Montana Dinner Train Rides At Lewistown

Published: March 19, 2026

In the wide-open heart of Montana, where the Judith Basin rolls out in big-sky layers of prairie, coulees, and distant buttes, the Charlie Russell Chew Choo turns an ordinary rail trip into an evening event: scenery, storytelling, live entertainment, and a hearty dinner served as the train rumbles across trestles and into a tunnel. It’s part sightseeing excursion, part Old West variety show—and for many visitors, it’s the most fun way to spend a summer or early-fall evening near Lewistown.

The train is named for Charles M. Russell, the celebrated “Cowboy Artist” whose paintings helped define how much of the country imagines the American West. That theme carries through the experience: you’re not just riding rails through central Montana—you’re stepping into a curated slice of Russell country, complete with western music, costumed characters, and a sense of playful, family-friendly theater.

Central Montana Railway GP9 #810, originally built as Great Northern Railway #658 in 1954, leads an excursion out of Hoosac Tunnel near Denton, Montana. The bore is 2,014 feet in length and was completed by the Milwaukee Road between 1912-1913.

What makes the Chew Choo especially appealing for your readers is that it operates over real working railroad trackage with genuine regional history. The line belongs to Central Montana Rail (CM)—a short line that operates roughly 84 miles between Moccasin and Geraldine, connecting with BNSF at Moccasin. Much of that route was originally built by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific (Milwaukee Road) as part of its “Northern Montana” line toward Great Falls, while the southern segment toward Kingston Junction traces back to the Great Northern’s Lewistown branch. Along the way are signature railroad landmarks: high steel trestles and a long tunnel that add “wow” moments you can’t replicate by car.

A Brief History

To understand why this dinner train feels so “big sky,” it helps to know a little about the rails beneath it. Central Montana Rail emerged after the State of Montana acquired portions of the route in the early 1980s, following the discontinuance of service by Burlington Northern; local operation began in the mid-1980s. Today, CM is primarily a freight railroad, but the dinner train has become a signature seasonal passenger operation on this historic corridor—one that still feels like a classic rural branchline in the best way.
Wikipedia

The Chew Choo’s trip is often described as a 56-mile round trip through central Montana’s ranchlands and valleys, with trestles, sweeping views, and that signature tunnel passage that always gets passengers looking up from their plates.

And unlike many tourist railroads that rely on preserved coaches pulled by a locomotive, this train is known for using Budd Rail Diesel Cars (RDCs)—streamlined stainless-steel self-propelled railcars built for mid-century passenger service—giving the trip a distinctive look and feel. The dinner-train equipment has been noted as ex–Boston & Maine RDCs, repurposed for the experience

The Experience

If you have ever said, “I want a scenic train ride, but I also want it to feel like an event,” this is exactly the pitch. The Charlie Russell Chew Choo is commonly promoted as a scenic, narrated ride with wildlife viewing potential—antelope, deer, raptors, and coyotes are all part of the “keep an eye out” checklist—paired with live entertainment that moves through the cars.

On many runs, the cast and musicians provide that classic western atmosphere: musicians and “saloon girls” (as the attraction describes them) keep the mood lively, and the show element can include a playful “train robbery” with masked bandits—a signature gag that’s become part of the Chew Choo’s personality.

Operationally, boarding takes place at the Hanover Boarding Station, about 10 miles (roughly 20–25 minutes) from Lewistown—close enough for visitors staying in town, but far enough that you quickly feel like you’ve slipped out into open country.

Dinner Train Options

The flagship product is the Montana Dinner Train—a longer, “full evening” outing that’s widely described as about four and a half hours overall. It blends the ride itself, the meal service, and the entertainment into one packaged experience.

What’s on the menu? The Chew Choo is especially associated with a full-course prime rib dinner (often highlighted as the headliner), followed by dessert, with beverage service included in the experience description. Vegetarian options are also noted as available, which is worth a quick callout for families and mixed-diet groups.

Drinks and bar service: In addition to what’s included with dinner, the operation notes a no-host cash bar, which can be a nice “upsell” for adult groups—especially on warm-weather departures that time the return leg with sunset.

Timing and boarding: Departure and boarding times vary by date, but one consistent operational note is that passengers typically board well before the train rolls—often about an hour ahead on the published schedule. That buffer gives guests time to settle in, browse souvenirs, and get oriented before the entertainment and meal service begin.

Special-Theme Dinner Trains

One reason the Chew Choo generates repeat riders is that the “standard” dinner train is supported by specialty departures—themed events that blend the same scenic ride with a twist in entertainment, music, or seasonal programming. Current listings describe specialty dates such as Cinco de Mayo, Cowboy Poetry, Chokecherry Festival, and a fall Wandering Wizard event, alongside the core summer schedule.

From a content standpoint, these are perfect for “plan-ahead” language: themed trains tend to sell quickly, and the operation has publicly discussed adding capacity and new rides to meet demand.

A quick origin story: how the Chew Choo got rolling

While the rails are historic, the dinner train itself is a comparatively modern tradition. The Chew Choo is commonly tied to the Lewistown area’s community tourism efforts, and the “About” material for the attraction notes that it made its first run on July 4, 1994, beginning with leased cars before the organization built out the equipment used for today’s operation.

That origin—community-driven, tied to regional heritage—helps explain why it feels less like a generic attraction and more like “a Montana thing”: local performers, local pride, and a route that shows off central Montana at its most photogenic. To learn more about the train please click here to visit their website.

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