But Is It Just A Train Ride
No. It’s actually a full theatrical show with a train car for a stage, which is festively set with evergreen garlands and Christmas lights that are synced to the storytelling.
An immersive experience, the ride faithfully follows Chris Van Allsburgs beloved 1985 children’s book and Robert Zemeckis’ enduring 2004 computer-animated film starring Tom Hanks.
Actors sharply costumed as porters invite passengers to board the train to the North Pole, and each car is assigned a trio of spirited performers to entertain the travelers. Dressed as old-fashioned railroad stewards, they stay in character and stick closely to the familiar story throughout the trip.
They playfully punch the riders’ golden tickets and reverently stamp them with a “B” for “believe,” they prettily sing the movie’s moving ballad “When Christmas Comes to Town,” and they guide passengers through a recorded reading of “The Polar Express” storybook. Other performers pop in to play out the beloved tale: The brisk conductor greets the Hero Child in the blue bathrobe, who has boarded the train for his “crucial year” as he has begun to question if Santa Claus is real.
The Hero Child’s doubts are echoed by the cynical hobo who has sneaked aboard the train and proclaimed himself “The King of The Polar Express.”
Colorado Railroad Museum Polar Express
In need of a little Christmas magic? Hitch a ride on the Colorado Railroad Museums Polar Express. The authentic coal-fired steam locomotive runs every year from mid-November until just before Christmas, taking riders on a journey to the North Pole by way of the museums 14-acre railway park in Golden.
The 90-minute experience is pulled directly from the pages of The Polar Express and its movie adaptation, with family carol singing, a cabaret show, hot chocolate, cookies and a dramatic reenactment of the popular childrens book complete with dancing elves and a visit with Santa Claus.
Due to its popularity, 2021 tickets for the Polar Express train ride have already sold out. Mark your calendars for next year, though. Online tickets typically go on sale to the general public the first week of October.
This year, standard seating cost $80 per person aged 2-15 and $100 per person aged 16 and older. Children younger than 2 attend for free. First-class tables for four cost $475.
Learn more at coloradorailroadmuseum.org/polar-express.
The North Pole Santa’s Workshop
Want to visit the North Pole, but dont want to traverse the globe to do so? Be sure to consider this stop when traveling to any of Colorado’s holiday-themed trains.
The North Pole Santas Workshop is just west of Colorado Springs and features rides, fun and all the yuletide cheer you need to celebrate the holidays. The park, located at 5050 Pikes Peak Highway in Cascade, opened in 1965.
Featured rides include the Candy Cain Coaster, the Antique Car Ride, a vintage carousel, the Dive Bomber, the Peppermint Slide, a Ferris wheel, the Kiddie Commander, the Granny Bug and more.
The North Pole also features a family-friendly train that travels around the park. Children under 46 inches tall must be accompanied by an adult to ride. While on the train, you can take in the sights and learn of the parks 65-year history.
During the holiday season, cost is $25 per person for those age 3 and up. Children younger than 3 enter and ride for free. An online reservation is required and reservations opened Nov. 1.
COVID-19 precautions are in place. Fully vaccinated individuals do not have to wear a mask, while those not vaccinated are encouraged to wear one.
Park hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday through Monday. Visit northpolecolorado.com for more information.
Read Also: World’s Largest Toy Museum In Branson Missouri
Whistle Stop Trains And Christmas Festival
Experience a six-week-long Christmas celebration at Hulen Park at 1010 Hillsboro St., in Cleburne. Be immersed in multicolored Christmas lights decorating trains, cars and homes in the area.
From Dec. 3-18, Hulen Park will provide children’s train rides from 5 to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, priced at $3 per rider.
Additional information is available at whistlestopchristmas.com.
Oklahoma Railway Museum Polar Express
Although the tracks through the Sooner State haven’t always been the easiest to navigate, The Polar Express Train Ride keeps chugging along in Oklahoma.
After the COVID-19 pandemic stopped the moving theatrical production in its tracks in 2020, The Polar Express Train Ride is making a comeback this season at the Oklahoma Railway Museum, where the first trains departed Nov. 13.
