Headquartered in Scammon, Kansas, in the the southeast corner of the state, Heart of the Heartlands offers excursion train and motorcar rides departing from three restored historic depots. The ride schedule is set each year by the nine-person administrative board and features trips to various locales throughout the southern part of the state. For example, a spring 2010 ride to Cherryvale, Kansas, and fall 2010 train rides to the Carona pumpkin patch were featured trips. Visitors interested in trains can also visit the Carona Museum Complex and see the Webb Family Museum, two restored depots, signal light displays, cabooses and other memorabilia.
Located within an easy drive of the Kansas City metro area, Midland Railway offers excursion train trips from Baldwin City, Kansas, via the ghost town of Norwood to Ottawa Junction, Kansas. The train generally runs June through October each year with special runs, group charters and scouting charters available. The train travels through scenic Eastern Kansas on a rail line constructed in 1867. In October of each year in partnership with the Baldwin City Theater, Halloween Haunted Train Rides, with spooky themes, run in the early and late evenings. In the summers, Thomas the Train visits for special train rides for the kids.
Based in the historic central Kansas town of Abilene, the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad Association offers a 10.5-mile excursion train trip through the Smoky River Valley from Abilene to Enterprise and back. A restored "Pacific" 4-6-2 steam engine pulls a 1902 wood KATY passenger car, converted to a dining car, two open air gondola cars with canopy tops and a caboose. Car attendants narrate the ride, including local and railway history. The train runs Memorial Day through Labor Day as well as charter trips, special dinner train trips and holiday trips.
