equipment, securing storage space, and building a preservation program that—like many museums—was powered by volunteer energy and big dreams.

The club’s first “railroad park” home in Birmingham eventually became difficult to protect; vandalism and damage threatened pieces of the collection. That reality helped drive a major turning point: the move to Calera and the incorporation of what became the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum.

One of the most fascinating parts of that move is that the museum didn’t just relocate equipment—it effectively built a new home railroad. HoDRM purchased a 10-mile stretch of former Alabama Mineral Railroad roadbed (historically part of the Louisville & Nashville family) between Calera and Shelby, then expanded the trackage over time—laying additional rail and developing yard tracks, shop facilities, and visitor amenities.

Historic Equipment and Depots

Two historic depots (and a research-minded bonus)

A visit to HoDRM typically includes time around its depot facilities. The museum relocated two historic depots to its Calera site: the Wilton Depot (now serving as the museum’s depot/ticket area) and the Woodlawn Freight Depot, which became home to the Boone Library.

The Boone Library is a serious treat for anyone who likes to go deeper than the display placards. The museum notes holdings that include 1400+ books, railfan periodicals dating back to the 1930s, industry publications (including Railway Age dating back to 1910), plus maps, track diagrams, timetables, photos, slides, and other memorabilia. For researchers, modelers, historians, and detail-oriented railfans, that’s a gold mine.

A collection spanning more than a century

HoDRM’s rolling stock and equipment collection spans roughly 1890 to 2005, mixing “ordinary” pieces (like cabooses and flatcars) with more unusual passenger equipment—including club cars, a diner, and even a domed observation car. The museum also maintains (and sometimes still uses) maintenance-of-way equipment such as cranes, derricks, handcars, and even a velocipede.

A practical note for visitors: the museum explains that cars used on excursion rides are typically the ones open to the public during operating hours, while other pieces may be closed due to restoration work or static-display status.

Riding The Rails

HoDRM emphasizes that it functions as both a tourism destination and a way to preserve Alabama’s railroad heritage—through exhibits, education programs, and (crucially) operating trains. If you’re bringing family members who aren’t “hardcore railfans,” the ride experience is often what wins them over: it turns a museum visit into an outing.

The museum also notes that admission to the museum is free (donations accepted), while train rides require tickets during the operating season. That’s a nice setup for families: you can tour the grounds and exhibits at your own pace, then choose the ride(s) that fit your day and budget.

Sweetheart Special

HoDRM frames the Sweetheart Special as “A Romantic Train Ride, Wines & Pairings!” The experience begins at the museum depot, where you board a historic train for a short evening excursion to Ozan Winery & Distillery. Upon arrival, guests get a trackside taste of Yella Hound Spirits, then take a short walk (the museum notes an outdoor walk up a gentle hill—so wear appropriate shoes) to the winery tasting rooms.

At the winery, the evening includes a souvenir wine glass and a pre-selected sampling of wines paired with sweet & savory selections, with examples like Chardonnay, Peach, and Pinot Noir mentioned by the museum. Bottles of wines and spirits are available to purchase to take home—an easy way to turn the night into a keepsake. How long it lasts

HoDRM estimates the full experience at about 1½ hours, including the round-trip train ride and time at the winery. That duration is just right for a date night: long enough to feel like a real event, but not so late that you’re wiped out for the next day.2026 event dates and departures

For 2026, the museum lists the Sweetheart Special on:

Friday, February 13
Saturday, February 14

Departures are scheduled (Central Time) at:

4:30 p.m., 6:00 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday

Boarding begins 15 minutes before departure, and the museum notes limited availability with advance purchase required. Tickets, seating, and age requirement

HoDRM notes that tickets are sold in sets of two or four (no single tickets listed at this time), with a maximum of four people per table. If you’re planning a double-date or a small friend group outing, that’s ideal; if your group is larger than four, the museum notes tables won’t be moved to accommodate bigger parties, though groups booked on the same order may be seated near each other if requested.

Also important: Ages 21+ only, and ID is required. To learn more about this experience please click here to visit the museum's website.