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Ohio Rails: Journey Through Time at a Museum

Published: February 28, 2025

By: Adam Burns

Ohio, rich in railroad history, boasts several museums that offer fascinating insights into the evolution of rail travel and its impact on the state. These museums preserve and showcase historic locomotives, rail cars, and artifacts, making them must-visit destinations for railroad enthusiasts and history buffs alike.

Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 #755 preserved at the Conneaut Historical Railroad Museum. Glenda Luyando photo.

Ohio's museums are ideal destinations to explore the state's railroad history while enjoying a mix of static displays and living history experiences. Whether for educational purposes or casual exploration, Ohio's railroad museums offer something for everyone.

Museum Guide

Age Of Steam Roundhouse

One of Ohio's most unique and fascinating railroad attractions is this facility located in Sugarcreek, which has only been in operation since 2011! 

It was built by the late Jerry Jacobson, a professional railroader who also loved trains.   

It is a fully functional and operational roundhouse that acts as a locomotive/car repair operation.  However, following his death the organization now offers public tours. 

There, you can see nearly two-dozen restored or preserved steam locomotives!  Anyone with an interest in trains will love this place.  To learn more please visit their website.

Bradford Railroad Museum

Located in the town of Bradford this museum's focus is local railroad history.  Their focal point is an original, preserved Pennsylvania Railroad interlocking tower (BF), which is available for tours on select dates. 

Sadly, the PRR's once prolific presence in this small town is no more; both its main line to Chicago and connector to the busy "Panhandle Route" are both abandoned today.

Carillon Park Rail & Steam Society

The Carillon Park Rail & Steam Society, based in Dayton, has a small selection of rolling stock on hand and also provides scale train rides on select days throughout the year.

Conneaut Historical Railroad Museum

This organization began in 1964 as a non-profit to preserve local railroad history.  They are housed within the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern (New York Central) brick depot built in 1900.  They have seasonal hours from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Dennison Railroad Depot Museum

The Dennison Railroad Depot Museum, based in Dennison, is open most of the year.  It is housed inside the restored 1873 Pennsylvania Railroad depot and offers a wide range of static displays and rolling stock.  In addition, be sure to dine at their restaurant.  The organization also provides official Polar Express rides in December.

Entertainment Junction

This tourist attraction is based in West Chester and claims to have the largest indoor display of G-scale model trains anywhere in the world.

Jefferson Depot Village

This attraction is located in Jefferson.  Its stated purpose is to highlight what life was like in Ohio and the Midwest during the 19th century. 

It is a living history museum with fourteen historic buildings on hand.  One is a preserved 1872 depot originally built by the Cleveland, Painesville & Ashtabula Railroad (later acquired by the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern, a future component of the New York Central). 

Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum

This museum is based in Bellevue and takes part of its name from the railroad which originally served the town, the Mad River & Lake Erie. 

This road would abandon its original alignment through Bellevue in early 1858 for a better grade running via nearby Clyde. 

Bellevue would later become an important point along the New York, Chicago & St. Louis (Nickel Plate Road), which became the location of a major yard and shop facilities.  Today, the museum houses several artifacts and displays.

Marion Union Station Association

As the name suggests this is the town of Marion's preserved union station, which is surrounded by active main lines.  The facility, which includes a preserved Erie Lackawanna caboose, has select times available for tours.  To learn more about visiting the location please call them at 740-383-3768.

Northern Ohio Railway Museum

This organization is located in Seville and primarily focuses on a local and national interurban history.

It owns 2 miles of the former Cleveland, Southwestern & Columbus Railway's right-of-way, a traction system that once served its home area.  

They have a large collection of preserved streetcar/interurban equipment on hand and a small carbarn to house the cars.  The museum is open from late May through October. 

Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation, Inc.

The NORP is based in Findlay offering quarter-scale train rides to the public along with a small museum, gift shop, and layouts to view.

Ohio Railway Museum

The Ohio Railway Museum, based in Worthington, offers visitors the chance to peruse historic rolling stock while also offering short scenic train rides.  The organization operates these trips on Sunday afternoons only.

Orrville Railroad Heritage Society

This non-profit group is located in Orrville and generally aims to preserve Ohio's rich history with railroads. They have a few pieces of rolling stock on hand including GP7 #471 which hosts excursions.  

Warther Carving Museum

The Warther Museum, located in Dover, Ohio, features very likely the most detailed and well-constructed train carvings you can find throughout the world.

Not only are the carvings superbly well crafted but they are also built of rare natural materials such as ivory and ebony. Perhaps most amazing is these models are mechanically operable and just static display pieces. 

The collection is a must-see; you will certainly not be disappointed by a visit to Dover, Ohio.

The Warther Museum is entirely self-funded and family operated, The organization currently houses all but a few of Mr. Warther's original pieces; the others' locations are all accounted for and perhaps one day will return to the museum.  

Ernest Warther was a self-taught man who had an education no better than elementary level. However, his love of trains and interest in carving allowed him to create works of art that are, astonishingly, considered priceless by the Smithsonian Institution.  

Never one who particularly loved diesel locomotives or streamlined steamers, Mooney typically stuck to carving "traditional" steam locomotives where all of the parts and pistons could easily be seen (he did carve one diesel and one streamlined steam locomotive).

Mr. Warther also carved other scenes such as a working steel mill, ornate canes, and a tree of folding pliers made from one, solid piece of wood.

- Known simply enough as the Pliers Tree. This unique carving is actually entirely interlocking featuring 511 pairs of pliers and can fold into itself, thus forming one giant pair of pliers. -

By the 1920s Mooney's artistic talent had become so well known he was given the title of, "World's Master Carver."   As good as the man was, he turned down hundreds of thousands of dollars for his carvings, claiming they were only a hobby not meant as a business.

However, he did carry out a promotional tour of his carvings when the New York Central Railroad featured some of his pieces on board a special train.  Mr. Warther had several quotes he is remembered for, some of which are now quite famous. Here are a few:

"Start right where you are and act as if no one is trying to hinder you."

"Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today."

"There is more wasted energy spent getting angry then there is in fixing what broke."

"Everything has its own rhythm or tempo that is in step with nature and if you can find the tempo of the task at hand, the work becomes effortless."

What eventually did become a successful business for was the sale of his very own brand of cutlery that can still purchase today in the museum's gift shop.

Mooney never used manufactured knives to do carvings, stating they were simply too clumsy and awkward. Instead, he developed his own style of carving knife, although he never manufactured it for sale.

Generally, these one-of-a-kind carving knives feature very short blades, most just a thumb-size in length, and can be easily interchanged to save time and energy.  

The world of Ernest and Freida Warther has grown over the years. Today, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th generation Warther's operate the Warther Museum, knife making shop, button collection, arrowheads, gardens and the gift shop.

While Ernest "Mooney" Warther never made millions from his priceless carvings he lived a very enjoyable life spending plenty of time with friends and family when not in the workshop.

While the great carver passed away many years ago, his legacy and carvings live on at his home and property in Dover.