The Montclair Girl Team 
This article is sponsored by Delaware River Railroad Excursions.
Northwest New Jersey is full of natural wonders and adventure. In this corner of the Garden State, the #1 tourist attraction is both historical and interactive, providing a taste of history along the Delaware River. Delaware River Railroad Excursions in Phillipsburg is a non-profit living museum of Steam Railroading that goes beyond the typical history lesson, and this year it’s celebrating its 20th anniversary with fun-filled experiences for the whole family. Here you can experience several themed train experiences, such as the Wine Train, Birthday Train, and Mine Train, to name a few. We got to experience the Wine Train for ourselves and it was truly a bucket list item checked off. Read on to learn more about Delaware River Railroad Excursions and how to book your next excursion.
The Excursions
Like most great contributions, the Delaware River Railroad Excursions started small with just 15,000 riders a year and has grown into Northwest New Jersey’s #1 tourist attraction, with over 150,000 visitors in 2024 alone. Besides the historical draw, the experience provides a ton of family-friendly fun for just about any occasion.
Within the Delaware River Railroad Excursions are ten different train experiences that span throughout the year, catering to your favorite holidays, special occasions, and more, including…
- The River Train
- The Winery Train
- The Mine Train
- The Birthday Train
- The Corn Maze Train
- The Great Pumpkin Train
- The Dino Days Train Ride
- A Day Out With Thomas Train
- The Polar Express
- The Easter Bunny Train Ride
The Winery Train
One of the main attractions at Delaware River Railroad Excursion is, you guessed it, The Winery Train. From May through October, visitors can experience a charming ride on a 19th-century train along the Delaware River that leads to Villa Milagro Vineyards. Here, visitors can enjoy wine tastings, paired with homemade horderves, and cozy picnic groves with panoramic views of the vineyard, with a chance to wander and visit additional local pubs and purchase their favorite wines.
Along the way, passengers learn more about the railroad and winery’s history with an in-depth look at the grape growing and wine-making process from husband-and-wife duo, Steve + Aubrey Cross.
The MG team recently made a trip, and now we’re certified wine experts. Our visit became a learning experience, as with every wine presented, Steve + Aubrey taught the reasoning behind each pairing. If you’re going to learn how to “impress your friends,” as Steve said, it might as well be with wine and a picturesque mountain view behind you.
The whole experience is just $45 with the option to add on an authentic gemstone panning experience for $8 or a stop at the Corn Maze (when in season) for $5.
About Delaware River Railroad Excursions
Two decades ago, in 2004, Delaware River Railroad Excursions was established as a historical partnership in Phillipsburg to promote tourism and support local development. Behind the scenes is local non-profit New York Susquehanna + Western Technical + Historical Society Inc., which works to preserve the history of our country’s railroad legacy. Delaware River Railroad Excursions is one of the few operating steam locomotives that remain in New Jersey.
The operation is led by a team of volunteers with one common passion: trains. From mechanics and college professors to former rail workers and corporate executives, it seems that railfans always seem to find each other. The Delaware River Railroad Excursions team shared with MG that “What we all have in common is our desire to learn more about history, railroading, and life. You can come to us with no background in railroading at all and leave as a train engineer. Many of our volunteers have gone on to be professional railroaders.”
Delaware River Railroad Excursions is located at 38 Market Street in Phillipsburg, New Jersey. For more information, click here or call 877-872-4674.
