Louisiana's Top 8: Trains & Train Museums

Since the height of train travel coincided with one of the wealthiest eras in Louisiana history, trains have always been drawn to Louisiana. The City of New Orleans, the Crescent, and the Sunset Limited are three of Amtrak's longest routes, and they all conclude in Louisiana. These trains in Louisiana are amazing.

1) DeQuincy Railroad Museum
A fantastic historical museum in DeQuincy including exhibits from the Union Pacific, Missouri Pacific, and Kansas City Southern railroads.

The red street cars of the city of New Orleans,Louisiana — Getty Images

2) New Orleans Streetcars
These historic streetcars are the oldest continuous trains to operate in any city in the country. New Orleans has recently invested in the cars, increasing their tracks throughout the city.

3) City of New Orleans
This 900-mile trip begins in Chicago and ends in New Orleans. The Cross Country Café on this train serves meals from Louisiana while you travel.

4) Southern Forest Heritage Museum and Research Center
Visit the Southern Forest Heritage Museum, where you may ride a fully restored M4 Railbus from the 1930s.

5) Crescent
This train, which departs from New York City and travels southwest to New Orleans, is another iconic Amtrak route. Stops along the way are at Meridian, Atlanta, Birmingham, D.C., and Richmond. This is where the Crescent crosses into Louisiana from Mississippi.

A coal train rolls across the Texas countryside at sunset on a spring day. — Getty Images

6) Sunset Limited
Passengers can travel from Los Angeles to New Orleans on this historic Amtrak train, which largely follows I-10.

7) Old Hickory Railroad
A live steam locomotive pulls two open coaches on a 6.2-mile trip through time in this Jackson favorite.

8) Louisiana Orphan Train Museum
Located in Opelousas, this museum honors the train that transported more than two thousand orphans from New York City to rural Louisiana.