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East Central
Alabama
The Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum has the 75 minute Calera and Shelby ride as well as a number of themed rides. The themed rides include the Mardi Gras Special, Ozan Wine Tarins, Bourbon and Brisket, Pumpkin Junction, Fall Foliage Special, and North Pole Express. There are also themed days at the station which include Rail Safety Day and Christmas at the Station. Shelby and Southern Steam locomotive is a narrow gauge steam locomotive that has a 3/4 mile trip.
The North Alabama Railroad Museum is open to the public most days with self guided tours of the grounds and exhibits. Look for QR codes to scan for links to information on the exhibits. The museum also offers many different themed train rides most of them using the full 10 miles of track. The themes include the Flip Flop Fun Run, Magic on the Mercury & Chase, Punkin' Picken' Extravaganza, Fall Color Special and the Santa Train.
Illinois
The Illinois Railway Museum boasts as having the largest collection of historic railroad equipment in the country on 100 acres of land in over 20 structures. They offer unlimited rides except on special fare days. The rides are 5 miles long and take 35-45 minutes and/or a shorter ride on a streetcar taking you in a loop around the property. Some of the special dates or rides are Pullman Weekend, Memorial Day Weekend, Trolley Weekend, 4th of July Weekend, Vintage Transport Extravaganza, Diesel Days, scout Day, Steam into Fall, Pumpkin Train, and Happy Holiday Railway as well as many others.
The Monticello Railway Museum collection consists of locomotives, passenger cars, cabooses, freight cars, maintenance of way vehicles and depots. It also has a 1 hour weekend train ride to and from Monticello pulled by a diesel locomotive on most weekends and steam locomotives on specific weekends and events. Special events include a Steam and Streamliner Weekend, Mystery Dinner Trains, Railroad Days, Autumn Limited, and Polar Express.
Indiana
The Nickel Plate Heritage Railroad offers both train rides and railbike rides. There are a number of different events on the Nickel Plate Heritage Railroad including Winter Warmers, Candlelight and Cocktails, Fiesta on the Rails, Valentines Day Express, 426 Caboose Rides, Arcadia Caboose Rides, and a few different Trivia rides. The railbike rides include Forest Park Rail Adventure, White River Family Cruise, and a Twilight Rail Ride.
Indiana Railway Museum/ French Lick Scenic Railway
The Indian Railway Museum operates under the name of the French Lick Scenic Railway. It offers a 90 minute ride pulled by a diesel locomotive through southern Indiana between French Lick and Jasper and through the Burton tunnel. Events include Easter Bunny Express, Western Express, Polar Express and many tasting trains including Brunch, Beer, Bourbon, Wine, and Tequila.
Kentucky
The Big South Fork Scenic Railway offers an excursion to Blue Heron which is an abandoned coal mining town. The excursion is 3 hours total with 45 minutes on the train each way and 90 minutes exploring the abandoned Mine 18. They also offer other themed events including Fall Color Runs, Murder Mystery Train, Blue Heron Ghost Mine, and the Polar express.
The Kentucky Railroad Museum is both indoors and outdoors. The indoor exhibits include an HO scale model layout while the outdoor exhibits include over 100 pieces of rolling stock. They also offer 2 excursions, a 90 minute excursion to Boston, and a 55 minute excursion to Gethsemane. There are also many themed events such as the Uncorked Express Wine and Cheese Train, The Outlaw Express, Trivia on the Rails, Luncheon Train, Tea On the Rails, Fall Break Express, Trick and Track Express, Santa Clause Express, and the North Pole Express.
Michigan
The Coopersville and Marne Railroad offers a 90 minute 12 mile round trip excursion in West Michigan. The website states that most of the excursions have live entertainment b y actors and musicians. The railway also shows prior years scheduling to include a Bunny Train, Great Train Robbery, Murder Mystery Train, Rails Ales and Wine Trains, Octoberfest Express, Summer Train, Pumpkin Train, and a Santa Train.
Mississippi
TrainTastic boasts as being the world's largest model railroad museum and is located in Gulfport Mississippi. The museum has interactive model train layouts in all gauges with changing scenery on the different layouts as well as S.T.E.A.M. activities. TrainTastic also has workshops in model railroading called the Fun-Damentals of model railroading, a summer camp, and even a kids night out called for the Love of LEGO.
Ohio
The Hocking Valley Scenic Railway offers a 22 mile 2 hour and 15 minute diesel powered trip from Nelsonville on weekends when in operation. There are also many themed excursions including Starbrick BBQ Ribs and Wings Dinner Train, Ohio's Friendliest Train Robbery, October Fall Foliage Train Ride, Neslonville Halloween Train, and a Santa Train.
Located in southeast Ohio the Zanesville and Western Scenic Railroad offers a 40 minute round trip on the historic Glass Rock Spur. The trains run weekends mostly from the first week of August through October with a few November and December dates. Most of the excursions are themed and include Dog Days of Summer, Hobo Camp, Wine Tasting, Pumpkin Train, and a Santa Train Event.