National Museum of Transportation — Attraction in Des Peres

Update 11/2024. I really do despise this place, or the management at least. It feels like we have one issue or another every time we go. Let me describe the heartbreak of a 3 year old on his special visit to the museum (mind you, the train was not running this day either, and this place isn't cheap).

The caboose at the entrance outside is this 3 year olds favorite exhibit there. I promise to end with the caboose (see what I do there?) every time we go. He waits patiently. This visit we head over to the caboose, an excitied toddler running toward it, to find a lock on each door. He peers through the window with tears flowing. I assume it's closed for the winter but have never seen it closed previously.

I decided to ask inside when it would reopen. Two employees told me it SHOULD IN FACT BE OPEN and were going to request it to be unlocked - awesome! They mentioned to the manager and pointed to me and I stood and waited for 5 min with no movement. I finally asked this manager about it being locked and told her it's my 3 year old's favorite exhibit and we were really looking forward to it, he was extremely sad about the closure. To which she replies "we forgot to open it, it's going to be locked all day, it's busy today." This pretty much summarizes the management here. I'm not surprised but it about made me tear up. It's so easy to step outside and unlock your exhibit that should be open anyway, for the hundreds of visitors that fork over a lot of money. But you choose to be something else. I can't wait until, when we move from St Louis, to walk out of here with a middle finger stuck up.

Summary: This place just drives me nuts. If you forget your membership card, you're screwed. You better pay up for all of it. They can't look anything up. I got train tickets upon arrival and they marked my membership card, but when we went outside the train was not running due to overheating. It would be delayed and we couldn't wait that long. I asked how to get the card "unmarked" and my credits back and was told "too bad, the train is running today". They don't tell me it's not running/delayed, then refuse to let me just use my credits another time? What kind of place is this?! My kid was devastated about the train, then they make it worse with this kind of attitude. To top it off, they lock up all the Cozy Coupes "except for the weekend". So these kids are sitting there staring at Cozy Coupes behind a locked gate that they don't have access too. It doesn't take any man power to set Cozy Coupes on the pavement and let kids ride in them. I've also been at 3 PM and they are already locked up when they close at 4 PM. This place is rude, out of touch, and elitist, even to members and donors. I completely despise it.

Regarding young kids: it is impossible to get a ticket for Creation Station even 30 min ahead of time and they DO NOT take reservations or ahead of time pickup. So you can waste the entire trip to get there and them all be gone. You also can't get one for yourself for the next day. It's also only 40 min play sessions. (Shortest I've ever heard)

They should modernize this like every other place and allow reservations so you can plan a day accordingly. I have a membership and have never been able to get into Creation Station, which is why I got the membership. It's so absurd.

In response to their response: make half the tickets available by reservation and the other half in person. You are asking people to get there at 9 AM for an 11:45 time slot with a baby? Have you heard of naps? How is one to entertain a baby for almost three hours before play time there? You're out of touch.

People arrive before they even open to start lining up. Even then you may not get a ticket. It's such a stupid waste of time and anxiety inducing. I once arrived before they opened, waited in line and the person in front of me bought 10 tickets. Then, sorry honey, no...

It is fun for kids that like trains and train rides or adults that love trains and history. It also has some old cars you can look at and a few small model trains that run. My son would have spent more time looking at the model trains as he was a little nervous about going into some of the train cars.

However, it can be expensive. Food, enterance, train rides, and few souvenirs cost about $150 (and our youngest didnt have to pay the entrance fee. Nice to do from time to time if you have the money for regular family outings and want to mix things up.

Admission is $15 per adult and $7 per kid but if you dont buy the "unlimited" train rides you are an animal... Why would you take kids and not let them rudenthe train? Or if you take a date not take em on the little train ride? I say no points for you. And no matter the age it is $6 each so we had to pay for our 1 & half year old.

The exact toy train set we bought for my kid was $21 bucks and the other day I saw it at a toy store in town for $15. So about a 30% mark up from the local stores mark up. But it could be much worse Im sure.

Food wise, I would not say it is a reason to go I saw restaurant grade microwaves which heated up the burgers, brauts, and hot dogs we bought. Unless there was a guy who normally grills food fresh that was off that day, thats probably what you are getting, yet dont get too mad. What you pay for here probably would cost you about $6 more somewhere else and they let you bring in your own food and drinks so it is an avoidable purchase if you plan ahead.

The train ride is a ride all day after you pay and goes every 20 minutes. There is only one train on a long circle track which goes around twice per ride. It is the same guided train tour so the replay value is simply the ride. That is as long as the train is working. Also there are guided tours of the facilities but we didnt untilize that accommodation.

We went in the middle of the week so it wasnt busy.

The reason for 3 stars is the average for what I think most will experience.

If you love trains and history this will be closer to 4 stars. If you arent much into older trains, old cars, or history then you either doing it for some date who is...

The National Museum of Transportation and the Old Trains Collection just outside St. Louis, MO in Kirkwood takes you on an epic ride through locomotive history. The museum is appropriate and entertaining for people of all ages. Tickets to ride the train and walk the path through the Old Trains Collection are $15 for adults and between $6-$12 (I can’t remember exactly) for children. You board the train right outside museum doors near the gift shop. The train circles the perimeter of the exhibit. You can ride as many times as you like with the purchase of your tickets. If you don’t have the extra cash, no worries. There is plenty to see inside the museum including a nostalgic collection of classic cars from every era, a horse drawn carriage, and a well equipped and fully loaded (1:87?) scale model train display featuring none other than Thomas the Tank Engine. (Note: My son, who turned 5 years old that day, was in such awe at the model train it was a challenge to pull him away!) For the grownups, and my personal favorite, is the train car library, a table full of discounted books ($1-5), plaques and displays, and plenty more to read and learn about the history of transportation in St. Louis. As a StL native, I feel pride and take interest in learning about local history. The excitement doesn’t end there. An smooth and accessible tree-lined asphalt path guides you through a collection of the most impressive locomotives in history. SEE PICS! There are several benches and well kept handicapped accessible family restrooms on the path. Along the way, board the street car for a short tour and a lesson on the history of public transportation in StL. Volunteers operate the trolly and rely on donations to keep the car up and running so drop a few bucks in the fare box. You can climb aboard and explore many of the old trains they have on site. It’s an excellent adventure and I highly recommend you check it out. P.S. You’ll receive a map for a treasure hunt before you start on the path. Find all the letters and solve the puzzle to win prizes. I wasn’t able to find them all but...