Hillsdale Train Rides | Little River Railroad
 August 27th and 28th

WHAT TO EXPECT

Riding aboard a vintage train can be an exciting and memorable occasion. Our events are meant to be sensory experiences – from the onboard accommodations and food service to the dramatic sights and sounds of a historic locomotive pulling the train. Passengers can enjoy standard accommodations in coach and deluxe coach classes, or opt for a special experience aboard first-class lounge cars straight out of the 1940s and 50s. 

Foodservice is generally only available in first class and lounge car accommodations, and available when specified as part of your ticket purchase. Please check the details for your tickets and trips, as onboard food may not always be available, and always make sure to check your email for your receipt and pre-trip instructions and information.

Please read on for our FAQs, safety-related items, and disclaimers. 

DISCLAIMERS

The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, Inc. (FWRHS) is a not-for-profit 501c3 educational organization and these excursions are a major fund-raising activity for historic rail preservation projects.  FWRHS reserves the right to revise terms, conditions, disclaimers, and notices at any time.

Please do not call any railroad companies or Amtrak regarding these excursions. Their offices, call centers, and employees do not have information about these trips and cannot make reservations. 

All schedules, timetables, and event amenities and offerings may be altered by the FWRHS at any time due to railroad logistics, late departures, mechanical substitutions, or other unforeseen circumstances. Due to the unique and historic nature of the equipment we are operating, mechanical breakdowns are uncommon but can occur. We reserve the right to substitute motive power or rolling stock as necessary.

In addition, schedules and timetables may be adjusted due to other railroad traffic or operations that our trains encounter. 

Every effort will be made to operate trains as advertised but as these are special, one-time events, the FWRHS, and the railroad companies cannot guarantee times and assume no consequential liability for inconvenience or expense caused by delays or cancellations. Do not book other transportation or make time-sensitive reservations.

LIABILITY

These operations take place at, on, and within working railroad facilities. Please be mindful of your safety and the safety of your guests. Watch your step, be mindful of moving railroad equipment, uneven surfaces or bad footing, and pinch points for fingers, arms, and limbs. Do not walk on the railhead and obey instructions from the train crew at all times. 

Your presence and participation indicate that you, as a ticket holder, ticket purchaser, guest, passenger, crew, or vendor accept the limits of liability from inherent risks of all activities and operations. 

GENERAL RULES & SAFETY

• FWRHS reserves the right of refusal to any passenger who refuses to obey safety rules or whose behavior has been or may be detrimental to other passengers and/or crew. 
• FWRHS employs volunteer, off-duty police officers to act as security for our events. These are duly licensed and recognized law enforcement offers.
• Please wear sturdy, comfortable shoes. DO NOT wear flip-flops, sandals, or open-toed or high-heel shoes. 
• For the Indiana Railroad Experience, open windows, doors, and vestibules may be available as part of your accommodations. Consult your event and ticketing information for details and observe all train crew instructions as to the proper use and enjoyment of these amenities.
• The possession or consumption of personal alcoholic beverages on the train or railroad property is strictly prohibited unless as part of an existing event or accommodations. 
• Small coolers and jugs for food and drink are welcome. Large coolers (usually with two handles) are prohibited due to space limitations. 
• Cigarette smoking or electronic cigarettes (i.e. vapes) onboard the train are prohibited. Smoking of pipes and cigars is only permitted on specific cars and special occasions. 
• 765 is a coal-burning locomotive and often produces cinders that fly through the air and can be dangerous to the eyes. You must wear safety glasses or eye protection is required if riding in an open vestibule or open-air car during a trip.
• One of the most dramatic parts of a steam locomotive is its melodious whistle. Operated as a warning and communication device the whistle can nevertheless be very loud, especially for young children or guests with hearing sensitivities. It is highly recommended that passengers with these considerations plan accordingly, with noise-canceling headphones or hearing protection. Earplugs may not be available onboard the train.
• FWRHS cannot guarantee the security of cameras and other personal property – you must keep track of your belongings.

ADA ACCOMMODATIONS

Boarding and detraining sites may well have uneven footing, large heavy gravel, unusually high steps –  sometimes as much as 20-inches, and walking is required at all locations. 

Most of the passenger cars used on these trains were built in the 1940s and 1950s, decades before ADA handicap considerations were implemented on railroad passenger cars. 

These historic cars mostly have narrow hallways, narrow doorways, and small restrooms and these can present many handicapped persons with insurmountable challenges. 

Passengers with limited mobility need to be aware of these limitations and should expect such situations and should contact the Ticket Agent for planning and accommodations. We make every effort to reasonably accommodate guests with limited mobility. 

If you are traveling in a wheelchair or other such device, you are responsible for providing any person(s) necessary to assist in loading, unloading, or onboard mobility and they must have the proper ticket.

ON-BOARD ACCOMMODATIONS

Generally speaking, seats are not assigned in our cars. Passengers who desire to sit together must make reservations at the same time, on the same ticket order, and present themselves on the train together. Reservations will be made by car name or number but not individual seats unless your accommodation is a suite or room.

Some of the first-class cars have more than one type of seating arrangement within the car. Passengers may be asked to switch seats at midday for everyone to get a sampling of the accommodations within that class. A class of tickets refers to accommodations and services and may not be specific to a car.

No merchandise vendors are allowed on the train unless specifically authorized by FWRHS in advance. 

Restrooms are always available onboard and at our boarding sites. On-board train staff will direct you to the nearest restroom.

TICKETING & REFUNDS

FWRHS members are often granted special pre-sale access to tickets up to 24 hours before the general public. 

Do not purchase tickets from individuals unless specifically authorized by our Ticket Agent. Should tickets be re-sold or gifted, the customer and passenger names must be updated so that our passenger manifests are accurate. We reserve the right to ID passengers as part of any pre-boarding process.

Do not purchase tickets from any website other than fortwaynerailroad.org or indianarailexperience.org. Beware anyone on social media claiming to have last-minute ticket availability and asking for personal or private messages. 

Our refund policy applies to all tickets and passes issued by the FWRHS for any FWRHS event including excursions and events at our facility or as part of the Indiana Rail Experience.

Refunds are subject to a 10% service charge and are typically only issued if there is a waitlist for that particular class of tickets. As the car or train nears a sold-out status, persons who purchase an odd number of tickets are not guaranteed a window seat and will have to be seated with another passenger for us to utilize all seats. Sorry, but railway employee passes cannot be honored.

In the unlikely event of a cancellation, refunds will be issued less any ticketing fees.

Trains to run rain or shine. 

CONSENT TO PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO RECORDING

By entering FWRHS property or participating in FWRHS events, operations, and excursions, and by your presence, you consent to be photographed, filmed, and/or otherwise recorded. 

Your entry constitutes your consent to such photography, filming, and/or recording and any use, in any media throughout the universe in perpetuity, of your appearance, voice, and name for any purpose whatsoever in connection with the FWRHS. 

You understand that all photography, filming, and/or recording will be done in reliance on this consent given by you by entering this area. 

HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENT

By entering FWRHS property or participating in FWRHS events, operations, and excursions and by your presence here, you and your guests agree to hold FWRHS harmless in the event of sickness (including COVID-19), physical risk, or damage. 

You assume all related liability for accidents, negligence, combined negligence, and omissions.