This Scenic Train Journey Through Wisconsin’s Countryside Is Worth Seeing
There is something deeply satisfying about watching the countryside move while you do absolutely nothing.
In Wisconsin, a vintage rail journey rolls through pine, birch, farmland, and river scenery on historic track where the pace feels intentionally unhurried.
The train itself is part of the attraction.
Restored coaches, themed rides, dining experiences, and even overnight options give travelers several ways to enjoy the route beyond a simple out-and-back trip.
All aboard for the slow lane!
Families can keep things casual, while adults may prefer a longer meal or scenic evening run. Pick the ride that matches your mood, settle into the window seat, and let the rails handle the sightseeing.
Century-Old Rails Come Alive
My first surprise came before the wheels even turned. The track under this train was laid more than a century ago as part of the Chicago and Northwestern system.
The Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad was founded on April 1, 1997, with its first excursion on this line departing that June. Current passenger trains leave from the Trego Depot and travel to the Bean Brook Trestle before returning.
The passenger fleet mixes restored equipment from different eras, including early-20th-century cars and distinctive mid-century equipment rebuilt for dining, sightseeing, and overnight trips.
Restored woodwork, period-inspired details, and vintage railcar layouts help make the equipment as much a part of the attraction as the scenery outside.
The Trego Depot includes ticketing and a gift shop, giving passengers something to browse before boarding.
Many of the railroad’s cars have histories stretching across other passenger lines, adding another layer for anyone interested in vintage rail equipment.
You will find the depot at n6639 Dilly Lake Rd, Trego, and it is the right pin to follow.
River Views And Deep Woods
The route reaches stretches along the Namekagon River, which forms part of the federally protected St. Croix National Scenic Riverway.
The Namekagon winds through a largely forested landscape, with Northwoods vegetation framing portions of the river along the route.
Beyond the river, the route slips through thick northern forest and past wide farm fields. The mix keeps the window interesting rather than repetitive.
One of the route’s defining landmarks is the Bean Brook Trestle, which currently marks the turnaround area for passenger excursions.
The railroad deliberately travels at a leisurely pace through farm fields, deep woods, and stretches along the Namekagon River.
The scenery varies along the route, with rural working landscapes appearing between the more wooded and riverfront stretches.
All current excursions are round trips that return passengers to the Trego Depot.
Four Courses On Moving Tracks
The current Dinner Train pairs a 2.5-hour scenic ride with an appetizer, soup, entrée, and dessert served aboard restored passenger cars.
Courses arrive in a relaxed order: appetizer, soup, entree, then dessert. Service paced itself to the ride rather than the clock.
Guests are allowed to move around designated areas of the train during the ride, giving them a chance to experience more than one part of the historic consist.
Dinner experiences run across much of the year, with regular and seasonal versions scheduled at different points from winter through December.
Current Dinner Train service includes private enclosed dining compartments for groups of up to six, with larger parties seated at adjacent tables in traditional dining or lounge cars.
Bring cash for onboard purchases, since current railroad policy accepts credit cards in the depot gift shop but lists onboard transactions as cash only.
Fine dining on rails is rare in the Midwest, and this Wisconsin railway keeps the tradition rolling. I finished the meal full, unhurried, and already checking the schedule again.
Sleeping Aboard America’s Rolling B&B
One of the railroad’s most unusual offerings is what it bills as America’s only moving Bed and Breakfast train, combining an evening excursion with an overnight stay aboard restored railcars.
Each room comes with a queen bed, which felt larger than I expected on a railcar. There is a private bathroom with a toilet, sink, and tiled shower.
Boarding happens in the late afternoon, and dinner is served in the First Class Dining Car as the train pulls out. After the run, the train returns to the station for the night.
After returning to the station around 8 p.m., overnight guests can use the lounge or, in season, spend time around the gas fire on the station patio before retiring to their rooms.
Deluxe sleeper rooms currently include queen beds and private bathrooms with a toilet, sink, and tiled shower.