Merrymakers have the chance to board The Polar Express through Dec. 28 at the OKC museum, which is only open for this event through Jan. 5.
Tickets range from $52 to $67 per child, and $59 to $75 per adult. Children younger than age 2 can ride for free on the lap of a parent or guardian.
The Oklahoma Railway Museum is located at 3400 NE Grand Blvd., Oklahoma City. Visit okcthepolarexpressride.com for more information.
You May Like: American Alliance Of Museums Jobs
Are We Missing Any Santa Train Rides
Here’s the thing about the West: It’s big and there’s a lot of ground to cover. If we missed your favorite Santa train offering in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas or Oklahoma, and you think it’s worth traveling for, email Eric Larsen at ericlarsen@coloradoan.com.
Contributing: Erin Udell, the Fort Collins Coloradoan Tracy Harmon and Luke Lyons, the Pueblo Chieftain Brandy McDonnell, The Oklahoman.
Fort Collins Coloradoan editor Eric Larsen can be reached at or 970-224-7745.
When Should Ticketholders Arrive For Their Ride
Ticketholders are required to arrive about 40 minutes before their showtime to park and check in, and you do not want to be late.
The experience starts at showtime as the porters arrive to welcome passengers, escort them to the platform and start boarding. The box office closes at showtime, so if you don’t have your tickets by then, you’re out of luck.
The boarding platform closes 15 minutes after the listed showtime, and no riders will be allowed on the train after that happens. The train departs about 20 minutes after showtime.
While waiting, attendees can browse in the gift shop, sample snacks like cinnamon roasted nuts and strudel, have souvenir photos taken, write letters to Santa and use the restroom.
Daytime passengers also can check out the freight cars, passenger cars and real steam engine on display on the museum’s grounds.
Including wait time and travel time, the entire experience lasts a little less than two hours.
Recommended Reading: 21c Museum Hotel Lexington Ky
Texas State Railroad Polar Express
Depart for a train ride to the North Pole singing Christmas carols with iconic “The Polar Express” characters at Texas State Railroads depot at 789 Park Road 70 in Palestine.
The one-hour adventure leaves in the late afternoon and evenings with additional times added as Christmas approaches. The week of Christmas will have have five departures Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 2, 3:30, 5, 6, and 8 p.m. Christmas Eve will have 3 departures at 3:30, 5 and 6 p.m.
As chefs sing and recite the children’s book “The Polar Express,” Santa and his elves prepare to pass out gifts once the train reaches Santa’s home. Chefs will also give out sugar cookies and hot chocolate.
Costs range from $30 to $80 per child, depending on class of service, $50 to $100 per adult, depending on class of service, and $60 to $110 per adult with a lap child, depending on class of service.
Masks are optional for the ride. Tickets are available at texasstaterailroad.net.
Hotels Near Oklahoma Railway Museum Information
| Hotels Near Oklahoma Railway Museum, Oklahoma City | 350 |
|---|---|
| Hotels Near Oklahoma Railway Museum Reviews | 6,933 |
| Hotels Near Oklahoma Railway Museum Photos | 16,166 |
This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu.more
Recommended Reading: How To Become A Museum Curator
Durango And Silverton Train Polar Express
Like the Colorado Railroad Museum, The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad of southwestern Colorado runs annual holiday rides based upon the beloved children’s book. Riders are picked up by the heritage railroads train in Durango before setting off for the North Pole.
Hot chocolate and sweet treats are served onboard while the train conductor reads The Polar Express. Once at the North Pole, riders are greeted by a light show set to holiday music. On the ride back to Durango, Santa visits with each coach car and hands out his traditional first gift of Christmas.
The Durango and Silverton Polar Express train runs through New Year’s Day. Depending on what coach car you select, tickets can range from $39 to $67 per adult and $29 to $57 for children 2-11 years old. Tickets can be purchased at durangotrain.com.
Galveston Railroad Museum Polar Express
Experience a Christmas from the movies and purchase a ticket to the North Pole on The Polar Express Train Ride. Visit Galveston and get picked up at the island’s railroad museum’s vintage train station at 2602 Santa Fe Place.
