Mad River and NKP Railroad Museum

Visitors board a diesel locomotive. Uploaded by User

Trains helped build the United States into an economic powerhouse back in the 19th and 20th-century. Today, the legacy of trains is still felt, while not always appreciated. In Ohio, the glorious past of America’s trains in is on full display at the Mad River and Nickel Plate Railroad Museum.

Located in Bellevue, Ohio—one of the largest train-yard towns in northern Ohio—the Mad River and NKP Railroad Museum contains a large collection of engines, freight cars, passenger cars, various rail equipment, a giant crane for rail repairs and even a massive snowplow once used to clear tracks in the middle blizzards.

A vast amount of old rail paraphernalia is on display at the museum, including clothing, furniture, tools, signs, dishes, lanterns and a dizzying array of other wonderfully preserved historical rail items.

Visitors can wander the large yard, walk through different cars (including an old troop carrier from World War II) and even sit inside a diesel engine.

Know Before You Go

The museum is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day each year, from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM. In May, September and October, they are open on weekends only. Group tours are available by appointment. Admission fees are available on the museum's website.