Open-air train cars are nothing new. In fact, the first passenger trains to emerge in the early 19th century all hauled coaches open to the elements. Of course, it soon became obvious that topless and windowless train cars left passengers over-exposed: to wind… to rain… to snow… to chill of night. Times change, but while closed passenger cars became the standard, those open-air coaches and gondolas never went completely out of style! Now, in part because of the coronavirusn, riding alfresco has found new popularity.
Fortunately, in summer of 2022, the pandemic has been brought widely under control in North America. But while traditional train coach rides may be regaining a foothold, the thrill of riding through the great outdoors is an authentic experience that’s hard to beat. A ride aboard an open gondola or coach gives you more than “natural air-conditioning.” Open-top gondolas and windowless coaches offer up the sights and sounds of nature from the roar of a glistening stream, to wind rustling through a leafy forest, to the songs and calls of the wild. And unobstructed views are a boon to photographers and sightseers – offering broad prospectives no vista dome or panoramic window can match!
New England
Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad, Unity, Maine
Experience the piney woods, rolling fields, and creeks of the Maine Highlands from the covered open-air observation car.
Essex Steam Train & Riverboat, Essex, Connecticut
Open first and last cars. added to all excursions during the summer months, offer wooden bench seating.
EcoTarium, Worcester, Massachusetts
Visitors ride open-air passenger cars on a 12-minute tour of the museum grounds aboard the Explorer Express Train.
Mid Atlantic USA
New Hope Railroad, New Hope, Pennsylvania
Classic open-style observation car offers unobstructed “windowless” views of the Bucks County countryside.
Everett Railroad, Claysburg, Pennsylvania
Catch an open-air ride aboard the Everett Railroad’s recently acquired circa 1930s gondola car.
Strasburg Rail Road, Ronks, Pennsylvania
Tour historic Pennsylvania Dutch Country aboard an open-air coach and catch broad views of the countryside and neighboring Amish farms.
Arcade & Attica Railroad, Arcade, New York
Open gondola tags along at the end of the train combines fresh mountain air with stunning panoramic views.
Southern USA
Bluegrass Scenic Railroad and Museum, Versailles, Kentucky Take a “Hobo Class” ride aboard on an open-air car coverted from a circa WWII flat car once used to haul Sherman Tanks.
South Carolina Railroad Museum, Winnsboro, South Carolina
Steam runs aboard the museum’s Rockton, Rion & Western Railroad feature open-air car amd caboose rides – rain or shine!
Florida Railroad Museum, Parrish Florida
Used by the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus to transport elephants, this former freight car was transformed into an open-window coack by the museum.
Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum, Calera, Albama
Ride the rails aboard a circa 1910 “Frisco Lines” coach with windows that open; or a World War II-era U.S. Army flat car refited for open-air railroading.
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, Bryson City, North Carolina
Riders choose between an open-air gondola with outward facing seats or restored vintage standard class coaches with windows that open.
Midwest USA
Southern Michigan Railroad, Clinton, Michigan
The additions of a deck, seating, pipe handrails, and boarding ramps have help repurpose this old steel-pipe-hauling car for open-air excursions.
Lumberjack Steam Train, Laona, Wisconsin
A century old boxcar originally built for the Laona & Northern Railway, has been carefully converted into an open-air observation car and painted bright red.
Hocking Valley Scenic Railway, Nelsonville, Ohio
Two hard-top, open-air cars, converted from historic freight cars, offer the best opportunity to see the historic sites, farmland, and foothills of the Hocking River Valley.
Southwest USA
Grapevine Vintage Railroad
From late spring to early fall, windows are removed from Touring Class Coaches. Authentic vintage wooden bench style seating is featured.
Oklahoma Railway Museum
Southern Pacific Railroad flat car has been modified into an open-air passenger car. The car is wheelchair accessible.
Texas State Railroad
Take your place on a vintage wooden bench aboard a windowless open coach then breeze along through the East Texas countryside.
Western USA
California Railroads Museum, Sacramento, California
Train rides on the museum’s Sacramento Southern Railroad include seating aboard open-air gondolas.
Georgetown Loop Railroad, Georgetown, Colorado
All Now through fall, experience the fresh air and open spaces of the Rocky Mountains aboard an open air car.
Leadville Colorado & Southern Railroad, Leadville, Colorado
Open-air and covered coaches offer riders a choice of fresh-air passenger train experiences.
Cripple Creek And Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad, Cripple Creek, Colorado
From spring through fall, classic steam locomotive hauls open-air coach cars on this family-owned narrow-gauge railroad.
Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, Chama, New Mexico and Antonito, Colorado
Step out on the gondola car for fresh air and a docent-guided description of the historic railroad.
Oregon Pacific Railroad, Portland, Oregon
Hard-top open-air car provides healthful ventilation and great views, while providing cover from sun and rain.
Canada
Kettle Valley Steam Railway, Summerland, British Columbia
Fresh air and cooling breezes fill open-sided cars with sun-shielding roofs.
Kamloops Heritage Railway, Kamloops, British Columbia
Built by railway volunteers nearly 20 years ago, two open-air cars have since had hard roofs added to block the sumer sun.
Portage Flyer at Muskoka Heritage Place, Huntsville, Ontario
Passengers riding the Algonquin and Iroquois – a pair of heritage coaches – experience open-aired excursions as they have for a century.
While rail attractions have worked hard to get back on track, expect some limits and restrictions to still be in place. In particular, access to museum exhibit, gift shop, and food service areas may affected. Anti-covid practices like social distancing and wearing face coverings may still be required or advised. For an another fresh-air rail experience, check out our Railbikes Rides feature. For complete listings of scenic and heritage train rides in the U.S. and Canada have a look at the Train Traveling guide to Train Rides.