Singing chefs will serenade passengers as they serve cookies and hot chocolate. Santa Claus will announce who is on his “nice” list and gift the first present of Christmas a silver sleigh bell. Polar Express staff encourage guests to wear pajamas.
Once at the North Pole, dancing elves will greet passengers. Once back at the station following the one-hour ride, passengers will have the opportunity to take photos with the crew.
Coach class tickets start at $30 for a child and $35 for an adult, but can go as high as $70-$75 depending if the museum determines the date and time as a higher-demand departure. First-class tickets range from $45-$50 and can go as high as $85-$90. Presidential class tickets start from $65-$70 to $105-$110. Lap infants younger than 2 ride for free.
Trains will depart at several times Thursday through Sunday for the first two weeks of December. Leading up to Christmas from Dec. 20-23, trains will depart at 5:30, 7 and 8 p.m., however, the museum anticipates trains to sell out.
Masks are required and passengers must purchase tickets online. Information:
You May Like: Museum Of The Bible Ticket Prices
Pueblo Railway Museums Pueblo Express
The Pueblo Express train is back this year, running from 4 to 8 p.m. Dec. 11, 17, 18 and 24. Check out a flatcar of holiday inflatables, enjoy Christmas cookies in the diner car, and marvel at the Christmas-themed Lionel model train layout. The gift shop offers train-themed collectibles sells tickets for the Pueblo Express train.
The event takes place behind the Pueblo Union Depot building, at Victoria Avenue and B Street in historic downtown Pueblo.
Admission is free. Train tickets are $8 for a ride in one of the cabooses or $15 for a ride with the conductor in the engine . Children younger than 3 ride the train free.
For more information, visit pueblorailway.org.
What’s New On This Year’s Ride
Although the overall experience stays consistent from year to year, the producers, Rail Events Productions, annually tweak the show.
This year, train car windows are glazed with an artificial frost to help set up a simulated Northern Lights experience. It replaces the viewing of the decorated outdoor North Pole set you actually can’t see clearly out the windows at all and my three children didn’t care for the change. But it did make Santa’s arrival more of a surprise than a wait, which was fun.
Also, passengers are no longer required to adhere to COVID-19 protocols like wearing masks or showing proof of vaccination.
Don’t Miss: Martin Luther King Jr Museum Memphis Tn
The Polar Express Train Ride
Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, passengers will relive the magic of the classic story as they are whisked away on The Polar Express for a magical one-hour trip to the North Pole. Once on board, car hosts will walk their way through the coach to punch your golden ticket before hot chocolate and treats are served by dancing chefs.
Santa and his helpers will be on the scene to greet passengers and present the first gift of Christmas: a silver sleigh bell. The rest of the magical train ride will feature caroling, a read along to the book that started it all and more onboard entertainment just like the film!
Dont miss your chance to join this magical experience at the Oklahoma Railway Museum November 12 through December 27! You can see the full schedule here.
More Like This
Hotels Near Oklahoma Railway Museum
- 50 mi from Oklahoma Railway Museum
- 50 mi from Oklahoma Railway Museum
4.3 miles2.8 miles2.9 miles3.2 miles3.4 miles3.3 miles3.4 miles2.1 miles3.2 miles3.4 miles2.9 miles2.5 miles3.3 miles2.9 miles3.4 miles3.5 miles3.5 miles3.5 miles3.3 miles3.3 miles3.5 miles3.5 miles3.2 miles3.5 miles2.2 miles2.9 miles2.4 miles1.9 miles3.0 miles3.2 miles3.0 miles
Don’t Miss: Birthplace Of Country Music Museum
For Ticket Sales Book Online Or Call 218
Passengers who require ADA-compatible seating and wheelchair accessibility should review our FAQ page before purchasing tickets. Boarding and deboarding of trains requires climbing stairs and walking through rail cars to and from seating locations. Limited wheelchair-accessible seating and a wheelchair lift is available on Train As Jingle car and Train Bs Dasher car First Class, Parlor Class, and all other standard and deluxe coach cars are not wheelchair accessible due to the use of historic and antiquated rail passenger equipment, which is exempt from ADA regulations under US Code: Title 42: Section 12184.
