Medina, NY
Medina Railroad Museum
4.5· 920 Google reviews
Medina Railroad Museum — THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride
2026 dates unconfirmed
Source recheck due. The details below describe the dated source review; confirm current plans with the operator.
2026 program listed; confirm dates in the official booking calendar
Ticket status: The operator offers 2026 bookings; no particular departure inventory was checked.
Current ticket availability has not been rechecked today.
Source checked 2026-10-26 · Ticket status checked 2026-10-26
Trip at a Glance
Source checked 2026-08-12- TypeRailroad museum & seasonal excursion operator
- LocationMedina, NY
- Rating4.5 ★920 Google reviews
- Tickets & fares$10 ages 13–59; $8 ages 60+; $7 ages 2–12; under 2 free with a ticket
- ReservationsAdvance reservations are strongly recommended for Polar Express and availability is controlled by the live ticketing system
About Medina Railroad Museum
Medina Railroad Museum combines a substantial indoor railroad collection, a 204-by-14-foot HO-scale model railroad and seasonal passenger excursions from a 1905–06 New York Central freight depot. The museum’s current public hours are Thursday–Saturday 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. and Sunday noon–4:30 p.m. Its ticketing system currently offers museum admission on conflicting Monday–Wednesday dates even though the official site repeatedly says those days are closed; this guide follows the published business hours and tells visitors to confirm any exception directly. Four future 2026 ride programs are presently supported: the final Sweet Treat Express date, Golden Age Rail Tour, Spirits & Suspects, and twelve Polar Express dates. This free profile is source-checked, not operator-claimed or confirmed.
Museum Visits & Train Rides
Choose the visit that fits your groupFamilies, model-railroad visitors and rail-history travelers who want a dependable indoor experience
Museum admission
Visit the historic freight depot, railroad and firefighting collections, restored office and expansive HO-scale layout during the published Thursday–Sunday hours.
Families seeking the last short summer excursion date
Sweet Treat Express
The final published 2026 date is August 15, with nine departures from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. The current listing shows $19; use live inventory for availability and exact terms.
Visitors interested in community and railroad history
Golden Age Rail Tour
Ride vintage railcars on September 19 or 20 at 11 a.m. while local history interpreters share Medina stories. The current listing shows $31.
Adults and older groups who want a theatrical rail experience
Spirits & Suspects
A two-hour 1920s mystery performance in first-class dining cars on September 19 or 20 at 2 p.m. The current listing shows $42 and food available separately.
Tour groups needing bus parking, drop-off and advance coordination
Group museum visit
Arrange a year-round group museum visit through the events manager. The museum is accessible, but the historic excursion cars are not wheelchair accessible.
Upcoming Events
Other ticketed events are not currently listed in this section. Holiday planning is presented separately above.
Check the operator’s website for current hours and special runs.
Plan Your Visit
- Museum HoursThursday–Saturday 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Sunday noon–4:30 p.m.; closed Monday–Wednesday under the current official business-hours block
- Admission$10 ages 13–59; $8 ages 60+; $7 ages 2–12; under 2 free with a ticket
- Hours ConflictThe online admission calendar currently offers dates that conflict with the operator’s closed Monday–Wednesday notice; use the published business hours and call before relying on an exception
- Excursion DaysThe museum says it opens at 9 a.m. on train-excursion days; use the ticket confirmation for the specific ride and arrival time
- Museum ParkingComplimentary parking is published for museum and group visits
- Event ParkingPolar Express parking is complimentary at 698 Gwinn Street, Medina, NY 14103—not the ordinary museum address
- Museum AccessibilityThe official group-tour page describes the museum as fully ADA accessible
- Railcar AccessibilityThe same page says the vintage railcars are not wheelchair accessible because of their historic construction; the Polar Express FAQ also says wheelchairs cannot be accommodated on the train
- ReservationsAdvance reservations are strongly recommended for Polar Express and availability is controlled by the live ticketing system
- Polar ArrivalPolar Express guests are asked to arrive one hour before departure for will-call tickets
- Polar DurationThe official page conflicts: its narrative says 1¼ hours while its FAQ says one hour. Allow at least 1¼ hours aboard plus the requested one-hour arrival buffer unless the operator confirms otherwise
- Polar TermsAssigned seating; closed-toe shoes; no alcohol; all trains run rain or shine unless a local travel ban or winter-weather advisory causes cancellation; tickets are nonrefundable and cannot be exchanged
- ContactMuseum: 585-798-6106; ticket questions: 716-948-0505; ticket call center: 1-800-514-3849
Find the Depot
The Trains
The museum’s passenger-equipment page describes two table cars used for first-class service: a former Chesapeake & Ohio dining car and a former Lackawanna coach rebuilt as a table car. It also describes stainless-steel former New York Central 56-seat coaches built in 1946–47. New York Central E8 diesels 4068 and 4080 are explicitly described as stored equipment, so this guide does not promise them—or steam power—for any 2026 ride. Motive power and the exact consist can change; visitors seeking a specific locomotive or car should ask the operator before purchase.
