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Wisconsin Murder Mystery Train Rides At NRM!

Published: December 4, 2025

By: Adam Burns

The National Railroad Museum in Green Bay, Wisconsin, is one of the country’s premier institutions dedicated to preserving and interpreting railroad history. Established in 1956 and later recognized by Congress as the National Railroad Museum, the organization has spent decades building a collection that today includes more than 70 pieces of rolling stock, over 100,000 smaller artifacts, extensive archives, and operating trackage for seasonal train rides and special events.

A National-Scale Collection On The Fox River

Set along the Fox River on Green Bay’s south side, the museum’s campus blends indoor and outdoor exhibits. Visitors encounter everything from small industrial switchers and cabooses to heavyweight passenger cars and modern diesels. The collection features several genuine “headliners” of American and international railroading:

• Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 “Big Boy” No. 4017, one of only eight surviving examples of the massive articulated locomotives that hauled freight over the Wasatch and Sherman Hill.

• LNER/BR Class A4 4-6-2 No. 60008 Dwight D. Eisenhower, the only A4 Pacific preserved in the United States and one of only two on the continent, displayed in a climate-controlled gallery.

• Pennsylvania Railroad GG1 electric No. 4890, representing the streamlined electrics that once powered premier trains along the Northeast Corridor.

• General Motors “Aerotrain” set No. 2, an iconic 1950s experiment in lightweight, futuristic streamlining.

These headline pieces are complemented by a wide variety of freight and passenger cars, cabooses, work equipment, and smaller locomotives. Altogether, the museum offers a sweeping overview of more than a century of railroad technology and design

Exhibits, Archives, And Educational Mission

Beyond the big locomotives, the National Railroad Museum devotes significant space to thematic exhibits that explain the human stories behind the hardware. Permanent and rotating displays cover subjects such as:

• The role of Pullman porters and on-board service staff.
• The evolution of passenger travel, from heavyweight sleepers to sleek streamliners like the Aerotrain.
• The art and branding of passenger trains, including the Bauer Drumhead Gallery of illuminated drumheads from famous named trains.

The museum’s library and archives hold thousands of photographs, corporate records, maps, drawings, and ephemera related to railroads across the United States. Researchers can delve into topics ranging from locomotive engineering to labor history, while casual visitors encounter selected items in exhibit cases and interpretive panels.

Education is a core part of the mission. The museum offers youth STEM programs, rail-themed summer camps, scouting activities, and adult-education events that use railroading to explore technology, physics, and social history.

Seasonal Train Rides And Special Events

A visit to the National Railroad Museum often includes a ride around the grounds. From May through September—and on October weekends—the museum operates a train over its loop of track, giving guests the chance to experience the sights and sounds of railroading from aboard vintage equipment. 

Throughout the year, the museum layers on a full calendar of special events. Annual favorites include:

• The Polar Express™ Train Ride, a holiday tradition that combines storytelling, hot chocolate, and a train trip to the “North Pole.”
• Festival of Trees and Holidays on the Rails, which transform the museum into a festive winter destination. 
• Other themed events such as Rails & Ales Brewfest, family programs, and seasonal dinner trains.

Among these offerings, one of the most distinctive is the museum’s immersive Mystery Express experience.

The Mystery Express: A 1950s Whodunit Among The RailsSetting The Scene

Mystery Express is the museum’s signature murder-mystery event, staged in and around its historic equipment. The 2026 edition, titled The Iron Rose Affair, transports guests to the spring of 1950, when the fictional Fox River Garden Society gathers at the museum’s new Fox River Expansion for an elegant gala. The evening’s showpiece is the unveiling of the legendary “Iron Rose,” a coveted prize promised to bring fame and influence to its patron.

When the lights suddenly flicker and a scream pierces the celebration, the story takes a dark turn. What began as a refined society event quickly becomes a night of suspicion, secrets, and high-stakes deduction. Guests are drawn into a web of rivalries and hidden histories set amid the museum’s historic cars and galleries.

Mystery Express is designed as an interactive game rather than a passive performance. Each evening offers two sessions, typically at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., with each game lasting about an hour and capped at around 50 players to keep things intimate and engaging. Tickets are sold in pairs and include two drink tickets per guest—encouraging participants to mingle and settle into the 1950s atmosphere before the mystery begins.

Upon arrival, attendees step directly into the story. Instead of sitting in a theater, they move through the museum’s spaces—often including historic railcars—encountering actors playing suspects and witnesses. Guests gather clues, solve puzzles and ciphers, and work in teams to piece together who turned the gala into a crime scene.

1950s-style attire is encouraged, and many participants embrace the opportunity to don vintage suits, dresses, and accessories, which heightens the sense of stepping back into the golden age of rail travel without making a costume mandatory.

A Unique Blend Of History And Immersive Theater

What sets Mystery Express apart from a typical escape room or murder-mystery dinner is its setting. The museum’s locomotives and cars serve as living backdrops, reminding guests that the drama unfolding around them is rooted in real railroad history. As teams move between exhibits, they might pass beneath the looming bulk of Big Boy 4017, glance at the streamlined lines of the Aerotrain, or see the polished green flanks of Dwight D. Eisenhower—all while chasing down hints and alibis.

The event’s design deliberately balances entertainment with interpretation. Storylines and character backgrounds often echo themes found elsewhere in the museum: the social status associated with first-class travel, the economic power of railroads, or the ways technological progress reshaped communities along the line. For many guests, Mystery Express becomes a gateway to deeper interest in railroad history; after the game, they often stay to explore exhibits that caught their eye during the investigation.

Practical Details For Visitors

Mystery Express is typically scheduled for a spring weekend—in 2026, the dates are March 21–22—with advance ticket sales opening several months beforehand. Admission for the event is separate from regular museum entry, reflecting its limited capacity and theatrical elements. While food is not served, beverages are available, and guests are encouraged to arrive early to check in, collect their drink tickets, and review basic instructions before the story begins. 

Because the experience involves walking through portions of the museum and stepping on and off equipment, comfortable footwear is recommended. The museum also notes that event participants may be photographed or filmed during the evening, with images later used in promotional materials—something to keep in mind if you plan to attend with a group.

Planning A Visit

Whether you come specifically for Mystery Express or as part of a broader trip to Green Bay, the National Railroad Museum offers plenty to fill a day. Many visitors start with the indoor galleries, taking in the Big Boy, A4 Pacific, GG1, and Aerotrain before riding the seasonal train loop and exploring the outdoor rolling stock. Families can spend time in the Children’s Discovery Depot, while enthusiasts often linger over interpretive signs, mechanical details, and the museum’s extensive photographic displays. 

For schedules, event dates, and current ticket information—including updates on future editions of the Mystery Express—it’s always wise to consult the museum’s official website or contact the staff directly before you travel.

In the end, the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay stands out not just for its locomotive roster, but for the way it brings railroad history to life. Experiences like Mystery Express prove that a night at the museum can be as dramatic and immersive as any stage play—only here, the star “cast” includes some of the most remarkable machines ever to run on steel rails.