Southwest

Model train and railroad museum, displaying more than 3,000 models of trains, farm tractors, fire trucks and cars. Operating layouts in 'N', 'Z' and 'HO' scales. Open mid May-mid Sept, Mon-Sat 10am-5pm; Sun 10am-3pm. Near Wisconsin Dells.

Directions
Park Lane Model Railroad Museum for Train Excursions in the City of Reedsburg - Sauk County (Southwest WI).

Take a memorable, seven-mile, 50-minute round-trip ride on a former branch line of the Chicago & North Western Railway through the scenic Baraboo Hills. Established in 1959; are intended to provide a turn-of-the-century atmosphere. This has been accomplished by moving authentic structures to North Freedom for restoration, as well as constructing new buildings using old design plans. Operates old steam trains on former Chicago and Northwestern Railway track on a 50-minute trip between North Freedom and Quartzite Lake. Passes through old mining town of LaRue.

The town of Baraboo boasts what is probably the largest collection of circus wagons in the United States at the Circus Museum. The Museum has hundreds of circus artifacts such as costumes, posters, etc. No operating train ride. In summer, (May-mid Sept), visitors can watch daily demonstrations of old-fashioned circus train loading -- live circus performance and a daily parade, witness thrilling circus artists, mesmerizing illusion shows, animal encounters, clown make-up demonstrations, and an interactive KidsWorld circus, elephants loading circus wagons onto railroad flatcars.

The exterior of the museum is graced by a 1907 Davenport 2-6-0 locomotive next to a water tank with two spouts. A marker explains the history of this unique, narrow-gauge railroad. A miniatures 15-inch gauge train gives rides on weekends, 10am-4pm. An operational 15" gauge rail with 700 feet of track sits south of the railroad museum with scale buildings that allow visitors to ride the rails. Inside the museum, a model railroad layout is a replica of Fennimore at the turn of the century.

Have you ever wanted to take take a train ride? How about riding the rails for an hour and enjoying a delicious diner at a fine restaurant, and riding the rails back? Or what about spending the night near the Mississippi River after a day long train ride ride across Wisconsin? Wisconsin & Southern Railroad and the Old Feed Mill offer monthly, roundtrip rail excursions from Madison to Mazomanie. Travel through Black Earth Creek Valley to Mazomanie, where you can enjoy a family-style dinner at the Old Feed Mill Restaurant.

Riverside & Great Northern Railway Living Museum of Riverside & Great Northern Preservation Society, Inc is a 15-inch gauge railroad living museum offering train excursions on a narrow-gauge passenger railroad built by the Sandley family, producers of locomotives for park railroads. Ride live steam trains along a 3 mile roadbed winding through scenic canyons, beautiful wooded areas, and majestic rock cuts beside the Dells of the Wisconsin River. Watch the locomotive being turned on a hand operated turntable at Western Springs, and turned again at the final stop at the Hyde Park depot.