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Other stories in "Vintage trains"

• Duluth's other waterfront
  The quiet St. Louis River is a hub for hikers, bikers, paddlers and train buffs.
• Riding the rails
  Their heyday is past, but avid fans keep trains on track.
• The Lighthouse Express
  Between Duluth and Two Harbors, vintage trains take passengers back to the past.

5 great train rides

On rail excursions, scenery is only part of the fun.

Thanks to volunteers who love locomotives, excursion trains live on.

And these days, trains also are rolling entertainment venues, offering staged robberies, murder mysteries and beer tasting in addition to barbecue, pizza, brunch, box lunch, happy hour and holiday trains.

Of course, the scenery is great, too. Below are five of the best trains to ride.

North Shore Scenic Railroad, downtown Duluth: The 57-mile run to and from Two Harbors leaves Duluth at 10:30 a.m., arrives in Two Harbors about 12:30 p.m. and returns to Duluth at 2:30 p.m., giving passengers time to see the ore docks and visit the 1892 lighthouse.

It runs Fridays-Saturdays in June, Fridays-Sundays from July through the third weekend in October. Book early, especially for fall weekends. For more, see The Lighthouse Express.

The 2½-hour Pizza Train goes to the Sucker River, halfway to Two Harbors, at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays through Labor Day; then 5:30 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays in October. Cost includes pizza and pop. Reservations are required.

The 1½-hour Lester River train goes out at 12:30 and 3 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays and adds a 10 a.m. run on Fridays-Sundays. From Labor Day to the third Sunday in October, they're 12:30 and 3 p.m. Fridays-Sundays.

Check the schedule for special excursions, 800-423-1273.

Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad, Spooner, Wis.: Around the scenic Namekagon River in western Wisconsin, this railroad is a rolling entertainment venue.

There are pizza, barbecue, brunch, dinner and happy hour train, plus excursions from Spooner to Veazie Springs and Springbrook. During the Spooner rodeo in July, trips to Trego Junction include a train robbery or dinner with outlaws.

There are holiday trains, too, including the very popular pumpkin trains in October. Check the schedule for more complete information or call 715-635-3200.

Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway, Osceola, Wis.: From the little depot in Osceola, volunteers of the Minnesota Transportation Museum run excursions to Dresser, Wis., and across the river to Marine on St. Croix.

On Saturdays and Sundays through October, 1½-hour trips go to Marine on St. Croix at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. and 45-minute trips leave at 1:15 p.m. for the newly renovated 1889 depot in Dresser.

On some Saturdays, 5 p.m. trains serve pizza or dinner. For other special trains, check the schedule. 715-755-3570. 

For more about the area, see A sortie along the St. Croix.

Lake Superior & Mississippi Railroad, West Duluth: This line follows a scenic route that hugs the St. Louis River estuary, from cattail marshes full of birds to the site of a Superfund cleanup.

Volunteers narrate the 90-minute, 12-mile round-trip tours at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on weekends from mid-June through early October. It leaves from a parking lot behind the Little Store, across from the Lake Superior Zoo at Grand Avenue and 71st Avenue West. 218-624-7549.

For more, see Duluth's other waterfront.

Mid-Continent Railway Museum, North Freedom, Wis.: Eight miles west of Baraboo, this railroad offers seven-mile, 50-minute diesel-train trips through the Baraboo Hills at 11 a.m. and 1 and 3 p.m. daily from June through August and weekends in May and from September through the third weekend in October.

In October, there are dinner and fall-color trains. A Santa Express goes out the weekend after Thanksgiving and a snow train on President's Day weekend. Steam locomotives usually pull the cars but are being upgraded. 800-930-1385.

For more about the area, see Baraboo's gilt complex.

Last updated on September 22, 2011