Medina Railroad Museum — Attraction in Town of Ridgeway

We have gone many times in the past few years. last year it felt magical. Was able to see everything there was some a little trash on the rail road line and the museum was amazing. This year we went this past weekend on 10/13/24 we did the same trip as last time. We paid for the first class breakfast tickets. Some of us didn’t get our coffee or tea. Had to repeatedly ask. We were supposed to get a danish and a muffin only some we’re lucky enough to get one of the pastry item. We had a remind people that we still needed coffee and the tea my sister got and stuff floating in it and never got the tea bag. We have worked hospitality and most of our lives before our main careers. But don’t say it from your bus table because that means your bus table is dirty and you should’ve cleaned I have no idea what happened between last year and this year but over $700.00 for 16 people to have one pastry when you were supposed to get a danish and a muffin as advertised and a fruit cup and possibly one hot drink on a frozen train that heated up half way to the destination and the the windows fogged and everyone was afraid to wipe the windows to see out because it smelt like cat urine really made our trip special. Now mind you the bathroom was near us and why was the cart staff in there a lot? There were a few children like four in our cart. One only belonging to our group. They asked if they wanted to play hot potato the kids shouted out no but somehow some of them got wrangled into playing hot potato styrofoam cup. It did not end well one kid crushed it while they then said they would just replay but the cart thank goodness as back in motion and game was ended. Please look to the left side of the train ride the whole way through because at least not as much Trash on that side But they destroyed a tent city with all the garbage and destruction on the right hand side, almost at Lockport made you not want to look at all. This has been the third or fourth trip for my family members. Sadly with this trip will probably be our last. we would be willing to stop by there museum bit of out there because it is amazing. But more trash than leaves and not the same as last year or the year before or before that. We are never going again on their train ride. I do not know if they are short on staff but the mother and daughter that run the breakfast cart were trying to shrug it off as a diner. We watched as they had conversation with multiple tables as the forgot about us. We had family that didn’t come this year. We kept there tickets and would ah e offered to others but most appear to have prepaid like us. So what was the confusion on what needed to be purchased. Seeing how I watched them bring it from their own vehicles. We did not pay that much to hear we we are short every other table let me refill then get through half the cart A out of B that I’m sorry we are out of this and that. Your site says danish and muffin and drink and mug and fruit cup. I think someone should look at there books this was preordered a month ago. We’re trying to go and have a first class experience, my sister never had a drink we only had a few options of smushed pastries. With that said I have to say the conductors were gentleman all the time helped everybody on and off their Train. They were true gentlemen exactly what you would expect on a train whether road coach went for an escalated first class experience. I must say the stewardess for our train ride. Forgetting they still had to bring us one pastry at least and cups and coffees and ours teas. we should not have received our coffees and teas at 10:44 just outside Lockport, after everybody else who has been freezing on a train or finally able to be warmed up, not only from the heated beverage because they were given, but because the heat finally kicked in and warmed up the whole trolley. My family is so disappointed this was becoming a...

We took the 2013 Fall Foliage Train Ride toward the end of October. Unfortunately, and this is of NO fault to the museum because they obviously cannot control this or when color does or does not appear that year (just luck of the draw), many of the leaves hadn't changed colors yet, so there really wasn't much "bright fall foliage" to enjoy. The route also isn't all that scenic. There's a few truly lovely views of the Erie Canal and some pretty farmland and cemeteries here and there that are nice, but altogether, I was expecting a much more scenic route.

Now, these next few suggestions, they CAN do something about. It would be wonderful if those attending a scenic train ride could actually see out of the windows. However, only every other seat has access to a window, only 1/2 of the windows open, and the rest were really smeary or foggy - so even when there was a nice view to see, it was very difficult to see or enjoy it with the state that the windows were in, which was very disappointing. I get that they’re original windows and all, but there’s kind of no point if you can’t see out of them. The intercom speaker also went out on our ride, so we missed out on interesting narrative or things of interest, which was sad, though understandable – technical glitches happen.

Also, I think they would benefit greatly by adding an “adult only” coach offering. Again, I understand it’s not their fault that the coach we were assigned to was inundated with a large number of screaming, running toddlers and parents who were not watching them and did nothing to keep them from pestering other passengers onboard, but in the future, I would absolutely pay a little extra for the luxury of an “adult only” coach that ticket buyers could request so they can actually enjoy the train ride. And I think most of the other adults assigned to our coach would have wholeheartedly agreed. I think, if that were an option, I would come back and give one of their other train rides another chance. But between the smeary windows nobody could see out of, the lack of a working intercom system, and the toddlers overrunning our coach, I’m hesitant to go back. These are all things that something can be done to improve though, so hopefully the railroad museum will take these improvements into consideration.

I will say that the staff at the museum is excellent. Very friendly, kind, helpful, and welcoming. And the museum itself is really neat; a great model train display! That’s definitely worth...

I was very lucky to have met Marty Phelps, founder of the Medina Railroad Museum, on a summer visit here to see family some 10 or so years ago. Marty was as friendly as they come, a true dreamer and so passionately devoted to this miracle of a museum he created inside an abandoned railroad freight depot. He invested his heart and soul and every waking minute of his retirement years into making this a special must-see place. Medina is forever grateful to Marty for it is certainly he that solidified this 1800s canal town as a true tourist destination.

So many visit Medina now for the Museum’s famous Polar Express Train Ride weekends in December, Autumn Adventure Train Ride Excursions and Thomas the Tank Engine Days in May. There’s absolutely nothing better than escaping to the glory days of railroad travel and riding in an old train! (Well, for a kid or kid at heart at least.)

One can spend so many magical hours inside the wonderful Medina Railroad Museum with its myriad of memorabilia, unique and fascinating collections and so many fun HO scale train layouts throughout. This historic and spacious 1905 building is over a football field in length. I remember seeing a beautiful and sizable model of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald tucked away in the back corner. The Edmund Fitzgerald was the largest Great Lakes freighter at the time of her launch in 1958. Gordon Lightfoot’s haunting melody about her 1975 sinking stayed in my head for a few days after that.

There’s lots of history to see and experience in Medina’s Historic District after one’s museum tour and/or train ride. Medina is also a mecca for shoppers, foodies, outdoor adventurists and entertainment seekers. The town has so many wonderful boutique stores, antique shops, fabulous restaurants and fun pubs and bars (many with live music). Erie Canal and Glenwood Lake kayaking and Oak Orchard River tubing are popular activities here during spring and summer months. Among Medina’s many festival events throughout the year, the town’s Olde Tyme Christmas and Parade of Lights nighttime parade is not to be missed! With recent increases in the area’s hotel accommodations and many Airbnb options, Medina now makes for a great weekend...