Morning brings a continental spread first, then a hot breakfast in the dining car. I ate slowly and watched the rail yard wake up.
Seasonal overnight versions include winter Sweetheart trips and Spring BBQ departures, while railroad policy recommends booking early because many excursions can sell out well in advance.
Pizza, Kids, And Santa
Kids and trains were made for each other, and somebody here figured that out early. The Family Pizza Train pairs a ride through the Northwoods with personal pizzas served right at your table.
The current Family Pizza Train lasts about two hours, with each ticket including a personal pizza and the first soda or bottled water.
The two-hour format is designed as a family excursion, combining the train ride with pizza baked aboard the dining car.
The main experience combines vintage railway equipment with views of farm fields, deep woods, the Namekagon River, and the Bean Creek Trestle.
Holiday Santa Train rides include a two-hour excursion, personal pizza, a first beverage, a visit with Santa in his private car, and a holiday treat, and the railroad says these rides routinely sell out early.
Holiday excursions include seasonal decorations and dedicated Santa experiences, so families should focus on arriving at least 30 minutes before their scheduled departure.
For a family outing in northern Wisconsin, few things beat pizza, a slow train, and windows full of pine trees.
Cheese Tasting Under Glass Domes
Cheese lovers, this section is for you. The Wine and Cheese Train celebrates the dairy pride of this state with award-winning cheeses from local makers.
Tastings happen in the Sky Parlour car, named Namekagon View. The car has a story worth hearing.
Built in 1956 for the Santa Fe El Capitan streamliner, it later served on Amtrak’s Coast Starlight. Now it carries curious passengers through Washburn County woods.
Upstairs, plush lounge seats sit beneath a sweeping glass ceiling. I tipped my head back and watched treetops slide past overhead.
The Sky Parlour’s upper level features plush lounge seating beneath expansive glass along with its seating and service areas, while the lower level contains a 20-seat movie theater.
The Sky Parlour itself has an unusually rich rail history, beginning with Santa Fe’s El Capitan before later service on Amtrak’s Coast Starlight.
The current specialty excursion includes a souvenir tumbler for each guest to take home. Passengers should plan to collect their tickets at least 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time.
Restoring The Mark Twain Zephyr
Tucked in the yard sits a piece of design history under repair. The Mark Twain Zephyr, a 1935 Art Deco streamliner, now calls this railway home.
Its shovel-nose front looks like nothing else on the rails. Stainless steel ribs catch light in a way modern equipment simply cannot match.
The Budd Company built nine of these streamlined trains for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad during the 1930s. They changed how Americans thought about passenger travel.
This particular set ran between St. Louis, Missouri and Burlington, Iowa. It was christened in Hannibal, Missouri, the hometown of Mark Twain, in 1935.
After 23 years of service, retirement came in 1958. Several owners and long stretches of neglect followed.
The Great Northern Railroad acquired the Mark Twain Zephyr in 2020 and has continued rebuilding it, with the railroad now advertising its return to passenger service for 2027.
The restoration has involved extensive work on the train’s interiors, mechanical systems, and distinctive streamlined cars ahead of its planned return to service.
Smart Tips Before Boarding
I’m sure you would agree with me that a little planning turns a good ride into a great one, right?
The railroad now operates a much broader season, with regular and specialty excursions offered at different points throughout the year and trains advertised Tuesday through Saturday through the Christmas season.
Fall color in the surrounding Northwoods generally begins developing in late September, with the exact timing and intensity changing each year.
Trains depart from the Trego Depot, with the railroad currently advertising Tuesday-through-Saturday service through Christmas while individual excursions follow their own calendars.
The Trego Depot includes ticketing and a gift shop, while current amenities and individual excursion details should be checked before arrival.
Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before departure, which is the railroad’s current requirement for picking up tickets.
Use the railroad’s current address, N6639 Dilly Lake Road in Trego, to reach the departure depot.
Advance reservations are required for excursions with food and recommended for sightseeing rides, especially because some trains sell out well ahead of departure.
