All-aboard! What’s a visit to a theme park without a ride on a classic steam locomotive? Here’s our picks for the best theme park steam trains in America. To come up with this non-scientific list, we looked at many factors like how impressive, unique, or historic the locomotive is, how long and interesting the route is, and what there is to look at along the way.
Train Terminology
Before we get into the list, let’s review a little steam train terminology. Locomotives have different wheel configurations which are classified using the notation X-Y-Z, where X is the number of wheels on the leading truck (or bogie), Y are the number of connected drive wheels, and Z is the trailing truck. Leading wheels are used to help the locomotive negotiate curves and to support the front portion of the boiler. If a leading or trailing bogie is not present it is denoted as a 0. The drive wheels are powered by the pistons and are coupled together with side rods.
Let’s take 4-4-2 for example. If you’re looking directly at the side of the train you would see two small wheels, two large wheels connected together, and one small wheel. Make sense?
Shown below are the wheel configurations for all the engines running on the theme park railroads in this list. As you can see, 4-4-0 is the most popular type of locomotive used on amusement park trains.
Not Actually Trains
- The Hogwarts Express at Universal Orlando is absent from this list because it’s not a functioning steam train – it’s actually more like a cable car, called a funicular. You can learn more about how the Hogwarts Express works here.
- Big Thunder Mountain Railway at Magic Kingdom and Disneyland are roller coasters themed to look like little trains.
- Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a trackless dark ride which starts and ends looking and feeling like a real train even though it’s not.
- Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is also a roller coaster designed to look like a train, complete with steam effects and all.
We did not take into consideration individually operated railroads with no theme parks attached or zoo trains. This list also doesn’t include small amusement parks where the primary attraction is the train ride, such as Tweetsie Railroad. To make this list, the train has to be one of many marquee attractions inside a theme or amusement park.
Now, let’s countdown the best theme park steam trains in America!
12. Worlds of Fun Railroad
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Opened: 1973
Length: 1.01 miles
Stations: 1
Gauge: 36 inch
Wheel configuration: 4-4-0
Fuel: Propane
Engine: #33 “Eli”
During the scenic ride around the park, passengers on Worlds of Fun Railroad are afforded views of the Prowler wooden coaster that can’t be seen from anywhere else in the park. Engine Eli has been out of commission since the end of the 2018 season for boiler work, but last we heard the park hopes to have it running again for the 2021 season. The park is also expected to introduce engine Levi in 2021 as well. After Knott’s Berry Farm’s train, Worlds of Fun Railroad has the second shortest track on our list.
Update: Worlds of Fun announced that Eli would be returning to the tracks starting on Saturday, August 6th, 2021. No word on Levi – if you have any information I’d love to hear the status.
11. Tommy G. Robertson Railroad at Six Flags St. Louis
Location: Eureka, Missouri
Opened: 1971
Length: 1.2 miles
Stations: 2
Gauge: 36 inch
Wheel Configuration: 4-4-0
Fuel: Propane
Engine: Tommy G. Robertson
The Tommy G. Robertson Railroad at Six Flags St. Louis used to have two engines but one was sold to Busch Gardens Tampa in the 1990s. The two stations are a mere 400 feet from each other so it doesn’t really do much in terms of transportation but does offer a nice relaxing ride around the park.
10. Kings Island & Miami Valley Railroad
Location: Mason, Ohio
Opened: 1972
Length: 1.04 miles
Stations: 2
Gauge: 36 inch
Wheel Configuration: 4-4-0
Fuel: Propane
Engines:
#12 (Blue) Kenny Van Meter
#19 (Green) Lew Brown
The Kings Island & Miami Valley Railroad actually serves a purpose other than just a scenic ride through wooded valleys: transportation to and from the water park. Yes, you can avoid 2,400 feet of walking by taking the train both ways. With both trains filled to capacity, 960 guests can be “on rail” at one time. The mostly wooded journey offers up close views of Diamondback and Mystic Timbers for coaster fans.
9. Walt Disney World Railroad at Magic Kingdom
Location: Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Opened: 1971
Length: 1.5 miles
Stations: 3
Gauge: 36 inch
Fuel: Oil
Engines:
#1 Walter E. Disney, 4-6-0, built 1925
#2 Lilly Belle, 2-6-0, built 1928
#3 Roger E. Broggie, 4-6-0, built 1928
#4 Roy O. Disney, 4-4-0, built 1925
Walt Disney World static train display
The Walt Disney World Railroad takes a grand circle tour of the Magic Kingdom, giving passengers a glimpse inside Splash Mountain and show scenes of animals and Native American villages. Each locomotive consumes 25 US gallons of fuel and 200 gallons of water per hour.
