Indiana Railway Museum, Railway museum and heritage railroad in French Lick, Indiana, US
The Indiana Railway Museum is a working railway museum in French Lick, in the hill country of southern Indiana, displaying historic rolling stock and running actual train rides along a restored line through forested terrain. Passengers board in French Lick and travel to Wilders and back, covering a round trip of roughly 20 miles (32 km) on steam or diesel-powered trains.
The museum was founded in 1961 in Westport by rail enthusiasts who wanted to save historic equipment before it was scrapped. It moved to French Lick in 1978, where it took over an existing line that gradually grew into the operation running today.
The rail line that the museum uses once connected small towns in southern Indiana that had little else linking them together. Walking through the restored cars, visitors get a sense of how ordinary people traveled, worked, and moved goods through this part of the country.
Departures run on a seasonal schedule, so it is worth checking availability before planning a visit. The ride passes through open woodland, so layering clothes is a good idea since temperatures can feel cooler once the train moves away from direct sun.
The tunnel that the train passes through during the ride was originally built for freight traffic and sits deep in the forest, far from any road. For many passengers, that brief moment of darkness is the most memorable part of the whole trip.
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