USA TODAY International Edition
Ultimate trains to board for the holidays.
Forget sleighs: The ultimate Christmas ride requires a train, with tourist railways across the country adding more specially themed holiday excursions every year. “There’s just a psychological bond between trains and Christmas,” says Jim Wrinn, editor of
THE POLAR EXPRESS TRAIN RIDE NEW ORLEANS AND OTHER LOCATIONS The classic children’s book and film about a magical train to the North Pole launched a holiday tradition. This year more than 1 million passengers at 50 locations will experience their own Polar Express ride, complete with hot chocolate and a visit with Santa. Even Amtrak locations in Chicago and New Orleans are participating. “It’s a nice relaxed family excursion where everyone can find something to enjoy. A lot of adults, and most of the kids, will show up in pajamas,” Wrinn says. raileventsinc. com CHRISTMAS EXPRESS EAST TROY ELECTRIC RAILROAD, EAST TROY, WIS. Instead of steam or diesel, this historic inter- urban trolley line relies on electricity for its power. Passengers stop at privately run farmers’ market where they can work on a craft project in an elf workshop and visit with Santa himself. “I always like preservation railroads that have a real destination, and this one does,” Wrinn says. easttroyrr. org CHRISTMAS CITY EXPRESS LAKE SUPERIOR RAILROAD MUSEUM, DULUTH, MINN. This crosstown outing’s based on a holiday train story written and illustrated by local authors. The trip, offered on weekends, includes caroling and cookies and a performance of the book. “The route is beautiful and often snowy,” Wrinn says. northshorescenicrailroad.org SANTA’S EXPRESS ST. LOUIS UNION STATION With ice skating and a light show at this storied train station, passengers can get a full holiday experience even before boarding the North Pole Railway. The train trip includes a reading of the poem A Visit from St. Nicholas, commonly known as Twas the Night Before Christmas. There are also singing elves, reindeer landing on the train roof, and a visit to Santa’s house and toy factory. holidaysatunion station. com ELF LIMITED CASS SCENIC RAILROAD, CASS, W. VA. New this year, this historic mountain excursion line features a theatrical performance about a training camp for Santa’s elves. “It’s a great idea, a different take on a holiday train. There will be a lot of drama aboard this one,” Wrinn says. mountainrailwv. com NORTH POLE EXPRESS, STEAM RAILROADING INSTITUTE OWOSSO, MICH. If the steam locomotive ( No. 1225) pulling this holiday train looks familiar, it’s because it inspired the engine used in the Polar Express. “The movie’s based on the styling and sound of the engine,” Wrinn says. Passengers lay over in a Christmas village with horse- drawn carriages, street performers and a petting zoo with reindeer. michigan steamtrain. com MORE 10BEST TRAVEL. USATODAY. COM See lists for travel ideas online. TRAIN OF LIGHTS NILES CANYON RAILWAY, SUNOL, CALIF. This nighttime- only excursion running through a remote area near San Francisco Bay has been called the most decorated train in the world. “Instead of the whole area being decked out, the train is,” Wrinn says. “It’s really dark out there, so the lights are brilliant.” Ncry. org KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN HOLIDAY EXPRESS KANSAS CITY, MO., AND ACROSS THE SOUTH AND MIDWEST A smiling locomotive has been pulling this six- car train across the freight carrier’s railroad network every holiday season since 2001. Visitors can tour the decorated gingerbread box car, an elf workshop and a miniature village. “It’s sort of like a Christmas tree train come to life,” Wrinn says. kcsouthern. com/ en- us/ pdf/ 2016kcs- holiday- express- schedule. pdf CANADIAN PACIFIC HOLIDAY TRAIN ACROSS THE UPPER MIDWEST, NEW YORK AND CANADA Unlike most Christmas rail experiences, these locomotives don’t carry passengers. Instead two decorated trains crisscross North America, bringing entertainment to more than 100 cities, and raising funds for local charities. “It’s a big extravaganza of lights and sound— a unique mixture of railroading and entertainment,” Wrinn says. cpr. ca/ holiday- train/ united- states CHRISTMAS TREE TRAIN DURANGO & SILVERTON NARROW GAUGE RAILROAD, DURANGO, COLO. One of the country’s most popular preservation railways offers a memorably scenic trip. “It’s up in the Rockies, and this time of year you have a really good chance for snowfall,” Wrinn says. Passengers can even harvest their own Christmas tree, helping reducing wildfire danger by clearing understory in the San Juan National Forest. Train staff will load it on a box car and haul it back to town. durangotrain. com