Whippany train is an all volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to the Restoration, Preservation and Interpretation of Historic Railroad Equipment and Artifacts of New Jersey. The Museum site is home to a vast assortment of historic train locomotives, rolling stock, and operating model train layouts. Proceeds from the Excursion Train Rides help to further enhance the Museum’s mission and historic preservation efforts.
Children of all ages love to climb aboard our springtime Streamliner for what is often their first train ride ever. The 10-mile round trip excursion offers a ride into the heart of New Jersey. The event includes a visit from the Easter Bunny and the chance to see the Museum site and its collections. Advance internet ticket purchases are strongly recommended.
During the 45-minute ride, passengers are treated to a relaxing and memorable experience. Our passenger cars are climate controlled, beautifully decorated and have spacious seating with overstuffed reclining chairs in a 2-2 seating arrangement. Each passenger will receive a commemorative gift.
The Museum’s ‘O’-gauge model train display features a representation of a New Jersey rail yard and station building, very much in the style of the actual Morristown & Erie Railroad (M&E) freight house at Whippany. This remarkable exhibit is the result of thousands of hours of volunteer design, planning and construction work. The entire display weighs over 1,500 pounds, and represents a significant financial investment in lumber, tracks, wiring, structures and scenery.
Our unique collection of historic rail cars includes a variety of styles and sizes, from a caboose to an old-fashioned passenger coach. Take a moment to step inside a Pullman car and imagine what it would have been like for passengers of the past to relax in luxury while traveling.
You can also enter the cab of our steam locomotive, No. 385. Sit down in the engineer’s seat, ring the bell, and feel what it must have been like to be in total command of a powerful fire-breathing iron horse.
The Museum is located behind the fieldstone depot at 1 Railroad Plaza in Whippany, NJ. It is a short distance from Routes 24, 80, 280 and 287. Free parking is available in the Museum lot or on street.
Whippany Railway Museum has been the place for families to come to share in the excitement of railroading and to relive the fond memories of childhood. The all-volunteer, non-profit Museum is a National Historic Landmark, dedicated to Preserving the Heritage and History of Railroads of New Jersey. The Museum has been in operation since 1965 and is an important part of the State’s cultural heritage. It was the first railway museum in the United States to open its doors to the general public, and remains today one of the largest and most extensive collections of historic railroad equipment and artifacts in North America. It is also an outstanding resource for students, teachers, researchers and historians. The Museum is a member of the American Association of Railway Museums, the Society for the Preservation of New Jersey Antiquities and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
