Blame it on Currier and Ives or maybe The Polar Express, but trains spark holiday magic in even the Scroogiest family members! This time of year, local railroads are rolling out festive excursions, including facetime with Santa and Christmas tree trains. So hop aboard, these holiday train rides promise photo opps and unforgettable memories your family will certainly cherish. But that’s not all! We’ve also got your ticket to view some amazing and delightful model train displays rolling down the track, including everyone’s favorite “really useful engine!”

Holiday Train Rides

Colebrookdale Railroad

64 S. Washington Street, Boyertown (Thanks to Main Line Parent Community member Jessica O. for the tip!)

Get your ticket to a magical holiday adventure with Santa on a train ride through the beautiful Secret Valley. Holiday excursions on the Colebrookedale Railroad include Santa’s Polar Bear Express, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, Winter Wonderland Adventure (Dinner in Dining Class) and the Snowflake Special. If you plan to go, then be sure to purchase your tickets in advance to save your seat. Holiday train rides run multiple times on weekends from November 29th through early December, then daily the second and third weeks in December.

Delaware River Railroad Excursions

38 Market St, Phillipsburg, NJ

Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, passengers relive the magic of the classic story as they head off on THE POLAR EXPRESS™ for a magical hour and a half trip to meet Santa. Once on board, your car hosts will work their way through the coach and punch your golden ticket. Enjoy hot chocolate and delicious cookies served by dancing chefs, and a reading of the Polar Express. Topping off the experience, Santa will greet the children. Each child will receive their own sleigh bell, just like in the movie, to those who BELIEVE. Families are encouraged to wear their pajamas for the ride and join in on the magic of Christmas.

New Hope Railroad

32 W. Bridge Street, New Hope

New Hope Railroad offers a choice of holiday railroad adventures through the historic Bucks County countryside. Each experience is a 60-minute train ride with all the trimmings featuring Santa and Mrs. Claus, hot cocoa, cookies, caroling, and music. And to top it off, each child gets a special gift. Choose Santa’s Steam Train Ride, which is an historic, #40 steam engine train or the North Pole Express Train, pulled by a vintage diesel locomotive. The trains run multiple times on weekends in November and early December, then daily in later December. Want to make a day of it in New Hope? Check out Bucks County Parent’s Guide to Family Fun in New Hope for ideas to plan your day!

Strasburg Rail Road

301 Gap Road, Ronks

Chances are you’ve been here before if someone in your family likes trains. Maybe it was you, as a kid? Strasburg has been thrilling visitors since 1958. The 45-minute Santa’s Paradise Express Coach is the 60+ year tradition of the Strasburg Rail Road. Beautifully restored in authentic Victorian style, the coach is filled with sweet surprises, from live musicians and carolers to a photo opportunity with Santa himself and a special gift. Strasburg Rail Road also runs the Night Before Christmas trains, Christmas Feast w/ Mrs. Claus, and Santa Claus Limited. Trains run multiple times every Saturday and Sunday from mid-November through Christmas. Check their schedule for dates and times.

These daytime trains run frequently, so there’s plenty of steam engine action for the kids to watch. And there’s enough to do here to keep everyone busy for several hours. If you want to make a full day out of it, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania is across the street.

West Chester Railroad

230 E. Market Street, West Chester

West Chester Railroad welcomes passengers aboard for two holiday experiences: the Santa’s Express and the Christmas Tree Train. Starting with a ride through the bucolic Chester County countryside, the Christmas Tree Train take passengers to Wiggins Farm to pick their perfect tree. After cutting it down, the tree is banded up, tagged, and placed on a flat car for the return ride to the West Chester station. The trip is approximately two hours long. The Christmas Tree Train departs at 8 am on three Sundays: Dec. 1, 8, and 15. Santa’s Express, a 75-minute ride on a heated and decorated train car, will feature an appearance by Santa, as well as live music. Excursions run multiple times on weekends, from late November though December. Additional 5 pm departures take place for a few weeks in December.

Whippany Polar Express Train Ride

1 Railroad Plz, Whippany, NJ

SOLD OUT FOR 2024! Book your tickets in the summer 2025 to catch a ride on the Whippany Polar Express next year! This holiday train ride, is designed to really feel and look like the movie it is named for! On board, passengers enjoy singing conductors, hot chocolate passed out by performing servers, and even little silver sleigh bells (the first gift of Christmas, of course!). Train rides run from early November through the end of December.

Wilmington & Western Railroad

2201 Newport Gap Pike, Wilmington, Delaware

Why stand in line and wait to see Santa? Instead take the Santa Claus Express and enjoy a visit with Santa and a chocolate treat. When you go, be sure to bring your own camera for photos. This experience is powered by one of their historic first-generation diesel locomotives. Santa Claus Express trains depart twice daily on weekends and select weekdays between Thanksgiving and Christmas. For a holiday experience without Santa, take the Holiday Lights Express, an evening ride aboard their vintage train covered in thousands of twinkling lights.

Model Railways

Brandywine Railroad

1 Hoffman’s Mill Road, Chadds Ford

A holiday favorite since 1972, the Brandywine Railroad features trains running on 2,000 feet of track and contains more than 1,000 pieces. You’ll find locomotives, passenger and freight trains, and trolleys that pass through a small village, a farm, factories, a drive-in movie theater and even a carnival. A dazzling array of both toy and scale model trains can be seen chugging through the varied scenery. Their extensive collection includes those made by Lionel, Williams, Atlas, Mike’s Train House, K-line and others. Interactive components are also incorporated into the display to allow for further engagement. The Brandywine Railroad holiday train display is included in the cost of general admission and is free for Brandywine members. On display November 16, 2024 through January 5, 2025.

Garden Railway at Longwood Gardens

1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square

Experience Longwood Gardens’ whimsical, wonderful Garden Railway, which has been a holiday tradition for more than 20 years. This multi-level world in miniature is on display, complete with a beautiful seasonally changing plant palette. See their collection of dozens of locomotives, steam engines, diesel engines, and specialty engines — as well as the ever-popular Thomas the Tank Engine and many of his friends — as they rumble along nearly 500 feet of track amid textural foliage, flowering plants, and woody plants. On view outdoors near the Beer Garden through January 12, 2025. Free with Longwood Gardens admission.

Holiday Garden Railway at Morris Arboretum

100 E. Northwestern Avenue, Philadelphia

Visitors of all ages will be wowed by a quarter mile of track featuring seven loops and tunnels with 15 different rail lines and two cable cars, nine bridges (including a trestle bridge you can walk under), and bustling model trains — all set in the lovely winter garden of the Morris Arboretum. What’s more, the buildings are all meticulously decorated for the holidays with lights that twinkle along the tracks and around the surrounding landscape. The Nighttime Express is a special ticketed event where visitors can experience the enchantment of the railway illuminated during wintery nights. See the Arboretum website for Nighttime Express dates and times. The Holiday Garden Railway runs from Nov. 23–Dec. 30, from 10 am–4 pm. Closed Dec. 24 & 25.

Lead photograph by Sarah Bond. Gwyneth K. Shaw, Casey Kallen, and Sarah Bond contributed to this article.