Worthington, OH
Ohio Railway Museum
4.5· 361 Google reviews
Trip at a Glance
Source checked 2026-08-26- TypeVolunteer railway museum with a short diesel-hauled demonstration ride
- LocationWorthington, OH
- Rating4.5 ★361 Google reviews
- UpcomingSat, Sep 26
- Tickets & fares$12 adult; $10 senior or military; $10 child age 3-12; children under 2 free. The official bands leave age 2 unresolved
About Ohio Railway Museum
The all-volunteer Ohio Railway Museum preserves Ohio streetcar, interurban and railroad history on the former Columbus, Delaware & Marion electric-railway corridor in Worthington. Current 2026 visitor information lists Saturday operation from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. through September 26. Standard gate admission includes the museum and its short demonstration rides. This season's normal consist is Canadian National coach 5060 behind U.S. Army diesel No. 7178, while a highway-bridge tie project keeps the ride shorter than normal. Spring storm damage took the electric overhead out of service, so Ohio Public Service interurban No. 64 is not part of the 2026 standard ride. No current official source supplies a fixed departure frequency, duration or route endpoint.
Plan a Saturday Museum Visit Around the Current Short Ride
Choose the visit that fits your groupFamilies and rail visitors seeking a compact museum-operated ride
Ride the current short demonstration train
Choose a published Saturday for the included diesel-hauled coach ride, while expecting a shorter route during bridge-tie work.
Transit-history and preservation visitors
Explore the railway collection
See interurban, rapid-transit and mainline artifacts without treating a stored or photographed car as currently operating or fully accessible.
Visitors who need a specific access arrangement
Ask before relying on accessibility
Contact the museum about the exact parking, entrance, restroom, transfer, seating or boarding need because a complete current access chain is not published.
Rail enthusiasts considering add-on experiences
Treat optional rides as day-specific extras
Cab and speeder rides are separately sold at the depot, but price, age rules, access and day-of availability need on-site confirmation.
Upcoming Events
Official schedule information
2026 special-event calendar
Schedule information was checked against the linked official source. Dates, availability, and operating conditions can change. Check the live official calendar ↗
Plan Your Visit
- Schedule AuthorityThe official site publishes Saturday museum operation through September 26; this guide lists the exact future dates verified on August 26, while the live site controls changes
- HoursThe current official homepage lists Saturday hours from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; no fixed ride departure times are published
- Admission$12 adult; $10 senior or military; $10 child age 3-12; children under 2 free. The official bands leave age 2 unresolved
- IncludedGate admission covers the museum and all standard rides offered that day
- ExtrasCab rides and speeder rides are sold separately at the depot, but current price, availability, age and access rules are unpublished
- Standard ConsistCanadian National coach 5060 is pulled by U.S. Army diesel No. 7178; the operator can change equipment or availability
- Shortened RideA Highway 161 bridge tie project currently keeps the public ride shorter; do not publish a distance, duration, turnpoint or bridge crossing
- Electric StatusSpring storms damaged five overhead poles, the wire was removed, and Ohio Public Service interurban No. 64 is out of service with a hoped-for 2027 return
- AccessNo current official source establishes a complete step-free parking, entrance, path, restroom or train-boarding chain; contact the museum before travel
- PoliciesCurrent official pages do not establish weather cancellation, pet, food, stroller, refund, payment-method, capacity or child-supervision rules
- Contact990 Proprietors Rd, Worthington, Ohio 43085 · 614-885-7345 · info@ohiorailwaymuseum.org
Find the Depot
The Trains
The advertised 2026 standard train uses former Canadian National coach 5060 behind U.S. Army diesel No. 7178. The museum says coach 5060 is being transformed into a table car while remaining in seasonal operation; current sources do not support adding a builder, type or construction year for No. 7178. Ohio Public Service interurban No. 64 is out of service because spring storms damaged the overhead. The museum's electric and diesel collection includes other interurbans, rapid-transit cars and rail equipment, but collection photographs never establish current operation. Norfolk & Western E2a Pacific No. 578 and other steam equipment are historic collection context, not 2026 standard motive power. A separately promoted Steam Returns event is dated May 2027 and cannot be pulled into this calendar.
History
The Columbus, Delaware & Marion electric railway built the Worthington-area corridor later used by the museum.
Interurban traffic over the historic local corridor ended.
Central Ohio rail enthusiasts began meeting as the Central Ohio Railfans Association.
The Ohio Railway Museum was founded at the Worthington site.
The museum published a Saturday season through September 26 with diesel-hauled standard rides and storm-damaged electric overhead out of service.
See full history
Central Ohio rail enthusiasts began meeting in 1945 and founded the Ohio Railway Museum in Worthington in 1948, making it one of the country's early railway museums. The site occupies part of the former Columbus, Delaware & Marion interurban corridor, whose local line was built in 1901 and carried traffic through 1933. Ohio Public Service interurban No. 21 became the museum's first major artifact and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Collection highlights also include CD&M parlor car 501, the Red Bird, and Norfolk & Western E2a Pacific No. 578. The organization remains all-volunteer and is separate from Northern Ohio Railway Museum in Seville.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I visit for the rest of 2026?
The current guide lists Saturdays from August 29 through September 26. Published museum hours are 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; recheck the official site before travel.
How much is admission?
Current gate admission is $12 adult, $10 senior or military and $10 for children age 3-12. Children under 2 are free. The official bands do not resolve the price for age 2, so ask the museum.
Does admission include the train ride?
Yes. The museum says gate admission includes the museum and all standard rides offered that day. Cab and speeder rides are separately sold extras.
How long is the ride?
The current official pages do not publish a reliable duration, distance or endpoint. Highway 161 bridge-tie work currently makes the ride shorter than normal.
Which train operates in 2026?
The current standard consist is Canadian National coach 5060 behind U.S. Army diesel No. 7178, subject to day-of equipment and maintenance decisions.
Will interurban No. 64 operate?
No current source supports that. Spring storms damaged five overhead poles, the wire was removed and No. 64 is out of service, with a hoped-for 2027 return.
Is steam operating this season?
Steam is not advertised as the 2026 standard ride. Museum steam equipment is collection context, and the separate Steam Returns promotion is for May 2027.
Is the museum wheelchair-accessible?
The reviewed current pages do not document the full route from parking through exhibits, restrooms and train boarding. Contact the museum with the exact need before travel.
Can I buy standard admission online?
The current homepage presents gate admission rather than a standard online booking flow. Check the live site before travel and do not assume payment methods or refund rules.
Sources & Verification
Source-checked August 26, 2026. This free profile has not yet been claimed or confirmed by the operator.
- Official current homepage for 2026 hours, season, admission, included rides, separately sold extras, consist, shortened ride, storm damage and visitor notices
- Official visitor page for directions, address and contact details
- Official about page for all-volunteer identity, founding and interurban-corridor history
- Official exhibits page for collection context and depot facilities
- Official projects page for current preservation context
- Official contact page for museum phone and email
- Exact Illinois Terminal 450 historical operating image under CC BY 2.0
- Exact Niles combine static collection image under a public-domain declaration
- Exact former Cleveland Rapid Transit car image under CC BY 2.0
- Exact Worthington station image under CC BY-SA 3.0
- Exact Times Square Pullman restoration-context image under CC BY 2.0
- Exact historical C&LE 119 museum image under CC BY 2.0
