FAQs

The Prairie Dog Central Railway is a short line railway owned and operated by The Vintage Locomotive Society Inc. a Registered Charity, volunteer organization dedicated to the preservation and operation of a vintage steam locomotive and train.

We strongly recommend that you book in advance as events sell out fast. Book your tickets by going to Events and click on the Tickets tab or click Buy Now.

The Inkster Junction Station is located on Prairie Dog Trail, off Park Royale Way. If you are unsure of our exact location then please call the Ticket Office, 204 832 5259 or Email and we will happily send you detailed directions.

We recommend arriving at the Station no later than 30 minutes prior to departure to allow sufficient time for parking, ticket collection, washroom stops and boarding the train.

Events generally depart at 11:00 AM and we travel directly to Grosse Isle, approximately a 50 to 60-minute train ride. The stopover is approximately 75 to 90 minutes depending on the entertainment. Our arrival time back at Inkster Junction Station is approximately 2:45 PM.

Yes, we operate rain or shine! To ensure your comfort please dress according to the outdoor weather.

We suggest you dress for the outside weather, if it’s cool then please bring warmer clothing. Don’t forget sunglasses, cameras, and sunscreen. During the Halloween lunch or evening trains we love to see your spooky costumes but please remember if it’s cold out then please wrap up underneath your costume.

Absolutely.  As mentioned, the stopover in Grosse Isle lasts between 75 to 90 minutes.

Certainly.  The stroller can be stored in your Coach if space is available or safely transported in our Baggage Car and made available for you at Grosse Isle.

There are 2 washrooms onboard located in Coaches 106 and 107 that are for absolute emergencies. Modern washroom facilities are located at Inkster Junction Station, and portable toilet facilities are at Grosse Isle.

Unfortunately, it is not. The coaches were constructed in the early 1900s and the doorways and aisle ways are too narrow to accommodate wheelchairs.  However, if a person does not require a wheelchair for total mobility, and can climb three to four stairs while being aided by our onboard staff, they are more than welcome.  Their wheelchair will be safely transported in our Baggage Car and made available for their use at the station stopover.

Any ride to the Hitch ’n Post requires a very short trip on a school bus to transport our passengers safely across Highway 6. In our experience, the school bus has very narrow steps and aisle, this proves difficult for certain mobility issues. If you are in doubt then please call our Ticket Office during business hours 204 832 5259 and the Ticket Agent will be happy to provide more information.

Safety is the top priority of every railway in Canada, and especially so with railways carrying passengers.  During your trip, we ask for your own personal safety that you please do not walk between the coaches.  If you must go from one coach to another please ask one of our on board staff to assist you.  In general and for your own safety and the safety of members of your family or group we ask that while on the railway property that you refrain from climbing on or going under any railway equipment and that you do not walk on the tracks or enter into any restricted buildings or areas.

At all times, children must be accompanied by an adult, especially when entering or exiting cars, and when viewing the locomotive.  When children ride free, they are expected to remain in the lap of an adult while seated.

We are sorry but we only admit registered service animals.

Food and drinks (non-alcoholic) can be brought onboard. We ask that you take any garbage with you or ask your Porter to dispose of it. Ice chests, hard-case coolers and picnic baskets can be brought onboard, space is limited but we can safely transport such items in the Baggage Car if necessary.

No, Provincial and Federal regulations prohibit the carrying and consumption of alcohol at Inkster Junction Station, onboard the train and at the stopover in Grosse Isle.

Our Station and coaches are strictly non-smoking areas. Smoking is allowed only in outdoor areas and we would request that the cigarette butt receptacles located by the Maintenance Shop are used for disposal. During the stopover in Grosse Isle smoking is not permitted in the shelter or by any of the food serving stations.