The Timeless Allure of the Classic Caboose

The caboose, once the iconic end car of freight trains, holds a special place in the hearts of train enthusiasts and the generations of children that waived at the crews inside the caboose as the trains passed by. These rides offer an opportunity to view train travel from the perspective of the train crew in an era where the caboose served as a mobile office and living quarters for the freight train crew.

Included with This Ticket

• 55 minute train ride in a 1924 wooden caboose pulled by a diesel locomotive.
• Admission to museum display buildings
• Self-guided tour pamphlet (provided at ticket window)

Duration

Train ride takes approximately 55-minutes. Suggested additional time to allow for taking the self-guided tour of the museum displays and a visit to the gift shop is about 1 hour. The museum areas can be explored before or after the train ride.

About Caboose Rides

Take a memorable, seven-mile, 55-minute round-trip train ride aboard an authentic 1924 caboose! Experience the ride from a unique vantage point historically used only by the train crew.

The caboose has two distinct seating areas inside. The lower seating area contained the conductor's office, a coal stove, and crew beds (converted to benches for seating). The upper seating area, called the "cupola," provides roof-level seating, offering views not just out the sides of the car, but also grants views forward and back, above the roofline of the cars ahead.

Capacity

• Typical capacity is 8 passengers
• If the caboose is occupied by a single party, then groups of up to 12 passengers can be accommodated.

Seating Arrangements

Seating in the caboose is comprised of two bench seats and a conductor desk/chair on the lower level with space for 4-6 passengers plus 4 seats in the upper level, or "cupola."

At the halfway point of the ride, the 4 passengers riding in the cupola switch seats with the 4 persons previously riding in the lower seating section. Seating capacity is therefore typically limited to 8 passengers to give each caboose passenger an opportunity to experience both areas.

Groups of 9-12 People

The lower seating section can accommodate up to 8 people, so if all caboose tickets are booked by a single party, then the normal 8-person overall limit doesn't apply. In that case the caboose can hold up to 12 passengers. Groups of this size cannot be booked online - please contact a ticket agent for assistance at 608-522-4261 or 800-930-1385.

About the Museum

Mid-Continent is much more than just a train ride. Our Coach Sheds are filled with restored wooden passenger cars, freight cars and displays from the Golden Era of Railroading.

There you will find examples of Mid-Continent’s nationally renowned wood railcar restorations such as the Badger #2 “Fish Car”, the exquisite Art Nouveau-motif of the Milwaukee Lake Shore & Western #63, the 1903-built Copper Range coach #60.

In our outdoor display yard, you can inspect century-old steam locomotives up-close, including Copper Range locomotive #29, Soo Line #2645 and Kewaunee Green Bay & Western #49.

In all, there are over 40 train cars and locomotives on prominent display with many more awaiting restoration.

A self-guided tour pamphlet is available from the depot ticket office.

What to Know

• All trains at Mid-Continent currently use diesel-electric locomotives.
• The caboose is not handicap accessible. Steps are required to enter the car and to climb to the cupola seating.
• Passengers are not permitted to stand on the end platform of the caboose nor walk from car-to-car while the train is in motion.
• The caboose does not have air-conditioning.
• Museum grounds are open from 9:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on days of operation.
• Food is not available nor permitted in the caboose, except for water.