The Virginian Railway · Princeton, West Virginia
The Richest Little Railroad in the World
The Princeton Railroad Museum is a train and railroad-history museum on historic Mercer Street in Princeton, WV. Board restored Caboose #308, explore the model railroad and discover the railway that built the city. Free admission; guided tours available.
See today's hours, address & directions ↓
Can't make it to Princeton? Support the museum or shop the gift shop from anywhere.
Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday
This year the museum joins the nation in marking the Semiquincentennial — 250 years since the Declaration of Independence, on July 4, 2026.
“Princeton was part of one of the thirteen original colonies, Virginia. Many men from this area fought in the Revolutionary War to gain our independence and freedom, which we still enjoy today.”
With thanks to those who shared research for the museum’s 250th book: Jeff Harvey, Bill Archer, William Sanders, Harrison Straley II, and Peggy Johnson.
Explore the railroad.
A restored caboose, a gallery of railroad history, hands-on fun for kids, and an audio tour that carries on right out the front door.
Ride Caboose #308
Step aboard our restored Virginian Railway caboose and see how the crew lived and worked the line.
The storyThe Virginian Railway
Financed by one of the world's wealthiest men, engineered to be the most efficient coal road ever built. 443 miles, 1909–1959.
The townHistory of Princeton, WV
Burned in the Civil War and all but forgotten — then rebuilt by a railroad into a booming city. The story of the town the Virginian Railway made.
Self-guidedAudio Walking Tours
An in-museum audio guide, plus a mapped stroll through the Mercer Street arts district — with accessibility notes at every stop.
Groups welcomeSchool, Scout & 4-H Tours
We love group visits. Book a guided tour for classrooms, scout troops and 4-H clubs — there's a build-a-track corner for kids.
For kidsJunior Conductor
A free activity trail for young visitors — spot clues through the galleries, earn your stamps and become an official Junior Conductor.
Family missionRail Detective
Choose a 15, 30, or 45-minute museum scavenger hunt and uncover the stories carried by real railroad objects.
Fun · freePhoto Booth
Frame your visit with a Virginian Railway backdrop, snap a keepsake in three taps, then share it or add it to our visitor logbook.
Free · self-guidedRail & Coal Country Passport
Visit real heritage sites around the region — check in with your phone's location at each stop and collect every stamp.
Get involvedSupport the Museum
Financial giving is temporarily paused. Visit, volunteer, share a railroad story, or shop museum merchandise.
Upstairs · all agesThe Model Railroad
Head upstairs to see the Virginian and N&W preserved in miniature — a favorite stop for kids and lifelong modelers alike.
Around townMercer Street & Beyond
The revitalized Grassroots Arts District, the Historical Society and Visit Mercer County — make a day of it.
Objects that carry a story.
A caboose you can climb into. A track velocipede a lineman once pumped by hand. Every piece in the museum has a story — here are a few.
“Nothing is too good for my railroad.”
Those were the words of founder Henry Huttleston Rogers. The Virginian Railway was built without regard to cost — a scientifically engineered line that could out-haul competitors many times its size. We preserve that story for the next generation.
Preservation
We safeguard the artifacts, photographs, artwork and rolling stock of the Virginian Railway and the N&W that followed it.
Education
Through exhibits, group tours and hands-on activities, we share Princeton's railroad heritage with families, schools and scouts.
Community
We anchor the historic east end of Mercer Street's Grassroots District — part of downtown Princeton's ongoing renaissance.
A look around.
Real photographs from the Princeton Railroad Museum — the galleries, the artifacts and our restored Caboose #308.
Follow & share.
See the latest exhibits, events and finds — and help spread the word about Princeton's railroad heritage.
Share the museum
Tell a friend about the Princeton Railroad Museum — every share helps a small nonprofit museum reach new visitors.
Find us on Facebook
Follow the museum for photos, event updates and railroad memories — and join the “You know you're from Princeton, WV if…” community too.
A little hidden gem on Mercer Street.
Families and railfans love this small-town museum — read the reviews on Tripadvisor .
“A very charming and pleasant experience — the local historian and the two ladies who welcomed us made it special. You get a good introduction into the railway and the coal boom that hit the area, and you can walk into an old rail cabin. Free of charge!”
Help us preserve the Virginian Railway.
Financial giving is temporarily paused while the City and museum confirm the correct recipient and terms. Visitor programs and the retail gift shop remain available.
Come ride the rails with us.
7 days a week · 11am–4pm
Free admission