A Slow Ride Through Iowa on the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad

A converted flatcar with benches is a fine place to watch Iowa go by. On the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad, the open-air car puts passengers close to the breeze, the wooded edges of the line and the changing shape of the valley, while the train moves at a pace that leaves room for conversation.

This is not a ride designed to rush through the landscape. Some excursions take roughly two hours, and the leisurely running gives passengers time to look for the river, fields, trees and the high trestle bridge ahead. On a picnic excursion, the train's pace was described at about 7 mph—slow enough to make the journey itself the afternoon's entertainment.

The railroad also has enough going on before and after boarding to fill out the visit. The James H. Andrew Railroad Museum offers substantial railroad displays and reading material, plus a small theater showing a railroad-related video. Pairing the museum with an excursion turns a train ride into a fuller day around the depot.

The museum is more than a waiting room for the train. Its exhibits range across railroad subjects, with interpretive material for visitors who enjoy taking their time with the details as well as displays that are easy to browse between other plans.

Knowledgeable volunteers are often available to field railroad questions, which can be especially helpful for anyone trying to sort out the machinery, signaling or history behind what they are seeing. The small theater is another useful pause point, particularly on a day when several generations are moving through the museum at different speeds.

Outside, the signal garden provides a quieter corner of the grounds. It is a pleasant place to sit for a few minutes before the train boards or after a long look through the exhibits.

One nice feature of the railroad is that the ride does not have to look the same for every passenger. Climate-controlled cars offer an enclosed option, while non-climate-controlled cars with open windows bring in more air and more of the sounds outside.

Then there is the open-air flatcar. Its bench seating gives the ride an unmistakably outdoor character, particularly when the line reaches the bridge, river or a more open stretch of country. The depot, the bridge and the open viewing areas all make natural places to pause for a photograph.

On some excursions, passengers can move through the train and sample different car styles rather than staying fixed in one place. Reversible seat backs add a small but sociable touch: groups can flip them around and sit facing one another instead of spending the whole ride in a row.

The high trestle bridge is one of the route's standout moments. Some trips slow or pause at scenic points, and certain excursions have offered a chance to step onto the rear viewing platform near the trestle or while crossing the river. That outdoor platform provides a notably clear vantage point behind the train.

The scenery is varied rather than continuously wide open. Wooded stretches, overgrowth and cornfields can partly close off the view in places, then the route opens toward a valley, a river crossing or the bridge. The changing visibility gives the ride a pleasantly unhurried rhythm.

Wildlife can add another small surprise. Deer, a bald eagle and a heron have all been spotted along the corridor. In fall, the color along the trees brings another reason to ride, while spring offers a distinctly different version of the same landscape.

The railroad's themed meal excursions shift the mood from sightseeing trip to moving lunch table. Barbecue, lunch, picnic and dinner trains are among the options, and the food is tied to those particular rides rather than every excursion.

Menus have included pulled pork with pickled onion, green pepper and cabbage slaw, alongside baked beans and brownies. Other offerings have included smash burgers, pork chops and mushroom-and-spinach lasagna, giving groups a little more range than a standard snack-counter outing.

Meal trains also make good use of the slow pace. There is time to eat, talk and look up when the scenery changes. On at least some dinner outings, an onboard operator has pointed out landmarks and wildlife while answering questions about the railroad.

Day Out With Thomas brings a more playful version of the railroad to the schedule. In addition to a short train ride, the event has included games, crafts and interactive play areas, giving children plenty to do beyond the moment the train pulls away from the depot.

It also works well for a wider family outing. The mix of train time and hands-on activities has kept both children and grandparents engaged, without asking everyone to enjoy the day in exactly the same way.

Rail Explorers offers a separate way to travel the railroad corridor. These pedal-powered rail cars trade the passenger-car experience for a more active outing, with the line and surrounding scenery viewed at a much closer-to-the-rails level.

The museum and train are separate pieces of the visit, so it helps to look at the excursion schedule and leave enough time for both. Arriving early can make room for the museum and may improve the chance of settling into preferred seats before departure.

Advance reservations are important for themed rides, meal trains and Rail Explorers. Picnic-train tickets, in particular, have been offered as advance-order items. The train has ample seating for families and groups, and those reversible seats are handy when a party wants to sit together facing inward.

Comfortable clothing and water suit the outing, especially for those planning to spend time in the open-air car or around the depot grounds. Snacks have also been available at the depot. On hot days, non-climate-controlled cars can grow warm, though the open windows do provide airflow.