Santa/North Pole/Holiday Trains

One of the more interesting developments in the railroad industry over the past couple decades has been the large number of special Santa Claus/North Pole/Holiday Trains that operate in November and December.  Even with the apparent cancellation of the CN/IC Santa Train, kids of all ages can enjoy riding or watching special trains throughout our area, bringing the holiday spirit to the local communities. 

These events come in several variations: most are rides, many are fundraisers for non-profits and charities.  All of these events have proven to be very popular -- most of these trips sell out months in advance.   We have left out dates as there are too many to list as they range from one-time events to nearly daily service.  We invite you to click on the links below to find out more about a special holiday train near you.

​Note that the Blackhawk Railway Historical Society is not responsible for issues you may have with these organizations, including problems with their websites, cancellations, delays and equipment substitutions.  

Is there a Santa/North Pole/Holiday Train that we left out?  Have you found a broken link?  Please send us an E-mail.

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• Canadian Pacific - various stops in Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin
  "Holiday Train" - http://www.cpr.ca/holiday-train/united-states
• ​Chicago Union Station/Amtrak - Chicago, Illinois
  "The Polar Express" -  https://www.chicagothepolarexpressride.com/ 
• East Troy Electric Railroad - East Troy, Wisconsin (southwest of Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
  "Christmas Train" - https://www.easttroyrr.org/christmas-train.html
• Fox River Trolley Museum - South Elgin, Illinois (between Elgin and St. Charles, Illinois)
  "The Polar Express" - https://www.foxtrolley.org/polarexpress
• Friends of the 261 (owners of Milwaukee Road #261) - St. Paul, Minnesota
  "North Pole Express" - https://261.com/NPE/
• Hesston Steam Museum - Hesston, Indiana (east of Michigan City, Indiana and New Buffalo, Michigan)
  "Santa's Candy Cane Express" - https://www.hesston.org/ccx-event
• Hoosier Valley Railroad Musuem - North Judson, Indiana (southeast of Valparaiso, Indiana)
  "Santa Trains" - http://www.hoosiervalley.org/shop/tickets/#!/Santa-Trains/c/20686020/offset=0&sort=normal
• Illinois Railway Museum - Union, Illinois (northwest suburban McHenry County)
  "Happy Holiday Railway" - https://www.irm.org/event/happy-holiday-railway/
• Indiana Rail Road - various stops in south central Indiana and Illinois
  "Santa Train" - https://www.facebook.com/IndianaRailRoad/photos/a.609815909055444/1900473233323032/?type=3&theater
• Indiana Transportation Museum - Kokomo, Logansport and Tell City, Indiana
  "Polar Bear Express" - https://www.polarbear.express/
• Kansas City Southern - various stops in southwestern Illinois and Missouri
  "Holiday Express" - http://www.kcsouthern.com/corporate-responsibility/giving/2018%20Holiday%20Express%20Schedule.pdf
  
• Keokuk Junction Railway Company - various stops in Western Illinois
  "Santa Train" - http://pioneer-railcorp.com/KJRY%20Santa%20Train.html?fbclid=IwAR14OYbXyBjcT8iGI0JYV_BjzxHpP0fPACwOdo2mwi-DcEETeU6a7g2bUoU 
• Mid-Continent Railway Museum - North Freedom, Wisconsin (Wisconsin Dells area)
  "Santa Express" - https://www.midcontinent.org/train-ride-information/santa-express/
• Monticello Railway Museum - Monticello, Illinois (between Champaign and Decatur, Illinois)
  "The Polar Express" - http://www.mrym.org/polar.html 
  "Lunch with Santa on the Train" - http://www.mrym.org/santa.html 
  MRM also provides equipment for the Norfolk Southern's Santa/Christmas train for employee families out of Decatur, usually the second weekend in December
• St. Louis Union Station - St. Louis, Missouri
  "The Polar Express" - http://www.stlthepolarexpressride.com/polar-express-train-ride/ 
• Steam Locomotive Heritage Association's Soo Line #1003 - Hartford, Plymouth, and Elkhart Lake, WI
  See Santa along with their 1913-built steam locomotive  - http://steamlocomotiveheritage.org/
• Steam Railroading Institute (home of Pere Marquette #1225) - Owosso, Michigan (between Lansing and Flint, Michigan)
  "North Pole Express" - https://www.michigansteamtrain.com/npe
• Whitewater Valley Rail Road - Connersville-Metamora, Indiana (halfway between Indianapolis, Indiana and Cincinnati, Ohio)
  "Metamora Holiday Special," "Santa Claus Limited," and "The Polar Express" - https://whitewatervalleyrr.org/excursions/events​
• Operation North Pole - Des Plaines, Illinois
  ONP is a charity that works with Chicago’s major children’s hospitals, providing a day of fun and fantasy for families who have a child battling a life threatening illness by hosting a fantasy trip with a specially decorated Metra train to the "North Pole." - https://www.operationnorthpole.org/​
• Santa in Chicago - various Chicago and suburban locations
  ​Numerous community organizations and park districts sponsor their own "Santa/Polar Express" trains, and a full list can be found on this handy website - http://www.santainchicago.com/santaonthetrain/santaandtrains.htm