The Old Road Dinner Train
Experience the beauty of Michigan's countryside by train!
Wine, dine and unwind. State Representative Brian BeGole has chartered The Old Road Dinner Train to take you on a relaxed, slow paced train ride with no political speeches. Join us for an elegant dining experience with exceptional service while experiencing a live Murder Mystery show that is sure to keep you guessing. We also offer an Elegant ride through the country side with a 5 course elevated dining experience. This romantic and memory making train ride covers 18 miles roundtrip through Lenawee County's farmland and countryside.
Train departs at 5:00 p.m. sharp from The Old Road Dinner Train parking lot located at 301 E. Adrian St. Blissfield, Mi 49228. Boarding begins at 4:00 p.m. for our guests that wish to visit one of the 3 full bars on board or enjoy drink service at your table prior to departure. The excursion lasts around 3 hours and will return back at the parking lot around 8:00 p.m.
Our History
The Adrian & Blissfield Railroad
A Short Line History
When you ride The Old Road Dinner Train, you are traveling on the first railroad built west of the Allegheny Mountains, which predates the State of Michigan and the founding of the City of Chicago. In 1836 there were only 200 miles of railroad track in the entire US, primarily in New York and South Carolina.
The line was originally built in 1836 as the Erie and Kalamazoo Railroad, linking Lake Erie at Port Lawrence,(the old name for Toledo, Ohio) with the Kalamazoo River, so that manufactured goods going west could avoid the Bogs in Northwest Ohio, and southern Michigan, which restricted horse and wagon passage in the wet season.
Travel between Toledo and Adrian, Michigan took a full day to cover the 30 miles with a “wooding up” stop midway for fuel (at which the passengers helped). Coaches were stagecoach bodies on flanged wheels. Rails were wooden, later with iron straps, added to the top. Our railroad personnel excavated a segment of this rail strap rail around 1980 which was later sent to the Smithsonian.
After the Civil War, the railroad completed a line across northern Ohio and Indiana connecting Toledo and Elkhart on a direct, straight line known as the “Air Line” due to its geography. Our line then became known as “The Old Road” as it was a longer, slower, and older way between Toledo and Elkhart. Hence the name of our dinner train!
The local rail lines changed hands several times throughout the years, becoming part of New York Central then Penn Central and Conrail. In the 1970s the Michigan Department of Transportation bought these lines from Penn Central when Conrail deemed them too insignificant to keep.
The Adrian Blissfield Railroad was founded in 1991 to operate the Lenawee County lines owned by the state, and eventually bought the railroad from the state in the first divestiture of railroad lines by the State of Michigan.
Today, The Old Road Dinner Train enjoys the distinction of being the longest, continuously operating dinner train in North America, offering our famous Murder Mystery Dinner Train, and occasional special trains throughout the year. The Adrian and Blissfield railroad also operates a thriving rail freight business on the historical short line handling millions of tons of freight annually.
Elegant Food
Created by Cork & Knife
Tickets
TICKETS
Tickets are $135.00 per guest which includes the 3 hour round trip train ride, gourmet dinner and live murder mystery show.
DRINKS, OTHER THEN WATER AND COFFEE ARE NOT INCLUDED WITH THE MEAL. DRINK TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AT THE TIME OF CHECKOUT. We strongly encourage you to purchase drink tickets in advance to assist in timely service. Drink tickets are $5.00 each. You can share your tickets with your guests. Drink tickets may be used to purchase premium beer, wine, mixed drinks, specialty cocktails, pop, juice, tea and lemonade.
More info
Three vintage diner cars (The River Raisin, The Columbia River and The Hudson River) dating from the 1930s, 1940's and 1950's and are pulled by 1950's EMD GP9 locomotives. These vintage cars are not handicap accessible. Restrooms are available.
All tables seat four guests and are elegantly appointed with linens, crystal and fine dinnerware. In keeping with traditional railroad dining, parties of two may be combined to sit together with another couple at a table of four. When seated with another couple, you and your guest will be seated on the same side of the table.
To create a private table experience aboard our elegant dining car, you may purchase the open seats at your table by calling
(517) 899-5483
5' and 8' celebration cakes created by Emmy's Kitchen and flower arrangements from Stitches and Stems for your special occasion may also be ordered in advance of your ride by selecting the Shop button at the top and add to your cart for check out.
