KC Rail Experience
Permanent Exhibit

The KC Rail Experience is a hands-on journey through the exciting history of the American railroad. Witness the tradition of travel that united Americans from coast to coast, shaping the destiny of the Kansas City region and the nation as a whole. Experience sights and sounds from the golden age of rail travel in this permanent addition to Union Station. Personal histories, vintage rail cars and unique artifacts bring to life a great American tradition.

What's Inside the KC Rail Experience?
Witness the evolution of rail travel as ghosts from the Station's past come alive to tell the real stories of the men and women who rode and worked the rails.
» A rail baron who financed the railroad
» A gandy dancer who sang as he worked the tracks
» A sailor stopping at the Harvey House for coffee & conversation
» A cattle drover on his way to market at the Kansas City Stockyards
… and many others

Railroad Artifacts
View fascinating artifacts from Union Station's exclusive railroad collection.

Grandpa's Attic
Watch N-gauge model trains as they traverse 1,000 square feet of miniature terrain.

Vintage rail cars
» Going-to-the-Sun Mountain Observation Car - Built in 1950 for Great Northern's Empire Builder Chicago-to-Seattle streamliner. Inside, the walls are adorned with maps and seals from every U.S. state and Canadian province served by Great Northern.
» Engine - A 1950s streamliner, donated by Kansas City Southern Railway.

Locomotive simulator
Get an engineer's eye view of the rails! Donated by BNSF Railroad.

Click here to purchase tickets online now!

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