Heritage and scenic railways celebrate Memorial Day Weekend 2021 with train rides and events

Tweetsie Railroad locomotive
North Carolina’s Tweetsie Railroad is one of many rail attractions hosting Memorial Day Weekend train rides. © Tweetsie Railroad

All aboard for summer 2021! For many U.S. scenic and historic railroads, Memorial Day Weekend is when the busy summer season officially begins. It’s also a time when tourist railroads join all Americans in taking time to honor U.S. soldiers lost in liberty’s defense. To commemorate the holiday — Friday, May 28th through Monday, May 31st — many tourist railroads will be hosting Memorial Day Weekend train rides and events.

Of course, though risks are diminishing and CDC guidelines have loosened, the Coronavirus remains a continuing and unpredictable threat in many areas. While far more Memorial Day Weekend train rides are planned this year than last, it’s still a good idea to confirm schedules before heading out. And remember that social distancing and wearing face coverings remain best practices that may still be required or advised by some railroads.

As communities across the country honor our active military, veterans, and fallen heroes, train rides will be be part of many local celebrations. Here’s a regional rundown.

Railroads across New England will be on track Memorial Day Weekend. In New Hampshire, the Mount Washington Cog Railway scales the Northeast’s highest peak while in Massachusetts, the CapeFLYER launches its summer-long Boston to Hyannis service. Also in the Bay State, the Berkshire Scenic Railway’s Hoosac Valley Service returns. Down East, trains at Maine’s WW&F Railway Museum are ready to roll.

The holiday weekend will see trains rolling all around the Mid Atlantic region. In Pennsylvania, veterans and active-duty military ride free at the Northern Central Railway while the West Chester Railroad extends reduced fares to veterans, active military, police, fire, EMS, and first responders. Celebrations extend into the the mountains of upstate New York where the Arcade & Attica Railroad and Catskill Mountain Railroad will both be running through the three-day weekend.

Southern railroads will be on track throughout the weekend. On Memorial Saturday, rides are free for veterans, active military, and their families aboard South Carolina’s Rockton, Rion & Western Railroad. Across the state line, North Carolina’s famous Great Smoky Mountain Railroad and Tweetsie Railroad will both be ready to roll. Up in West Virginia, the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad is expanding its mountain excursion schedule to include Monday holiday runs.

On Memorial Day Weekend, you can expect plenty of trains running across the Midwest. In Ohio, Hocking Valley Scenic Railway thanks veterans and active military for their service with free rides. The Illinois Railway Museum and Kansas’s Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad both celebrate with vintage steam runs! Wisconsin’s East Troy Electric Railroad Museum, and Iowa’s Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad are both adding holiday runs.

Across the Southwest U.S., scenic and historic railroads will be welcoming Memorial Day celebrants. At the Historic Jefferson Railway in Texas, the Andrews Raid Re-enactment commemorates the Civil War era raid by Union-driven train against the Confederacy. Holiday weekend runs are also scheduled at Arizona’s Verde Canyon Railroad and New Mexico’s Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad.

Out west, there’s no shortage of Memorial Day Weekend train rides at Western U.S. railroads. The holiday weekend doubles as opening weekend at both Colorado’s Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad and Nevada’s Virginia & Truckee Railroad. In Oregon, Sumpter Valley Railroad train rides share billing wth an annual Memorial Day Flea Market. Washington’s Chehalis-Centralia Railroad & Museum and Utah’s Heber Valley Railroad have also scheduled special Memorial Day Weekend runs.

Memorial Day Weekend train ride schedules vary. While most railroads will host events on Memorial Day, May 31st; some railroads have scheduled holiday train rides on one or more days including Friday, May 28th, Saturday May 29th, and Sunday, May 30th. Check with individual railroads for exact dates and times and remember that advance reservations are required or advisable in many instances. To find additional scenic trains and heritage railways planning Memorial Day Weekend events check out the complete Train Traveling guide to Train Rides.