Naples Lionel Train Museum, Florida, U.S.

Introduction

Trains chug through a town where children are enjoying swings and seesaws in a playground, musicians in a band stand are playing their instruments, and a dog is seen chasing a mailman who is making his rounds. Other workers are sawing logs, a fire truck is responding to a call for assistance and hot air balloons are hovering over the setting.

What makes this scene unusual is that it’s taking place in a single room. Welcome to the Naples Lionel Train Museum in Florida, home to a world-class collection of model engines and cars, and push buttons that activate a vast variety of interactive displays.

Main Item

This is a must-see attraction for railroad buffs, and those seeking to recapture colorful scenes from the country’s transportation past. It offers a miniature immersion in railroading and an introduction to rides around the United States which help people to recall that segment of history. Other, much larger trains provide real riding the rails experiences in a variety of scenic settings.

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The museum is located in the Naples Depot building, which was constructed by the Seaboard Air Line Railroad and opened in 1927. After enjoying the enticing exhibits inside, I checked out vintage cars resting adjacent to the museum, then boarded a small-scale version of a train pulled by a steam locomotive which runs around a circular track outdoors.

There are four steps to get into the museum and once inside wheelchairs can navigate the aisles. The mini-train that offer rides round the grounds is accessible.

Other railways take steps to make their facilities wheelchair friendly. For example, both the Cog Railway base station and mountain summit visitor center are accessible, and folding wheelchairs and walkers may be taken on board. Wheelchair lifts are available on every Stargazer train.

The Rocky Mountaineer uses a hydraulic lift to transfer people with a disability onto the train, where – if necessary – narrow rolling chairs are available which fit in the aisles and ADA washrooms. The passenger’s own wheelchair is transported to the destination where it is ready to be claimed.

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When the Mount Washington Cog Railway in New Hampshire began operating in 1869 it also used a steam engine to climb up the highest peak in the Northeast. The wood-fired engines later were replaced by coal, then joined by diesel powered pullers. The route follows the second-steepest rack railway in the world, after one in Switzerland, as it ascends from an elevation of about 2,700 feet above sea level to its terminus near the mountain’s summit at 6,288 feet.

That ridge is but a foothill compared with the snow-topped soaring heights which the Rocky Mountaineer passes as it travels between Utah and Colorado. En route it traverses the Continental Divide, which separates the watersheds that drain into the Pacific Ocean from the river systems which flow toward the Atlantic Ocean. Passengers ride in plush carriages with vast picture windows which provide panoramic views of the scenery, sumptuously furnished cabins and fine dining that uses locally sourced ingredients.

Canapes and cocktails are available for people seeking to relive the heady days of the Prohibition era. Speakeasy Train rides which depart from New Hope, Pennsylvania immerse those on board in the clandestine world of the 1920s. The 90-minute journeys pass through the rolling foothills of Bucks County, an area of scenic countryside, working farms, vineyards and picturesque towns that have changed little over the years.

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Those who board a Castaway Caboose in Durbin, West Virginia take their food from a refrigerator and use a stove to prepare their own meals. They are “cast away” in wilderness in a refurbished suite which includes sleeping accommodations for up to six people, a heater, shower, bathroom and other amenities. The remote setting overlooks the rushing Greenbrier River and at the end of the stay, the caboose car is pulled back to where the experience began.

While people overnighting where the Castaway Caboose takes them are likely to see a sky full of stars at night, their view can’t compare with the gorgeous celestial vista enjoyed by riders on the aptly named StarGazer Train which departs from, Sante Fe, New Mexico. That rolling observatory is equipped with telescopes which are aimed at the best constellations or planets viewable that night, and professional astronomers narrate tales of the dark skies. Live music and champagne enhance the journey.

Music and much more entertains riders on the Rock-n-Roll Train operated by the Heber Valley Railroad in Utah. They hear music, engage in trivia games and raise their voices in sing-alongs of tunes from popular Broadway musicals. Some participants wear a costume from their favorite show. Among trips with other themes are the Chocolate Lover’s Train and the Deer Creek Express, which offers dramatic views of the Wasatch Mountains that run along the western edge of the Rockies and rise to a height of close to 12,000 feet.

It’s the majesty of the Grand Canyon National Park that greets travelers on the Grand Canyon Railway, but that’s just the beginning of what awaits them. That company got its start transporting ore through the Wild West and those aboard its lovingly restored cars listen to tales of that time. They’re also entertained by reenactors and musicians who bring the Old West to life.

Author Credentials: Victor Block has been a travel journalist for many years, and has written for major newspapers, magazines and travel websites and served as an editor of Fodor’s Travel Guides. He is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers and the North American Travel Journalists Association. Victor is a regular contributor of reviews to the Disabled World travel section. Visit Victors’s biography for further insights into his background, expertise, and accomplishments.

Citing Information and Page References

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Cite This Page (APA): Block, V. (2025, January 28). Naples Lionel Train Museum, Florida, U.S.. Disabled World (DW). Retrieved February 11, 2025 from www.disabled-world.com/travel/usa/train-museum.php

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