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YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE HAS ARRIVED

Enjoy all the comforts of roam aboard our 100-mile heritage railroad, linking Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio!

The Indiana Rail Experience preserves railroad history through family-friendly train rides, all-day excursions, themed events, and 21-and-over occasions featuring mid-century passenger trains and historic locomotives.

Enjoy accommodations in our vintage first-class cars or charter a train for your very own adventure. Join our e-mail guest list so you don’t miss out on future events. Explore our schedule and offerings below to start booking.

ALL AGES EXPERIENCES

Book a trip aboard our Ice Cream Trains, Picnic Trains, Steam Excursions, Fall Color Trains, or upcoming Christmas Trains

2026 Schedule

Check out our upcoming events and join our mailing list for ticketing reminders!

TOUR OUR TRAIN

Visit our vintage train set and historic locomotives and find a seat for your next adventure.

VOLUNTEER

We're welcoming new car hosts and train crew members to help us preserve and make railroad history.

REVIEWS & TESTIMONIALS

Learn why we were named Indiana's Best New Experience and hold a 4.6 – 5 star rating on Google.

DONATE OR SPONSOR

Tax deductible gifts support our non-profit community outreach and preservation work
“

A first-class experience in every sense. They’ve managed to recreate the Golden Age of Railroading perfectly. We can’t wait for our next trip.

— Kevin K.Tri-State Steam Excursion
“

It was exciting from beginning to end. The train ride, the history, and the immersive experience all came together perfectly.

— Alexandra C.Fall Color Excursion
“

We did the Christmas train and it was magical. The volunteers go above and beyond to make sure the kids have a great time. A new family tradition for us.

— Jessica K.Indiana Christmas Train
EXPERIENCES, EVENTS, AND EXCURSIONS

Click on an event below to learn more or book tickets.

Join Our Mailing List

Guests on our mailing list receive first notice of our upcoming events, programs, and excursion.

Charter Your Own Train

Reserve a private passenger car or charter a train set for a company retreat, party, special occasion, weddings or field trip.

View our upcoming offerings and experiences.

Iron & Ash: Cigar & Bourbon Train Experience

July 18th
Diesel-powered cigar train featuring cigars, drinks, lunch, and more! Departing Pleasant Lake, Indiana.

Indiana Railroad Camp

July 27th – July 28th
Immersive summer camp for high school age students ages 13-17.

Pleasant Lake Days Ice Cream Train

August 8th
Celebrate Pleasant Lake Days with a vintage train ride and complimentary ice cream treats.

South Milford Day

August 15th
Community train rides during South Milford Day

Auburn Cord Duesenberg Hoosier Tour

September 1st
3-hour excursion featuring classic automobiles in a partnership with the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum

Fall Color Steam Special

October 16th, 17th, 18th
All-day steam-powered fall color excursions in Indiana and Michigan departing Pleasant Lake, Indiana. Coach tickets start at $75.00 and First Class tickets start at $249.00.

Hillsdale Traveler

May 2nd, July 4th, August 1st
Diesel-powered day trip to Hillsdale and return featuring first class and coach amenities

Picnic Train

May 2nd, August 1st
Pack a picnic basket, bring the family, and invite your friends for a summertime outing aboard a vintage, diesel-powered train during a summer evening.

Hillsdale Railroad Festival

October 10th, October 11th
Fall-themed train rides to Crossroads Farm for autumn outdoor activities and downtown block party.

Hot Chocolate Festival

February 13th & 14th
1-hour family-friendly train rides with complimentary hot chocolate and Pullman service for adults

World War II Weekend

September 4th, 5th, 6th
Three-day living history event celebrating American military, railroad, and home front history featuring vintage train rides, World War II reenactors, battles, a big band orchestra, and an immersive and educational experience for all ages in Pleasant Lake, Indiana.

Autumn Limited

October 23rd, 24th, 25th
2.5 hour, diesel-powered train rides departing Pleasant Lake, Indiana, for Reading, Michigan. Tickets start at $45.00.

Reindeer Run

November 27th, 28th, 29th
Coming soon.

Indiana Christmas Train

December 4th, 5th, 6th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd,
90-minute diesel-powered Christmas trains departing Pleasant Lake, Indiana. Tickets start at $35.00 for children and $45.00 for adults. Family packages, first-class tickets, private suites, and private cars are also available.

Wine & Winter Cozy

February 13th & 14th
Ride in style, raise a glass, and revel in the glow of winter warmth during a Valentine’s Weekend escape aboard a vintage Indiana passenger train for passengers 21-and-over.

Our Route

Learn the heritage of the 100-mile heritage railroad our trains travel over.

Pleasant Lake Station

Throttle Time

May 17th, June 8th, June 15th, July 26th, August 23rd, October 4th
Step into the cab of a historic steam or diesel locomotive and become an engineer or fireman for a 45-minute session while you operate the locomotive over the railroad.

Indiana Ice Cream Train

Will return in 2027
Beat the heat and enjoy complimentary ice cream from Scoops Ice Cream on a train ride through the Indiana countryside featuring coach seats, table seats for families, and lounge seats reserved exclusively for adults

Wine & Whiskey Train

Will return in 2027
Revel in a summer evening train ride with appetizers, the spirit of your choice, and enjoy coach, first class tickets, a private car for groups, and our cigar car.

Tri-State Steam Excursion

 Will return in 2027
All day steam excursion between Edon, Ohio, and Hillsdale, Michigan

Fox Lake Father’s Day Excursion

TBA
3 hour trips between Pleasant Lake and Montgomery, Michigan on Father's Day Weekend

NOW DEPARTING

Our excursions depart various stations throughout the Tri-State region

In 2023, we acquired the historic Lake Shore & Michigan Southern station in Pleasant Lake, Indiana. This structure is currently under construction as we develop our Pleasant Lake campus. Many of our trips depart Pleasant Lake, Angola, Edon, Ohio, and Hillsdale, Michigan, so be sure to check your ticketing and boarding information.

Our historic station is located at
1469 West Main Street,
Pleasant Lake, Indiana


Please consult the specific ticket and event details for parking and boarding information.

Northeast Indiana's Newest Attraction

The Indiana Rail Experience

At the turn of the 20th Century, Northeast, Indiana was powered by over a dozen railroads and interurban lines. Our communities were connected to every major city in the nation by high speed passenger trains and the revered steam locomotive. Very few lives were untouched by the rhythm of the rail.

The Indiana Rail Experience is a celebration of this remarkable history made possible through a special partnership with the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society and the Indiana Northeastern Railroad.

Operated by

In partnership with