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All Aboard! Free Family Train Rides Steam Into Maury County Park This Week

Issue #715

April 27, 2026

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

⛈️ Columbia’s Tuesday Weather - Mostly cloudy in morning, thunderstorms later w/ high of 79, low of 61

🚂 All Aboard! Free Family Train Rides Steam Into Maury County Park This Week

👉 Sign up For Severe Weather and Safety Alerts

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details!

All Aboard! Free Family Train Rides Steam Into Maury County Park This Week

If you’ve ever wanted to ride the miniature trains on the track that winds through Maury County Park, now’s your chance!

For over 50 years, the Mid-South Live Steamers have been hosting rides on their 1/8 scale trains. Rides are 100% free with no tickets needed.

Fun Facts:

  • There is 14,500 Feet of 7 1/2" track with grades that reach 3.5%

  • The engines weigh anywhere from 100 to 2000 pounds, and can pull from one to 50+ people, depending on size.

  • Some engines can cost almost $50,000 while others only a few thousand.

  • In almost all cases, these trains operate just like real locomotives. They are quite powerful and sound like what they are: a miniature version of the real thing.

  • There are two meets every year, spring and fall. The next meet will be Sept. 24-26, 2026

  • The Mid-South Live Steamers is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization and is supported by member dues, member donations, and donations from the public.

The wait time at the passenger station is largely dependent on weather and day of the week. The shortest wait times are on Thursday and Friday of the public meets, especially when the station opens at 10 AM. The average wait time on these days can range from none to one hour, depending on crowd size. Saturdays are the busiest day, with lines reaching over 300 passengers at times. The average wait time on a Saturday is one to two hours, depending on crowd size.

Public Ride Schedule
4/30/2026 - 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM
5/01/2026 - 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM
5/02/2026 - 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM

The wavier desk will close thirty (30) minutes prior to the station closing each day. At that time, no additional persons will be allowed into the passenger waiting line. 

Due to safety concerns, pregnant women or persons over 350 pounds are not permitted to ride trains. Children 18 months and younger must be secured to the front of an adult in a baby carrier, sling or wrap.

During inclement weather, passenger trains are not able to run. All passenger trains will stop operations and will not resume until the weather has passed and a track inspection can be completed.

Find more information on the Mid-South Live Steamers website here.

Sign up For Severe Weather and Safety Alerts

From the City of Columbia’s post…  

The City of Columbia offers a free emergency alert system to all citizens within city limits!

Sign up today to get timely emergency alerts for severe weather, natural and man-made disasters, imminent health risks, and more. The alert system is linked with the National Weather Service and the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), ensuring you receive potentially life-saving information directly to your mobile or landline. 

Call or text 'ALERT' to 931-286-7771 or register online here.

Stay informed, stay safe!

Click for contact info

Upcoming Local Events

🗓 Have an event to add? Send us the Details!

Tuesday, April 28th

Wednesday, April 29th

Thursday, April 30th

Friday, May 1st

Saturday, May 2nd

Sunday, May 3rd

*Stay Tuned For More Events!

👇 Click the Links to Learn About our Local Business Sponsors! 👇

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Tuesday, April 28
Songwriters Round - Whiskey Alley Saloon, 6–9 PM
The Maury County Chorale - Cherry Theater - CSCC, 7–9:30 PM

Thursday, April 30
Todd Ciprian - Tito’s, 6–9 PM
Yonder Grove - Whiskey Alley Saloon, 7:30–9 PM

Friday, May 1
Tommy Wheatley - Buck & Board, 6–8 PM
TBA - River Terrace, 6–8 PM
Scott Southworth & The Honky Tonk Anonymous Band - Puckett’s - 6:30–8 PM
Golden Soul Revue - Grinder’s Switch - 7–9 PM
Scott Burt Big Band Series - Riverwalk Park (Free, bring a chair) - 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Covered Wagon - Twisted Copper Brewing Company, 7:00 - 10:00 PM
Vintage Voltage - Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 8–11 PM
Lost in Paradise - Puckett’s, 8:30–9:30 PM

Saturday, May 2
Tom Saffell & Robert Johnson - McCreary’s Irish Pub & Eatery, 7–9 PM
Writers Round Curated by Lance Carpenter - The Bourbon Gospel, 7:30 PM
The Zmed Brothers - Puckett’s, 7:30–9 PM
Box of Rox - Amber Falls Winery & Cellars, 3–7 PM
TBA - River Terrace, 6–8 PM
Christian Music Nights - Songwriters Round - 104 E. 6th St., 7:00 - 9:00 PM

Sunday, May 3
Breeze Cable - Amber Falls Winery & Cellars, 1–5 PM
Fractured Rose - The Rebel Bar & Grill, 4–7 PM

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