The South Carolina Railroad Museum — Attraction in Winnsboro

I have been going here since 2017, it is a great local railroad museum to go to if you are close to Columbia, SC. I would highly recommend this to anyone! really great museum!

Edit: I would like to take this time to mention some of the 1 star reviews to clear the bad rep of this place some people say

Review 1: "Cost and hassle not worth the experience. Low reward vs whatever you need to do actually get on the lamest train ever."

My Response: The cost is WAY lower than a lot of the railroad museums around the area. For example, the Great Smokey Mountains Railroad Tickets can be up to $90/person, I wouldn't call it a low reward as the rides are longer than most railroad museums in NC for the cost. Calling it the "lamest train ever" doesn't really match up, I think you mean this because it is pulled by real vintage locomotives instead of newer locomotives.

Review 2: "Closed even though online says open! Everything is locked and sign in parking lot say open! Several other people stopped to look"

My Response: I am going to assume this review was mid-COVID-19, I agree with your statement but just because it wasn't open doesn't mean you should leave a 1-star review.

Review 3: "After looking I wouldn't waste my time."

My Response: Revisit the place and ride the train and edit your review, I have been to this museum a lot of times and it has never disappointed me in the slightest.

Review 4: "Cold and wet. No heat on train ride with kids"

My Response: You might have been riding in an open-air coach, the SCRM is not like the Strasburg Railroad or GSMR, the railroad museum suggests bringing appropriate clothing for the weather for a reason.

Review 5: "A good little ride for a 1st time train kiddo. Volunteers were awesome. A few suggestions. Seeing as it was $17 a person and a very slow ride to and from w nothing on the speaker (yet it was stated on website to sit by a speaker and to hear better), I would suggest the speaker being utilized to play Christmas music possibly and if able each car to have a little them with a person that would be willing to "entertain" kids and maybe sing Christmas carols while waitijg for santa to enter each car. Santa was kind, and kids loved him, but he was a lone ranger and really could have used some elves to assist in keeping kids' attention and excitement for the "experience." Please feel free to contact my family and we would be happy to volunteer time next year. I'll dress up all day and sing carols to entertain these beautiful children God gave us to steward. Be blessed"

My Response: Like I said, this is not the Great Smokey Mountains Railroad Christmas Trains, this railroad museum is volunteer ran, I understand that your experience did not match your criteria but this review seems like it should be a 3-4 star review instead of a 2 star review, I do agree with some of the points like music played over the speakers but the railroad museum can only do so much with their resources.

Final Review: "The train is really old. It travels back and forth not around the track. Santa did show and that was a treat for the kids, but that was all."

My Response: Just wait until you see other railroad museums, the whole point of this railroad museum is to go in to the past and ride old equipment while seeing what once was the Rockton-Rion Railway, I don't really see the point in such bad review, everyone seems to be enjoying the train ride from the photos you provide. But still, its your opinion, and I cannot change that.

EDIT 1: I am now a volunteer, and you may see me Car Hosting your train! My name is Zak, becoming a volunteer here is one of the best ideas I've had. I hope to see you folks on the train with us soon! Or even better, becoming a volunteer with us and ensuring a...

We purchased ticket for the “Santa Train Ride” for the 11a ride on Sat Dec 21, 2024. We got there on time and boarded the train. I was Not impressed with the train upon entering, but I figured for the $17 per ticket (5 tickets) I shouldn’t expect too much. So we leave the station at 11a and we got about 5-10 mph. About 45 min into the ride, here comes Santa (creepy Santa). So he goes down the cars to see the kids. Upon entering our car, we were the 2nd row, I immediately felt unease and I wasn’t sure why. So he sat down in our row to talk to the kids. My 4.5 yr old doesn’t get the creeps as easy as the others. Then it was my goddaughters (9) turn. She sat and did her thing. Then my 13 yr old didn’t want to sit on his lap, and I told Santa that she prob wouldn’t sit on his lap. He insisted, I again sad she WONT sit on his lap and he kept insisting. I looked at my daughter and told her she didn’t have to do it if she didn’t want to. She ended up doing it, bc she “didnt want to hurt his feelings”. (Something we are working on.) Clearly in the pics she was Not comfortable. After getting off the train, we went to the ticket booth lady so I could talk to her. When I mentioned that the Santa was inappropriate with my daughter, she immediately said she knew which Santa I was talking about. (I hadn’t shown her his pic yet). Why did she know what Santa I was talking about and if she knew, then Why was he still allowed to participate! We will Never return. We had a miserable time. Not only did we have to sit on the tracks at a standstill for almost 30 min bc another train was coming and to avoid colliding, we had to back up into another track!

Also, the train could’ve been decorated a bit...

Probably would have enjoyed it more if it wouldn't have been pouring rain and cold for a field trip with preschoolers in pajamas in December. Had to dodge lots of standing water, the museum seems to be in a lower spot, with no where for water to drain. The museum is small, but full of different items to look at. I did like that the items I saw were labeled with what railroad they came from. Didn't get to see the majority of the museum up close, it was being used as a waiting area for the kids, I suppose since there isn't anywhere else big enough for that large a group to be inside there since it was raining. Had lots of different train cars on track display, but again, didn't get to see them up close since it was raining. Train ride was fun, the kids really enjoyed seeing Santa, but the ride in the cars was cold. Plenty of light, but no heat. Pretty sure that the bathroom facilities at the museum were pushed to their max with all those children having to use the bathroom several times while there. Would likely go again, just on a warmer drier day. Easy to find with the...