By Railfan & Railroad Staff

Tickets for the Indiana Rail Experience, a series of excursions on the Indiana Northeastern Railroad organized by the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, will go on sale today (April 19). The 1940s-era railroad attraction that premiered in 2022 was recently named the state’s “Best New Experience” by the Indiana Tourism Association and will have an even bigger calendar this year. 

Besides day-long steam excursions behind Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 765, the Indiana Rail Experience will feature “Wine & Whiskey” trains, holiday-themed excursions and more from Memorial Day Weekend until December. Some trips will be diesel-powered, but many will feature 765 and operate in northeast Indiana, southeast Michigan, and northwest Ohio.

“This is only a new era not only for our organization but for cultural heritage tourism in the Northeast Indiana region,” said Kelly Lynch, Vice President of the Fort Wayne Railroad. “There is no other tourist railroad that connects three states together like this one and it presents a significant opportunity to use our transportation history and attractions as a way to welcome thousands of people to this region. This is just the start of a series of exciting announcements this year and we anticipate this program will continue to grow, especially in Steuben County.” 

Tickets go on sale on April 18 at 6 p.m. For more information, visit indianarailexperience.org. The full schedule can be found below.