The Walt Disney World Railroad has been closed since December 2018 and is currently not operating due to construction on the new TRON roller coaster attraction, set to open in 2022. The steam engines can still be seen in static displays at each station. Check the status of the Disney World train here.
8. Busch Gardens Railway at Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Location: Williamsburg, Virginia
Opened: 1975
Length: 1.5 miles
Stations: 3
Gauge: 36 inch
Fuel: Propane
Wheel configuration: 4-4-0
Engines:
#17 Alpen Express, 1972
#661 Balmoral Castle, 1974
#238 Der Hochbeinige, 1974
Three steam-powered locomotives whisk guests through 134 acres of lush landscaping with stops in Scotland, New France and Festa Italia for a breathtaking tour of the park. The highlight of the roughly 20 minute ride is the 400 foot trestle bridge over the Rhine River.
https://buschgardens.com/williamsburg/blog/top-11-theme-park-things-to-do/
7. Cedar Point and Lake Erie Railroad
Location: Sandusky, Ohio
Opened: 1963
Length: 1.24 miles
Stations: 2
Gauge: 36 inch
Fuel: Coal
Engines:
#1 G.A. Boeckling, 2-4-0, 1927
#4 George R., 2-4-0, 1942
#22 Myron H., 2-4-0, 1922
#44 Judy K., 2-4-0, 1923
Starting at the Main Midway station, the first half of the Cedar Point and Lake Erie Railroad runs parallel to Perimeter Road, giving guests great views of Millennium Force, Thunder Canyon, Maverick, and Lake Erie. Where the train really shines is the route between Frontier Town and the Main Midway station. The train passes through a fictional, western-themed town populated by around fifty skeletons. The animated ghost town was added in late 1963 and later renamed to Boneville in the 1970s.
6. Ghost Town and Calico Railway at Knott’s Berry Farm
Location: Buena Park, California
Opened: 1952
Length: 3,215 feet
Stations: 1
Gauge: 36 inch
Fuel: Oil
Engines:
#340, 2-8-0, 1881
#41 Walter K, 2-8-0. 1881
The Ghost Town and Calico Railway at Knott’s Berry Farm opened three years before nearby neighbor Disneyland and is quite possibly the most historic of all theme park trains. Ghost Town bandits still hold up every departure to this day. While Ghost Town and Calico Railway boasts the second largest locomotives on our list, the track length is by far the shortest and the layout is the most unoriginal (a plain oval), two reasons for not ranking it higher, plus it lacks the natural scenery many of the other trains have.
5. Frisco Silver Dollar Line Steam Train at Silver Dollar City
Location: Branson, Missouri
Opened: 1962
Length: 1.52 miles
Stations: 1
Gauge: 2 ft
Fuel: Diesel
Engines:
#43, 0-4-0, built in 1934
#76, 0-4-0, built in 1940
#14, 0-4-0, built in 1938
Take a leisurely and humorous 20-minute steam train ride through the beautiful Ozark countryside surrounding Silver Dollar City on the Frisco Silver Dollar Line Steam Train. The only 24 inch track gauge on our list but one of three railroads that still utilize a show element with actors. The train stops in the middle of the course for a show where “train robbers” attempt to rob the train. In 2022, the railroad will be celebrating its 60th anniversary in operation.
4. Serengeti Express at Busch Gardens Tampa
Location: Tampa, Florida
Opened: 1971
Length: 2.2 miles
Stations: 3
Gauge: 3 ft
Engines:
#5, 4-4-0, 1970
#9, 4-4-0, 1971
#601, 4-4-0, 1974 (originally built for Kings Dominion)
Formerly known as the Trans Veldt Railway, the Serengeti Express is the best way to take in the beauty of Busch Garden’s sprawling 335-acres. It’s the third longest train on our list in terms of track length. Thankfully, three separate stations in Congo, Nairobi and Stanleyville help you traverse this massive park. But what really sets this relaxing train ride apart is the outstanding views of the Serengeti Plains, the home of large free-roaming herds of African animals, including giraffe, zebra, antelope, rhino, ostrich and much more. No two rides are alike. Tip: sit on the left side for the best view of the Serengeti Plains animals. Coaster enthusiasts should sit on the right side to see the twisting elements of giant coasters Montu and Kumba up close.