History
New York Central began construction of the present large wooden freight house.
The freight building became inactive as railroad use declined and was later sold for furniture use.
Martin Phelps purchased the building and began the work that created the museum.
Medina Railroad Museum opened to the public on April 17.
Supporters reacquired the property after auction so the museum could continue as a nonprofit.
The museum paid off the debt on the historic freight-house property.
See full history
The present wooden New York Central freight house was constructed in 1905–06 after Medina’s business community sought a larger facility. It served local manufacturers, including the nearby Heinz operation, and handled freight until railroad use declined in the early 1960s. After later use as a furniture warehouse and store, Martin “Marty” Phelps acquired the building in 1991, spent six years preparing it and opened the museum on April 17, 1997. The building was reacquired after a 2002 auction so the nonprofit museum could continue, and the property debt was paid off in 2008. The museum’s own chronology is the basis for these dates; broad “largest” superlatives are not repeated as independently established fact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medina Railroad Museum open every day?
No. The current official business-hours block says Thursday–Saturday 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. and Sunday noon–4:30 p.m., with Monday–Wednesday closed.
Why does the online admission calendar show closed weekdays?
The ticketing calendar conflicts with the operator’s repeated business-hours notice. This guide does not present those weekday slots as confirmed openings; call 585-798-6106 before relying on one.
How much is museum admission?
The current official ticket page lists $10 for ages 13–59, $8 for ages 60+, $7 for ages 2–12, and free admission with a ticket for children under two.
Does ordinary museum admission include a train ride?
No train ride is promised with general museum admission. Excursions are separate dated products with their own tickets.
Is the museum wheelchair accessible?
The museum’s group page describes the museum building as fully ADA accessible. It separately says the vintage railcars are not wheelchair accessible.
Where does the Polar Express depart?
It departs from Medina Railroad Museum at 530 West Avenue, but complimentary event parking is published at 698 Gwinn Street.
How long is the Polar Express?
The official page conflicts: the main description says 1¼ hours and the FAQ says one hour. Plan conservatively for at least 1¼ hours aboard plus the requested one-hour pre-departure arrival.
Are Polar Express tickets refundable?
No. The official FAQ says tickets are nonrefundable and cannot be exchanged.
Is Polar Express seating assigned?
Yes. Guests select adjacent seats during checkout, and the operator may cancel reservations that do not follow its adjacent-seat policy.
Will a specific locomotive power my ride?
Do not assume so. The museum does not make a stable 2026 motive-power promise on its visitor pages; ask before purchase if a particular engine matters.
What are the best nearby additions?
Use Hart House for a local overnight stay, Medina Canal Basin for a flexible waterfront stop and the Erie Canal Culvert for a short engineering side trip.
Sources & Verification
Sources checked August 12, 2026. The operator has not confirmed this profile.
- Official home page for current business hours, museum address, main phone and excursion-day identity
- Official 2026 event calendar for current programs, exact operating dates, departure times and advertised price ranges
- Official Etix museum-admission page for current hours and age-banded admission
- Official contact page for museum phone, ticket phone and excursion-day opening guidance
- Official group-tour page for parking, bus access, model-layout dimensions and the museum-versus-railcar accessibility distinction
- Official Polar Express page for experience, classes, arrival, event parking, weather, seating, access and refund terms
- Official Etix Polar Express listing for current base class prices without the unsupported steam claim
- Official museum history for freight-house and organization chronology
- Official collection and model-layout interpretation
- Official passenger-equipment page, treated cautiously for published equipment context rather than a motive-power guarantee
- Wikimedia Commons category for rights-cleared exterior, interior, model-railroad and equipment photography
