What a cool place to go to! You don't have to pay to get in and enjoy the park or look around, the rides and static exhibits do require a ticket or a daily band. The tix are $2 per attraction and the band which gives unlimited access to everything is only $10!
We went on Sunday and it was fairly crowded but we still rode the train 5 times. We went back on Monday and it was pretty dea
d. Now I don't like crowds at all but Sunday seemed alot more fun, maybe all those kids running around screaming made it more enjoyable? Is that even possible?
Now the thing you must do is go on the weekend for the fact they run the steam engine then, during the week it's the diesel, the steam engine is a totally different experience. It sounds corny but the steam engine feels like its alive when it's pulling you around, it's like a living being, the diesel doesn't have that feel.
This place is great, make a day and check it out.