3. Disneyland Railroad
Location: Anaheim, California
Opened: 1955
Length: 1.23 miles
Stations: 4
Gauge: 3 ft
Fuel: Biodiesel
Engines:
#1 C.K. Holiday, 4-4-0, 1955
#2 E.P. Ripley, 4-4-0, 1955
#3 Fred Gurley, 2-4-4, 1894
#4 Ernest S. March, 2-4-0, 1925
#5 Ward Kimball, 2-4-4, 1902
Quite possibly the most famous railroad in the world, Disneyland’s railroad set the trend of encircling a new theme park with a train. Not only does it create a berm, or barrier, to the outside world, it’s also a handy way to navigate the park. Hop on or off at one of four convenient stations (the most stations of any railroad on our list): Main Street, U.S.A., New Orleans Square, Mickey’s Toontown, and Tomorrowland. Trains arrive every five to ten minutes at most times throughout the day and travel clockwise in a grand circle tour around the park.
You’ll steam along the banks of the Rivers of America and see rock formations, wildlife and picturesque waterfalls. Between the Tomorrowland and Main Street, U.S.A. stations the train travels through Walt Disney’s legendary dioramas of the Grand Canyon and Primeval World – Land of the Dinosaurs. While passengers in most trains sit facing the direction of travel, Disneyland’s train has you sitting perpendicular to the rails so you’re facing towards the center of the park at all times, traveling sideways down the tracks. The layout of the second oldest theme park train on our list has been modified several times over the years, most recently for the addition of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
2. Silverwood Steam Engine Train at Silverwood Theme Park
Location: Athol, Idaho
Opened: 1988
Length: 3.2 miles
Stations: 1
Gauge: 3 ft
Fuel: Oil
Top Speed: 10 mph
Engine: #7, 2-6-2, built in 1915
Silverwood’s train is surprisingly like a “greatest hits” of all the other great trains on our list: scenic ride through forests with mountain views, corny jokes, roaming animals (bison herd), static Western town scenes, and a “train robbery” half way through. Of the three trains on our list that still involve actors, Silverwood’s is the most entertaining and choreographed show. The robbers actually will take your money – to donate to charity. There’s a narration by an onboard actor throughout the more than 3 mile long journey, by far the longest train on our list, more than double the length of all but two other theme park railroads. The #7 engine has a unique 2-6-2 wheel configuration and while it was built in 1915, the railroad as a whole is the youngest on our list, opening in 1988. While not as well known, it’s a good long ride that offers a little bit of everything you might want from a train ride.
1. Dollywood Express at Dollywood
Location: Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Opened: 1961
Length: 2.96 miles traversed
Stations: 1
Gauge: 3 ft
Fuel: Coal
Engines:
#192 Klondike Katie, 2-8-2, built in 1943
#70 Cinderella, 2-8-2, built in 1938
The top of our list of best theme park steam trains in America is none other than the famous Dollywood Express. It’s the biggest, loudest, and dirtiest of the bunch. When you see the black smoke start belching out of the smokestack, you’ll know you’re on an authentic, old fashioned steam train. It burns real coal so yes, you can get real cinders in your eyes. The track right out of the station is at a five degree uphill grade and at one point in the journey reaches a six degree incline. One could say the Dollywood Express is the hardest working train in the theme park industry today, safely pulling cinnamon bread stuffed guests up and down the mountain everyday.
In order to pull the seven passenger cars, Dollywood boasts the two biggest engines of any theme park train, with impressive twelve wheel 2-8-2 configurations. When the whistle blows, it’s so loud it’s almost offensive, and can be heard from outside the park. The total distance traversed on the out-and-back layout makes it the second longest train on our list. The long ride gives you additional time to soak in the majestic views of the Smoky Mountains.
I’ve always wondered, when you buy a ticket to Dollywood, what percentage goes directly towards the Dollywood Express? I would imagine it is very expensive to operate. But oh so worth it. No visit to Dollywood is complete without a ride on the Dollywood Express.
In Fall of 2020 guest were required to get a return time ticket due to the reduced capacity for COVID-19 prevention procedures.
