We like trains at our house. Possibly because I have a son and possibly because we literally have tracks in our backyard but my kids seem to have a fascination with them. To leave our town, you have to cross track 2 of the 4 ways out (or in if you wish) and I can't cross over them without the kiddos craning their necks to see if there is one coming. On the lucky days we actually get stopped. We roll the windows down in the car and watch the big beast roll by. Ahhhh, heaven to little kids.
I was visiting with an acquaintance one day and she happened to mention that she takes her kids to a train museum in Wichita and they love it. They pack a lunch and sit on the provided picnic tables and just enjoy being in the middle of the trains. Of course we had to check this out and we were not disappointed.
The Great Plains Transportation Museum is located in the heart of Wichita, part of the Old Town area. You enter from the street below into a small store where you can purchase a good selection of train related items and hit the stairs to the second floor and the bridge that crosses Douglas Ave. The second floor has great photos and items from train eras gone by. Including a bell that the kids can ring.
Outside is where the kids had the most fun. Now if you are a parent who has panic attacks every time your child sneezes, then this might not be the place for you. Keep in mind, the museum is very low budget and they work on improvements as they get the money (all the better reason to visit them and give them a donation!). Your kids will be climbing all over and into actual engines, a caboose and other cars. My son was in HEAVEN! There are some walkways that need updating but we never felt unsafe. But, I am not a mom who panics so there you go. There was way too much fun to be had to worry anyway. Just go slow and you will be fine!
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| Wyatt and Lorelai with the 4-8-4 |
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| Wyatt in the driver's seat! |
The most amazing part for our family was the 4-8-4 locomotive. I'm talking Polar Express here people. This thing is huge, unbelievable, amazing and can pretty much render you speechless when you stop to think about what went into building and operating it. According to their brochure it weighs in at nearly one-half million pounds. Got your attention yet? And you can get in it! It overlooks the roadway below which is fun to see from the engineers seat. Well worth the trip just to check it out.
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| Wyatt and Dad watching trains pass on the tracks next to the museum |
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| Engineer Wyatt |
Total they have 18 different pieces of equipment to check out, most in various stages of restoration. The staff was very helpful and seemed to love that the kids were having a great time. We brought our umbrella stroller with us but it really isn't useful. My daughter just ran around anyway and most of the outside is gravel so it didn't roll well. It will be fun to see the museum evolve and improve. When we were there they were open on all Saturdays and on Sundays through the Summer. Check out their website for updates to this at
www.gptm.us. Kids under 2 are free and those up to age12 are only 3 bucks, adults 5. Good deal if you ask me! Its a great little place to visit for a couple hours and feed your kid's imagination!
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| Catching the view on the back of the 1950 Missouri Pacific Caboose |
