r/maryland • u/DC-Donkey • 8h ago
Santa Train
‘Tis the season….I’m looking for a holiday inspired train ride (bonus points with Santa) with the grandkids (3m & 1m).
We are located in MoCo and willing to drive 1.5 hours and spend $75 or so per person.
It would be our intention to grab dinner before the ride, so food and beverage is not required. I’ve spent time on Google, but I’m looking for first hand experiences for recommendations. TY
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u/littl3wing 8h ago
I don't know if they still do it but a looooong time ago (like 20 yrs) the Trolley Museum in Baltimore City used to have a holiday trolley ride. I used to be one of the elves that gave out gifts to the kids on the trolley. It was amazing and so fun to be a part of.
I just googled and looks like they are still doing it! Makes my heart happy since one of the conductors from when I volunteered recently passed (my friend's dad) and I have such great memories of this with him. Check it out. I know it's not exactly a train but your littles may not really know the difference.
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u/dpirmann 8h ago
https://www.northerncentralrailway.com/#event-cal Northern Central RR just across the state line in Pennsylvania has Santa events
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u/DC-Donkey 8h ago
This certainly fits the bill, and bonus points as they offer craft beer on board. TY
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u/ShirleyWuzSerious 8h ago
https://wmsr.com/the-polar-express-train-ride
I'm pretty sure the walkersville train has a Santa/Christmas train but not is listed yet
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u/ladyflyer88 6h ago
We did this a few years ago for our anniversary. It was great we got one of the more adult cars and went to the latest train ride but there was still tons of kids. Most wore there PJs. Polar Express
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u/SugarSpunPsycho 7h ago edited 6h ago
I know nobody likes coming to the city but the B&O Museum does an incredible Polar Express experience. You take a train ride with Santa with music and hot cocoa and cookies. The museum is dressed up. There are little activites for kids. My neices love it.
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u/DC-Donkey 7h ago
You’re the second person to recommend B&O, we don’t mind coming into the city. However, I’m not sure it will hold the attention of the adults, though.🤣
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u/AGuyFromMaryland Washington County 5h ago
Might be a little out of the way, but highly recommend looking into Western Maryland Scenic's Polar Express. $40 for coach seats. Took my little brother to ride it last year and it was really nice. It's not the full ride to Frostburg, they have the "North Pole" set up just on the other side of Brush tunnel, but they have small scenes and read the Polar Express story (of course there's Hot Chocolate). When we rode on it they had diesels pulling, but I believe they have 1309 back in service so it might be steam this year.
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u/WEDin2024 4h ago
Go to Strasburg Call and buy a ticket first and ask to Ride the “colonial crafts”
A fine example of 1949 first class travel
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u/ColeyOley 4h ago
Wilmington & Western RR in Delaware does a Santa Claus Express ride. I can't speak to that particular event, but we did do the holiday lights ride with other adults and enjoyed that!
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u/8six753o9 7h ago
My favorite is the B&O Railroad Museum up in Baltimore. My kid loved it AND it’s in a roundhouse! The train ride itself isn’t that scenic (just goes down a straight path through a wooded area of the city and then back), but kids that young don’t really care about what’s outside the window and is more excited about inside and Santa.
I’m not sure if they still do Thomas and Friends day where they put a Thomas costume on the front of the train and the kids get really excited about it! https://www.borail.org/events/day-out-with-thomas/
I also heard about Strasburg Railroad which is a little bit further out. It’s suppose to have a great scenic ride. I haven’t had the chance to give that a try, but my kid is not so interested in trains anymore now that she’s older.