Best Theme Park Steam Trains Comparison
Notable Mentions
Steam trains at the following parks were considered but just missed being added to our list of best theme park steam trains for one reason or another:
Six Flags Great America, Six Flags Over Texas, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, Six Flags Over Georgia, Animal Kingdom, Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad, Edaville Family Theme Park, Dorney Park, Lagoon Park, Knoebels, & HersheyPark
Author’s Note 8/6/21: OK, so after more consideration and getting feedback from readers, I think if I were to write this article again I’d make it the top 15 steam trains and I would include Six Flags Over Texas, Little Amerricka, and Tweetsie Railroad. You can see my amended list in the video below.
Want to read more about operating and defunct theme park steam trains? Read this new book.
Final Thoughts
I hope you enjoyed reading about the best theme park steam trains in the United States. We’re lucky so many steam trains still exist for us to enjoy today. Which one is your favorite? If we forgot your favorite train, let us know in the comments below and why it should be on this list!
Six Flags St. Louis may be close station to station, but there is an aggressive change in elevation as the park is set on the side of a hill. Taking the train let’s you walk mostly downhill.
The list is fine, but why wasn’t something like Tweetsie considered?
As I tried to explain in the article, Tweetsie is a primarily a railroad that happens to have a few amusement park rides. I kept the lists to amusement parks that happen to have a good train ride. If you took the train out of Tweetsie there’s not much else to get excited about. If you removed the train from any other park on this list there is still plenty to do. Does that make sense?
A very good list, but there’s one theme park that I would’ve added to this list, and that would be my home park, Tweetsie Railroad. The park itself revolves a pair of 3 foot Narrow Gauge Steam Engines, which are both coal-fired and tackle some truly steep grades. Not to mention, The park’s history is tied to a narrow gauge railroad that used to run in the area.
My reasoning was Tweetsie is a primarily a railroad that happens to have a few amusement park rides. I kept the lists to amusement parks that happen to have a good train ride. If you took the train out of Tweetsie there’s not much else to get excited about. If you removed the train from any other park on this list there is still plenty to do. Does that make sense?
really?? you SUCK!!! the Six flags over texas R.R. was in the park in 61. oh but all we get is an Honarable mention REALLY?
Blame COVID. We had a big Texas trip planned last year in which we would have seen the SFOT train in person but had to cancel the trip. This isn’t a list of the oldest trains. What makes the SFOT special besides being old? In all the articles, podcasts, and social media I follow, I had never heard a single thing, positive of negative, about the SFOT train until we published this article.
Great list and I don’t disagree with your top rankings, but I do disagree with your characterization of Tweetsie Railroad. They have 14 rides in addition to the train including a sky ride and a turnpike along with five shows and a zoo in five themed areas spread over 30 acres. That seems to be a pretty sizable facility in its own right.
Thank Jim and fair enough, although I could just say “theme parks that include at least one roller coaster.”
My 2nd favorite train after Dollywood is the very long steam train at Little Amerika in Wisconsin! Here’s a quote from Wikpedia: “Little Amerricka is an amusement park located in Marshall, Wisconsin, USA. It features the 16 in (406 mm) gauge[1] Whiskey River Railway, a 1/3 size railroad with over 3 miles of track that begins at the amusement park and goes through scenic trees, past the wildlife pond area, and across the Whiskey River. Passengers hear a whistle as they go through the tunnel, past the locomotive shops including roundhouse and turntable, over bridges and around a lake.”
Here’s a link to a great video on it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdVr_oPHiIw
This railroad is a must if you like trains!
Thanks Ted. If I re-did this list Whiskey River would be on it for sure. Never been to Little Amerika but it’s definitely at the top of my list of theme park trains I need to ride.
192 at Dollywood is the sister engine to 190 at Tweetsie Railroad. Tweetsie is a theme park train though. It is a wild west theme park. I prefer Tweetsie Railroad over Dollywood and every park on your list because they did not loose sight of the train.
What became of Rachel (Vulcan, 1920) and Beatrice (Porter 1910), the 2-4-4 locos that ran at Nashville’s Opryland Railroad [until the park closed]?
As of my research in August 2021:
Rachel: As of February 2021, the locomotive is in storage in Grapevine, Texas.
Beatrice and some coaches can now be found at Six Flags America near Washington D.C.
https://www.coaster101.com/2021/08/25/10-defunct-theme-park-steam-trains/
In the early years Worlds of Fun Railroad had actors on the back portion doing a train robbery or other mischief
That’s awesome! It’s going to be interesting riding this year as it goes over and under the Zinger!