When buying tickets, dont forget to add from our selection of THE POLAR EXPRESS merchandise that will make your trip to the North Pole even more memorable.
Choose from a variety of pre-sale items which can be picked up upon arrival, including a copy of The Polar Express book signed by Santa Claus himself, the childs conductor hat, the conductors pocket watch, the cuddly polar bear plush , and the jingle bell display frame complete with a special hook to display your silver sleigh bell from Santa. Your children will want to take these special items along on their magical journey!
Childs Conductor Hat
$16.00 plus tax and fees
All aboard THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride! This hat is a must-have for your little conductor!
Childs Conductor Hat
$16.00 plus tax and fees
The Polar Express Book
$20.00 plus tax and fees
The Polar Express Book
Is It A Real Train Ride
Yes. Passengers will depart from the Oklahoma Railway Museum aboard one of six train cars attached to a real locomotive. During the hourlong round trip, the train chugs through the woods and neighborhoods around the museum.
For many Oklahomans riding the rails is a rare treat, even though most of the passengers’ attention will be focused on what’s happening inside their car during the “The Polar Express” Train Ride.
Also Check: Perez Art Museum Miami Price
The Polar Express Train Ride Is Returning To Southern California Railway Museum For The 2022 Holiday Season
Select dates November 20th-December 28th, 2022
Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, passengers will relive the magic of the classic story as they are whisked away on THE POLAR EXPRESS for a magical one-hour trip to meet Santa. Once on board, your car hosts will work their way through the coach and punch your golden ticket before hot chocolate and a delicious cookie are served by dancing chefs. Passengers then read along with the classic childrens book, The Polar Express, by Chris Van Allsburg.
Santa and his helpers board the train to greet passengers and each guest is given the first gift of Christmas. During the trip, characters on each car immerse passengers in theatrical onboard entertainment just like in the film! Each guest will take home a keepsake sleigh bell in addition to the wonderful memories made on this magical trip.
Please visit , or contact Rail Events at or 357-3526 for additional information and tickets about this event.
Phone
What Does The Train Ride Cost
Coach tickets are $60 for adults and $53 for children ages 2 to 11.
First-class tickets are $75 for adults and $70 for children. The upgrades include overstuffed reclining seats, extra leg room and collectible ceramic mugs.
Children younger than 2 can ride for free on a parent or guardian’s lap.
Parking passes are $6 per vehicle and should be purchased with the event tickets. Passengers must show their emailed ticket confirmation to the parking attendants to park on the museum grounds.
You May Like: Museum Of Natural History New York City Hours
Okc ‘the Polar Express’ Train Ride And Oklahoma Railway Museum’s Christmas Train Canceled Due To Pandemic
Oklahomans who enjoy celebrating the season with a yuletide train ride will have their fun spoiled this year by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
After bringing the popular “The Polar Express” Train Ride back to Oklahoma in 2019, producer Rail Events Inc., the exclusive rights holder to “The Polar Express” Train Ride since 2007, recently announced that the beloved attraction won’t be taking to the tracks in Oklahoma City this season.
“There were a variety of contributing factors that led to this decision, but the health and safety of our guests and staff was the most important consideration. We plan to welcome you back when it is safe and reasonable to do so in the future,” Rail Events Inc. announced on .
As previously reported, “The Polar Express” Train Ride chugged back into Oklahoma last year after a two-year absence. The immersive family-friendly favorite is based on Chris Van Allsburgs 1985 children’s book “The Polar Express” and the 2004 computer-animated movie adaptation of the same name.
More than 35,000 people boarded the yuletide attraction each year when it ran out of Bristow in 2014-2015 and Stillwater in 2016, before complications derailed “The Polar Express” Train Ride’s initial Oklahoma run.
Rail Events Inc. brought the attraction to OKC in 2019, upgrading the Sooner State to flagship status running the yuletide rides out of the Oklahoma Railway Museum.
-BAM
