Children and adults delight in the magical holiday train journeys in North Carolina this Christmas season. The Polar Express by Great Smoky Mountain railroad, The Santa Train in Spencer and the Holiday Train of New Hope Valley Railway offer exciting train trips with Santa Claus on board.
Polar Express, Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, Dillsboro & Bryson City, North Carolina. The magical Christmas train ride give children a chance to visit with Santa Claus and drink hot chocolate. The Polar Express is produced by partnership of Great Smoky Mountains Railroad and Warner Brothers Entertainment. The popular holiday train is based upon the holiday film, “The Polar Express,” starring Tom Hanks. In The Polar Express, children ride the train to the North Pole while eating cookies and drinking hot chocolate.
The Polar Express Dining Train will depart from the train depot in Dillsboro and journey through the wilderness. The destination is the ‘North Pole” where Santa Claus is waiting for a special visit from the children. Food is served to passengers. the Adult menu includes Hazelnut Pumpkin Bisque, Green Bean Casserole, Brown Sugar Spiral Baked Ham, Baked Sweet Potatoes and dessert. Children are served Chicken Fingers, macaroni and Cheese and a jello fruit cup. The magical book, “The Polar Express” is read by storytellers, as hot cocoa and cookies are served. The Holiday train ride is a dream come true for children.
Santa Claus and his reindeer wait at “The North Pole” and greet the children. Each child gets their own sleigh bell. On the return trip the train if filled with the singing of Christmas Carols.
The Polar Express runs on selected dates until December 23.Tickets are $59 Adults and $33 Children. Cal for reservations, as space on the90 minute tip is limited. Great Smoky Mountains Railroad will be returning Santa back to the North Pole after the Christmas Holiday. Take part in Santa’s journey home on December 27,28,29 & #0. 1-800-872-4681.
Santa Train, Spencer, N.C. Transportation Museum. North Carolina. “Santa Trains Honors Railroad Christmas Tradition. It is traditional for Santa to hand passengers an orange on the Santa Train ride. The tradition of handing out oranges goes back to the Depression years. The Depression was a time when Americans didn’t have much money and often didn’t have enough to eat. Railroad workers threw out oranges to children as the train passed. The Santa Train today remembers the tradition of helping people in this way by handing out oranges on the Santa Train. Santa Train is a highlight of December weekends before Christmas. Train rides are approximately 25 minutes. Call 704-636-2889, ext. 233. for information.
Holiday Trains, N.C. Railroad Museum, New Hope Valley Railway, New Hill, NC The Holiday Trains offer a ride on the rails with Santa Claus. Trans operates December 1,2,8 & 9. Tickets $9 adults, $6 children. 919-362-5416.
Enjoy the great Christmas trains and Santa Claus during the holiday season.
For more on holiday trains, see Chicagoland’s Holiday Model Train Displays, Holiday Model Trains in Ohio, Indiana and PennsylvaniaMerry Xmas and Happy New Year
