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Maryland's Halloween Train Rides

Published: August 28, 2025

By: Adam Burns

Maryland’s rails put on a different kind of show in October. When the air turns crisp and the leaves set the mountains and river valleys ablaze, a handful of heritage railroads, museums, and park trains across the state transform their regular runs into Halloween adventures.  

While you can also enjoy fall foliage excursions at various venues throughout the state, Halloween-themed trips offered by the B&O Railroad Museum, Walkersville Southern Railroad, and Western Maryland Scenic Railroad are all pumpkin rides where the kids can ride out to the patch and pick out their favorite pumpkin.

Locations

Western Maryland Scenic Railroad

Maryland’s most famous excursion line is also one of the most atmospheric places to celebrate the season. Running between Cumberland and Frostburg on the Western Maryland Railway's historic Connellsville Extension, the WMSR often layers Halloween themes onto its fall schedule.

Their Pumpkin Patch Limited is geared towards the kids where the train travels out to Bone Cave from Cumberland and pick out their favorite pumpkin.  The trip lasts about 1 hour.  There are also games and refreshments available.  The scenery is the star either way: Helmstetter’s Curve, tree-lined cuts, and vistas that glow with color in mid-to-late October.

What to expect

Family rides invite kids to wear costumes and collect treats; onboard staff and station volunteers help keep it festive rather than frightening.

B&O Railroad Museum

The birthplace of American railroading knows how to throw a Halloween party. The B&O Railroad Museum’s seasonal programming usually blends its First Mile train ride with on-site activities: trick-or-treat stations, craft tables, costume parades, and themed story times that skew young.

It’s a smart pick if you want a lot to do in a compact timeframe, or if you’re bringing a stroller and prefer paved, indoor-outdoor options. The museum’s massive roundhouse serves as a weatherproof anchor if the day turns chilly, and the short train ride gives little ones the thrill of motion without turning it into a test of patience.

Among their Halloween events are the very popular Pumpkin Patch Express along with haunted ghost tours, "Halloween Toddler Time," and even a trick-or-treat event.  Check out their website to learn more!

Montgomery Parks Miniature Trains

Two beloved mini-train attractions—Cabin John Miniature Train in Bethesda and the Wheaton Miniature Train at Wheaton Regional Park—shift into Halloween mode with eye-spy rides and gentle, glowing displays that line the tracks.

These aren’t full-size trains, but they’re wildly popular with preschoolers and early elementary kids. Expect short loops, friendly characters, and scavenger-hunt cards that challenge riders to spot pumpkins, spiders, ghosts, and other not-so-spooky sights as the train passes by.

What to expect:

Timed entry and online tickets are the norm for October evenings and weekend afternoons

The rides are usually 10–15 minutes, perfect for short attention spans.

Some dates offer sensory-friendly sessions with reduced noise and lighting; check the parks’ official pages for details.

Baltimore Streetcar Museum

While not a railroad in the traditional sense, the Baltimore Streetcar Museum’s vintage trolleys provide an authentic, rails-on-the-ground ride—and October is often one of its most family-friendly months.

In past years the museum has offered pumpkin or trick-or-treat themed days (the latter in 2025!) with short trolley rides, a chance for kids to pick a small pumpkin or craft a decoration, and plenty of opportunities to ring a bell and pose with historic cars. It’s a compact, city-close outing that fits neatly between a morning soccer game and lunch.

What to expect:

Rides are short and frequent; you can take multiple trips with a day ticket.

The atmosphere is festive, not scary. Volunteers love to share Baltimore transit history with curious kids.

The museum sits just off I-83 with free parking and easy access.

Walkersville Southern Railroad

For families seeking a gentler countryside ride paired with classic pumpkin fun, Walkersville Southen is a go-to. This short line north of Frederick regularly adds October dates for Halloween.

On select weekends, the railroad has historically offered pumpkin-themed rides where children can pick a small pumpkin to bring home.  They also host a "Wild West" themed pumpkin train event!

Making the most of your Halloween rails

Consider pairing your train ride with a nearby fall stop. In Cumberland, a stroll along the C&O Canal towpath or a meal in the historic downtown rounds out the day. Near Walkersville, you’re minutes from Frederick’s Carroll Creek and its independent shops and restaurants. In Baltimore, you can combine a museum ride with time at nearby attractions or a leaf-peeping walk along the Jones Falls Trail. For park trains, plan a playground session before or after your ride; Cabin John and Wheaton both have excellent play areas.

Final Thoughts

Finally, check official websites and social feeds a week before your departure. Operators sometimes add extra dates when demand spikes, tweak event names, or adjust run times to match daylight and staffing. If you’re traveling with a large group or planning a costume theme, call ahead—some railroads can reserve blocks of seats or suggest the best car for your needs.

Halloween by rail is a perfect Maryland mash-up: the romance of vintage equipment, the whimsy of costumes and candy, and the kind of scenery that makes you grateful for window seats. Whether you want a polished evening on the mountain, a pumpkin-picking jaunt with the kids, or a quick city-close trolley ride with just enough spooky to spark a smile, the state’s rail attractions deliver. Book early, bundle up, and let the whistle be your soundtrack to October.