Santa Claus/North Pole/Holiday Trains
FOR THE SECOND CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY SEASON, RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS CHANGED, POSTPONED, OR EVEN CANCELLED MANY OF THESE EVENTS. SOME WILL EVEN BE RUN AS VIRTUAL EVENTS, OR HAVE LIMITATIONS ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT CAN PARTICIPATE.
WE STRONGLY SUGGEST CONTACTING THE SPONSORS OF ANY EVENT TO CONFIRM IT WILL HAPPEN OR WHAT RESTRICTIONS WILL BE IN PLACE.
WE STRONGLY SUGGEST CONTACTING THE SPONSORS OF ANY EVENT TO CONFIRM IT WILL HAPPEN OR WHAT RESTRICTIONS WILL BE IN PLACE.
|
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. 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.
For brevity, we've listed events that are in the Chicagoland area, or within a day's drive (or so,) with a few exceptions. Is there a Santa Claus/North Pole/Holiday Train that we left out? Have you found a broken link? Please send us an E-mail.
For brevity, we've listed events that are in the Chicagoland area, or within a day's drive (or so,) with a few exceptions. Is there a Santa Claus/North Pole/Holiday Train that we left out? Have you found a broken link? Please send us an E-mail.
(Photo courtesy of Canadian Pacific)
|
|
- Canadian Pacific - various stops in Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin
(FOR 2021 THIS WILL BE HELD AS A VIRTUAL EVENT)
"Holiday Train" gathering donations for local food pantries > http://www.cpr.ca/holiday-train/united-states - Chicago Transit Authority - Chicago, Illinois (Website still showing 2020 information)
"Allstate CTA Holiday Train" > https://www.transitchicago.com/holidayfleet/#about_train - Chicago Union Station/Amtrak - Chicago, Illinois
"The Polar Express" > https://www.chicagothepolarexpressride.com/ - CN (Canadian National) - various stops in Michigan and Illinois
(FOR 2021 THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED)
"Santa Train" and "Christmas Express" > www.gtwtracker.com/2021-cn-santa-train.html - Crossroads Village & Huckleberry Railroad - Flint, Michigan
Christmas at Crossroads Holiday Magic > http://geneseecountyparks.org/crossroads-village/programs/christmas-holiday-magic/ - East Troy Electric Railroad - East Troy, Wisconsin (southwest of Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
"Christmas Train" > https://www.easttroyrr.org/christmas-train.html - Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society (home of NKP #765) - New Haven (Fort Wayne), Indiana
"Santa Train" > https://fortwaynerailroad.org/events-and-excursions/ - Fox River Trolley Museum - South Elgin, Illinois (between Elgin and St. Charles, Illinois)
"The Polar Express" > https://www.foxtrolley.org - Friends of the 261 (Railroading Heritage of Midwest America) - St. Paul, Minnesota
"North Pole Express" > https://261.com/npe/ - Hesston Steam Museum - Hesston, Indiana (between Michigan City, Indiana and New Buffalo, Michigan)
(FOR 2021 THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED)
"Santa's Candy Cane Express" > https://www.hesston.org/ - Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum - North Judson, Indiana (southeast of Valparaiso, Indiana)
"Santa Trains" > http://www.hoosiervalley.org/shop/tickets/… - 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" > http://www.inrd.com/community.aspx - Indiana Transportation Museum - Kokomo, Logansport and Tell City, Indiana
"Polar Bear Express" > https://www.itm.org/ - Kansas City Southern - Kanasas City, Missouri and points south
(FOR 2021 THIS WILL NOT BE RUN, BUT KCS IS ENCOURAGING DONATIONS TO THE SALVATION ARMY)
"Holiday Express" > https://www.kcsouthern.com/corporate-responsibility/giving/holiday-express - Lake State Railway - North Central Michigan
"Santa Train" > https://www.lsrc.com/news/newssanta/ - Little River Railroad - Coldwater, Michigan (far southern Michigan, just north of the northeast corner of Indiana)
"Holiday Express" > http://littleriverrailroad.com/index.php/special-events/ - Mid-Continent Railway Museum - North Freedom, Wisconsin (Wisconsin Dells area)
(FOR 2021 THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED)
"Santa Express" > https://www.midcontinent.org/train-ride-info…/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 - National Railroad Museum - Green Bay, Wisconsin
"The Polar Express" > https://nationalrrmuseum.org/events/polar-express/
"Holidays on the Rails" > https://nationalrrmuseum.org/holidays-on-the-rails/ - Nickel Plate Express - Noblesville, Indiana
"Reindeer Ride" > https://nickelplateexpress.com/reindeer-ride-tickets - 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 Trains 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 > https://santainchicago.com/polar-express-story-time-trainsand-holiday-rail-trips-with-santa-at-73-cities-and-towns/ - Southern Michigan Railroad - Tecumseh, Michigan
"Santa Specials" > http://southernmichiganrailroad.com/ride/santa-specials.html - St. Louis Union Station - St. Louis, Missouri
"The Polar Express" > www.stlthepolarexpressride.com/ - Steam Locomotive Heritage Association's Soo Line #1003 - Hartford, 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/tickets-reservations/north-pole-express - 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 - Wisconsin Great Northern - Spooner Wisconsin
"Santa Pizza Party Train" - Santa Train in Wisconsin | Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad (spoonertrainride.com)
Last update: November 14, 2021