south carolina railroad museum

The Halloween train ride is terrible the attractions look like they just put it out there 5 mins before ride started this ride is for babies and not scary at all if you like slow and non scary rides than this is a ride for you

It was to be expected. Nothing fancy, but served its purpose. Our 2 yr old loved it. We would probably take her here again if she asked.

This is the worst train ride we've EVER been on. So mis-represented on their website. Can not believe what we paid for what was supposed to be a first class car. Old tables & cheap chairs were NEVER used on any railroad for passengers. Juice box & little bag of cookies? Seriously? Could not hear a word of what the guy was saying on the cheaper open air car. AC??? Yeah, right! We expected a train ride. Not a half mile 2 mph crawl thru weeds & then backing up. Only interesting thing was the authentic old train you could walk thru. Don't waste your money on this farce.

I went on a Saturday train trip at the SC Railroad Museum. The train was very comfortable; I went in a 1924 dining car that, thank goodness, had air conditioning. A museum volunteer narrated our trip and was very friendly and informative. The train ride lasted about an hour, and a ride of that length is much better than other railroad museums have.I want to go back and take a ride in the open-air car, which is a freight railroad flatcar with benches and an awning on it.There is also a display train of prewar passenger and railway post office cars, plus other equipment. Definitely worth a trip from Charlotte, Greenville, Columbia or even further.The train ride was $20 (with rides in other cars $12-$15), but otherwise the museum seemed free.

The Museum had made major improvements to its displays and operations. They now have full handicapped access to the operating trains.Passengers can choose among a historic dining car for First Class Service or standard Coaches, or open, but covered, cars, and cabooses

My husband and I took our 7-year-old grandson on the Christmas Train ride on Nov 30, 2013. Before the ride we toured the mail car and private living car. Very interesting glimpse of a bygone age. The ride consists of a 5 mile out and back trip through woods, fields, and below grade sightings of rocks, roots and caves. Also seen are chimneys of slave and sharecropper cabins. Santa and Mrs Claus paid a visit and took time to visit and chat with each child and pose for pictures. Our grandson already announced that he wants to go again next Christmas.

A great ride to take the kids on and it appears to be the only "full size" tourist train in central South Carolina. A very dedicated volunteer staff keeps this train running! Like many tourist railroads these folks provide a lot of sweat equity to make up for a lack of local funding. The track is from a closed down granite quarry and provides the perfect route for a tourist operation like this. I rode in the locomotive and had a great time talking with the enthusiastic staff members. It only runs on Saturdays with one run in the morning and one in the afternoon. There are is a variety of static display railroad cars and locomotives, a few of which are open to walk thru. As far as the train ride, you ride in a passenger car or open car (converted flat car) with the option to upgrade to the caboose or locomotive.

Perfect place for families, seniors, or anyone else. The train runs on Saturdays only and is a total 1 hr ride which makes it perfect. We rode in the open car which was perfect for taking pictures. There were all kinds of things to see enroute including a very old abandoned train. Back in the rail yard they have old trains you can walk around a view..more kodak moments. They also have a small picnic shelter if you want to pack a basket and enjoy your lunch there.Everything except where U buy the tickets and little gift shop are outside so dress accordingly.

This is a nice little journey on an old train. They have several old trains to view, but unfortunately not enough funds to maintain them. They have volunteers who have helped restore some of the old track enabling a little bit more of a ride. Very nice staff.

If you toddler loves trains as much as mine, then this is a must do. It's also the closest real train ride for us,living in Charleston, SC (a nice day trip). We went last Sunday for a ride on a visiting steam engine. It was the real deal, loud, lots of smoke, steam, etc. My 1 & 3 year old loved it, so did my husband and the grand parents. After our 1 hour ride, they let anyone come check out the steam engine still running. The volunteer engineer was very friendly, explaining to my 3 year old how the engine works, pointing out where the coal goes, even giving him a piece to take home. He was thrilled! He kept saying 'all aboard' all the way home.In addition to the rides, the museum also has an engine on display, very impressive & picturesque, as well as passenger cars that you can walk through to see how the sleeping arrangements would have been when used.They seem to have lots of neat special events - steam engine, caboose days, pumkpin patch, as well as polar express/Santa visits train days. If we lived closed, we'd be regulars, but we will be back for future day trips.

This attraction could really be something...There is ample space to park. The volunteers are very nice. You are warned to use the restrooms before boarding the train, as there are none on board. Bathrooms are clean but facility is old. The ticket/gift shop could really use some renovations and the gifts in the shop are extremely over priced. The museum consists of a few train cars that you walk through. Most of them are decorated but it's pretty gross. I did see buttons on the train cars to "push" for a self guided tour, but none of the buttons worked. The train ride itself was nothing to be impressed about. The speakers were broken and the volunteers did not narrate. The car was filled with kids who thought the best part of the ride was to stick their arms out of the windows (although they were told not to do so). We went backwards for about 20 minutes and forward for another 20... stops in between for some unknown reason. Maybe it was worth an extra $10 a person to ride in the open air car? We did not go fast at all.I would have to say the best part of the experience was touring the engine before we got on the train and departed, so don't pass up the opportunity to do that.Overall, I would not recommend this attraction.

The exhibit is for the only steam trains in South Carolina.Take the open car for $20. Ride is short, about one hour. You will pass a granite schoolhouse made from local quarry. Also a restored 150 year old cabin, & former Mack truck plant.Staff are all knowledgeable volunteers.

This is a great treat for your little ones who are interested in trains without having to take an Amtrak trip. There is also an early 20th century train on display that you can walk through (think Wild, Wild West!). Next month they will have a steam engine trip & we will be there.

Not classy but bare bones and run by volunteers but we like it and took the grandchildren and daughter recently on the train ride in the caboose. It was just our family of 7 in there so privacy was nice. Volunteers narrate along the way with history of the railroad and the area. No AC but window open and airy even on a hot day. Quaint and neat family experience.

The kids enjoyed the train ride and so did I. Good clean fun, some place where the young and older people can enjoy the same things