Events | Chester Railway Station and Museum

2026

2026 Chester On Track(COT)
Celebrating 35 years of Chester On Track was on Saturday May 16th 2026
Perfect weather was our theme this year and was enjoyed by all.
We've put in an order for the same next year.

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2025

CHRISTMAS PARTY
December 7, 2025
Filled with cookies and many other treats.
And of course,
Santa Claus

Housatonic Heritage Walk Series 2025

Click the Cover and save/print this guide to see
all of this years 80 walks.

Dave Pierce, Presidents of:
The FRIENDS OF THE KEYSTONE ARCHES, INC.,
and THE CHESTER FOUNDATION, INC. (Chester Railway Station),
both being non profit organizations, will be guiding groups on:
September 6th, 9:30 AM to 1 PM
#2 on the Brochure, Walk The Keystone Arches
and
October 4th, 10 AM to 12 NOON
#66 on the Brochure, Visit Washington's Muddy Pond along the Railroad tracks on The Housatonic Heritage Walks 2025 Series

Our associates, The Western Hilltown Hikers Group,
will be giving 4 Walks.

Hobo-to-Go Dinner
At the Chester Station/Museum
Saturday October 18, 2025

"All the HOBOS will be there"

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The 34th anniversary of Chester On Track was threatened with rain early in the day. I was on the stage at the Station and Museum for the day and felt about 8 drops, (plus or minus) and that was the extent of the rain.
Other than that, what a perfect day for a parade and a day for a community to pull together and host another Chester on Track.
Join us next year on the third Saturday in May and we'll do it again.
Thank you for coming out and making another successful day for the COT celebration.

Designated National Historic Landmarks.
Two Keystone Arches and the Chester Factory Village Railway Station
were granted National Historic Landmarks status in 2021.

Two keystone arch bridges located within Mass Wildlife's Walnut Hill Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Middlefield and Becket were recently designated as National Historic Landmarks by the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI). Soaring above the West Branch of the Westfield River, the bridges are an intact segment of the country’s first railroad built to pass over a mountain. The two bridges are part of a series of area stone railroad bridges built for the Western Railroad that ran from Boston to Albany. Major George Washington Whistler is credited with the design and implementation of an unprecedented plan to extend the rail through the central Berkshires by spanning the West Branch of the Westfield River in multiple locations. With only 2,500 National Historic Landmarks in the entire country, this prestigious designation recognizes the structures' significant place in United States history. The federal designation was the result of a combined effort of cultural and conservation partners. An application for Landmark designation to the DOI was filed in 2013 by the Friends of the Keystone Arches and the Wild and Scenic Westfield River Committee with a unanimous endorsement by Mass Wildlife's Fisheries and Wildlife Board. Anyone willing to do a little hiking can experience some spectacular examples of architecture and railroad history in a beautiful natural setting. In addition to the arches, visitors can enjoy the state's longest free flowing waterway situated in one of the largest blocks of undeveloped landscapes in the region. The West Branch of the Westfield River, a National Wild and Scenic River, is popular among anglers fishing for wild and stocked trout and for experienced kayakers paddling the river rapids. The WMA includes exemplary forested communities of northern woodlands, rich mesic forest, and hickory-hop hornbeam in various stages of growth. Walnut Hill WMA offers excellent opportunities for deer, bear, and turkey hunting. Wildlife viewing prospects include forest dwelling birds such as thrushes, warblers, and woodpeckers. Minks and otters patrol the waterways along with aquatic insects; mayflies, damselflies, and dragonflies. Several state-listed species of rare plants and insects have also been documented on the property. In an era of human and horsepower, construction of the 150-mile railroad was completed by 3,000 laborers in an incredible two and a half years, opening in 1841. The group of arched bridges located near and within the remote 900+ acre Walnut Hill WMA can be accessed via the 2.5 mile one way Keystone Arch Bridge Trail in Chester. The trail is maintained by the Friends of the Keystone Arches with the permission of MassWildlife.
MassWildlife's mission to protect wildlife lands across the state has been remarkably successful. Thanks to an unusual partnership, at Walnut Hill WMA the conserved land and water comes with a spectacular added cultural benefit, sure to be appreciated by all who visit.

MASSWILDLIFE

Thank You for Supporting Our Efforts.

If you wish to book an event,
call 413-354-7878
Or
Message us on Facebook

We have almost everything a client might need. Included in rental price can be a 100 cup coffeemaker, 8 chafing dishes, (bring food in aluminum foil pans and just drop them in) two large rolling coolers a wide assortment of pitchers, baskets, bud vases, punch bowls, salt & pepper shakers, 120 place settings, and more!
Set up indoors and/or out. See our Bookings page for more detail.

Call or Email for details and suggestions. A $50.00 deposit applies to all event rentals, returned within a week following a brief inspection and inventory.