First I would like to say the trains are not as pretty as in the cover photo. They are worn down and exposed to the elements. The ends of the cars are open so I am sure critters and rain get in. That being said, my boys liked that they could walk through the rail cars. No ropes here! They can pull the levers on the steam engines. The museum was small and smelled musty. Not sure how I feel about the reception...a sock footed young man with a puppy. Different I guess. Took maybe 45 minutes. Thought it cost more than it was worth. Kids liked it though.
The renovations to the museum were very high tech. They provide a lot of information on the railway system for the adult but also a lot of hands on activities for the kids. The simulation train is very cool although I thought I broke it! It must be dummy proof though. Thank goodness. Go during the Black Squirrel Days when many of the CB sites are free to the public.
Our kids love coming here. There is a neat model train setup upstairs. The trains that they can walk through are a great experience. Very cool.
Great to climb on, scenery is beautiful, trains well maintained, and price is excellent. nice place to pull off and explore the trains!
Our kids loved this place. They picked it out as a place they wanted to see. They loved watching the trains come by the old station and got a birds eye view of them. They enjoyed playing on the trains and cars and ringing the bell. When you see this museum with the Squirrel Cage Jail you get discounted ticket prices.
This museum has a large model scale railroad that is wonderful. There is a train car set up as a passenger car that kids love to sit in.There exhibits of train memorebilia.
Wife and I visited July 3, 2013. The Museum is located in the old Rock Island Railroad depot in Council Bluffs and is fairly easy to get to from I-80. The building itself is pretty "nifty" and exemplifies the small to medium sized town station. It has some outdoor railroad equipment displayed that can be inspected as part of the standard admission of $7 for adults. The outdoor equipment consists of several passenger cars, an old CB&Q ten-wheeler steam locomotive, a caboose, and a few miscellaneous cars. The inside displays are modestly setup and the freight section houses an elaborate HO scale model railroad of Council Bluffs that comes on with a motion sensor. Overall a bit pricey, but worth visiting if you've never been there before and/or are a railroad fan.
Any Railway Museum, specially one which features a model railroad will always get my interest and vote and I was not disappointed with this one although I did have to dodge the showers for the outdoor exhibits, but there is also interest within those as well.
Nice facility, but the outside exhibt is very weathered. All but the UP engine need repainted. The Omaha Club car is in sad condition and could be restored for parties, etc.
This has some great old trains and engines that you can board and see how train travel really was. Lots of newspaper clippings and RR memorabilia. See Johhny Cash's letter about his visit to CB.