Wisconsin Scenic Train Rides In North Freedom!
Published: January 12, 2026
By: Adam Burns
Mid-Continent Railway Museum (MCRM) in North Freedom, Wisconsin is one of those rare places where railroad preservation isn’t confined to display tracks and quiet exhibit halls—you can walk a working yard, tour historic buildings, and ride vintage equipment on an operating railroad. It’s a living-history museum built around the sights, sounds, and everyday rhythms of small-town and shortline railroading in the early 20th century, what the museum calls the “Golden Age of Railroading.”
This early view of the Mid-Continent Railway Museum from the 1960s features Chicago & North Western 4-6-0 #1385 leading an excursion over the Baraboo River seven miles west of Baraboo, WI.A museum born from a disappearing branch line
Mid-Continent’s story begins with a problem that preservationists still recognize: once a railroad line is abandoned, it’s incredibly hard to recreate the “real” setting that makes historic equipment come alive. In the early 1960s, when the North Freedom branch (a former Chicago & North Western line) became available, a small group moved quickly to secure it as a home for an emerging preservation collection. By 1963, equipment had been relocated to North Freedom and the museum was already offering steam-powered rides, establishing an operating tradition that has defined Mid-Continent ever since.
That decision—to preserve not just locomotives and cars, but the railroad environment itself—is what makes MCRM distinctive. The museum grounds function like a compact railroad community: a historic depot, tracks fanning into a working yard, shop facilities, and a mix of passenger and freight equipment in various stages of restoration. The result is immersive in a way static museums often struggle to match: you aren’t just looking at artifacts; you’re watching them used.
Over the decades, Mid-Continent also endured the same challenges faced by many outdoor museums: weather, flood risks, and the constant effort required to maintain infrastructure as well as rolling stock. In particular, flooding in 2008 caused major disruption, and while the museum eventually reopened, network access constraints lingered until major bridge work was completed years later.
Present Day
Today, Mid-Continent describes itself as an outdoor living history museum and operating railroad, dedicated to recreating and interpreting the small-town/shortline way of life from railroading’s classic era. That mission comes through in the visitor experience:
- You can spend time among restored passenger cars and railroad artifacts on the grounds.
- You can watch or learn about ongoing restoration work (the site regularly highlights shop and equipment efforts).
- And, most importantly for many visitors, you can ride behind vintage motive power on a preserved piece of Midwestern branch-line railroading.
The museum’s standard excursion runs on a scenic former C&NW route set in rural Sauk County near the Baraboo Hills, offering a relaxed countryside ride that’s as appealing to families as it is to photographers.
Excursions
If you only do one thing at Mid-Continent, make it the regular train ride.
The museum’s main offering is a seven-mile, roughly 55-minute round trip departing from a historic wooden depot built in 1894. Passengers typically ride in restored steel coaches about a century old, and the crew leans into the interpretive side—conductors in period-appropriate attire, ticket-punching, and onboard narration that adds context without turning the trip into a lecture.
What makes the experience especially satisfying is its “branch line” pacing. This isn’t a high-speed dash; it’s the kind of trip where you can settle into the rhythm of jointed rail, watch the tree line open into farm country, and imagine how countless small Midwestern communities once connected to the outside world.Upgrade option: caboose tickets
For visitors who want something more memorable (or more private), Mid-Continent offers caboose tickets on select trains, and the museum notes that reservations are especially wise on popular dates and special events.
Steam Headline: The Return Of C&NW #1385
For many railfans, the name most associated with Mid-Continent is Chicago & North Western 4-6-0 No. 1385. The museum notes it’s one of only a small number of preserved C&NW steam locomotives, and that it has been listed on both the Wisconsin Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places.
In recent updates, Mid-Continent has emphasized that No. 1385 is nearing a major milestone: the locomotive has been moving through the final steps of a long restoration effort, with the museum publicizing its return and celebration plans. A Trains Magazine report in late 2025 also described successful test firing and noted plans connected to returning the locomotive to service on a prominent summer target date.
Even if you visit on a day when a diesel is on the point, No. 1385’s restoration story is part of the museum’s modern identity—proof that Mid-Continent is not only preserving history, but actively fighting to keep it operational.
Popular Excursions
Mid-Continent does a smart job of building a calendar that appeals to three groups at once: families looking for seasonal traditions, casual visitors who want an easy day trip, and repeat riders who like returning for something different. Here are the crowd-pleasers worth calling out.
Autumn Color Weekend
A classic for Wisconsin: the museum’s Autumn Color Weekend™ emphasizes “leaf-peeping” from vintage cars along the preserved C&NW right-of-way. If your audience loves fall photography, this is the one to spotlight—golden hillsides, classic equipment, and comfortable coaches make for an easy sell.Pumpkin Special and other fall family rides
Mid-Continent’s Train Ride Information hub lists several seasonal favorites, including the Pumpkin Special™, which is a staple format in the heritage-railroad world for good reason: it gives families a themed experience without requiring an all-day commitment.
Santa Express / Holiday Flyer
For many families, the holiday train is the “annual tradition” ride. Mid-Continent’s events list includes Santa Express™/Holiday Flyer, and the museum encourages advance planning for peak special-event dates.
Pizza Limited and other “treat” trains
If you want to highlight lighter, just-for-fun excursions, Mid-Continent’s lineup includes the Pizza Limited and the Root Beer Float Flyer—great options for visitors who may not consider themselves railfans but love a themed outing.
Onboard dining trains
Mid-Continent notes that reservations are required for onboard dining trains, which signals these are structured, capacity-limited experiences—ideal for couples, small groups, and gift outings. (When you publish, you can keep the description evergreen and direct readers to the museum’s ticketing page for the current schedule.)
Vintage Rail Car Tours
This is a terrific add-on for anyone who likes craft, design, and preservation details. The museum offers guided Vintage Rail Car Tours, letting visitors step inside select restored cars and also see parts of the restoration operation. It’s the kind of experience that turns a “nice train ride” into a deeper appreciation of what it takes to keep historic equipment alive.
Final Thoughts
The museum is successful because it delivers multiple “layers” of experience in one place. For families, it’s an easy, scenic ride with seasonal events that feel like tradition. For history-minded travelers, it’s a window into how smaller railroads stitched rural America together. And for railfans, it’s a working museum where restoration is not theoretical—locomotives like C&NW No. 1385 are actively being brought back toward operation, reinforcing the museum’s role as a living institution rather than a static display. To learn about the museum and its excursions please click here to visit their website.
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