You'll definitely get a taste of small town life when you come to Walkersville.
The Walkersville railroad's station is a "turn of the century" small-town railroad station
built by the Pennsylvania Railroad in the late 1800s. Our ticket office is located here.
Next to the station is a small tool
house built during the same period where tools, baggage and freight would have been stored prior to
loading on the train. Imagine what life was like in the heyday of the railroad
as you look at these structures.
When you are ready to board the train, you'll enter through the door of the car at the top of the
ramp next to the baggage house. Look through the cars and choose one that you like. The
excursion train runs south from Walkersville, through the Walkersville Community Park, and past
Fountain Rock, site of a 100-year old lime kiln. Coal for heating the limestone was brought in by
rail and the finished
product was shipped back out to farmers locally and taken north into
Pennsylvania and beyond. This was once a major industry for the Frederick area. Remnants of the
old railroad operation there are still visible and the kiln itself has recently been restored by
the Frederick County Parks Department.
The ride continues south through the woods, and then out into picturesque Maryland farm country
past Barricks Farm, established in the early 1820's. On a clear day you can view the Catoctin
Mountains west of Frederick. Before returning to the Walkerville Station you will cross the
beautiful Monocacy River on the recently reconstructed railroad bridge. The view is impressive
and will be the highlight of your trip.
The ride is leisurely, with speeds limited to ten miles per hour. Passengers may choose to ride
in our open-air excursion car, remodeled passenger coaches, or the
caboose. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis, and excursions are held rain or shine!
The Railroad Gift Shop, located inside our ticket office, will normally be open before and after each excursion.
Ticket office hours are
from approximately 10:30 AM to 4:00 PM on excursion days.