The holiday season is almost upon us and with it comes the opportunity to make some very magical memories with your family. How can you make these magical and unforgettable memories? By climbing aboard a holiday train excursion! All three of our historic York county railroads are ready to deck the halls of the railroad cars and spread a little Christmas cheer during the 2022 Holidays Season! Check out the details for each below and be sure to purchase your tickets today as these Holiday excursions sell out fast!
| Ma & Pa Railroad Christmas City Express |
Join the Ma & Pa Railroad for the Annual Christmas City Express December 2-3, 9-10, & 16-17!
The Christmas City Express program is centered around the dramatic reading of a story of a young girl traveling to Muddy Creek Forks a hundred years ago to visit her grandparents for Christmas. The event starts as guests gather in the festively decorated general store (starting 20 minutes before story time) to pick up tickets and enjoy traditional holiday fun. Visitors can listen to carols, create holiday decorations and crafts, search for the pickle ornament, and spend time with friends and family. When all have gathered, groups are escorted to the mill for the story, a visit from someone special, and a keepsake ornament. Next folks line up on the station platform as the train pulls into town for a beautiful day or nighttime ride on the motorcar train. When the train returns, Santa will be there so you can take those cherished photos. There will be hot chocolate and cookies to warm everyone up.
Dates & Times:
Saturday, December 2nd 5:00pm & 7:00pm
Sunday, December 3rd 1:30 pm & 3:30pm
Saturday, December 9th 5:00pm & 7:00pm
Sunday, December 10th 1:30 pm & 3:30pm
Saturday, December 16th 1:30 pm & 3:30pm
Sunday, December 17th 1:30 pm & 3:30pm
Tickets: $18 adult, $15 child, under 3 ride free (on lap).
All tickets include family activities and crafts, a performance of the Christmas City Express, a train ride on the Ma & Pa Railroad, and cookies and hot chocolate. You can purchase your own copy of th Christmas City Express online for $17
Because limited tickets are available, advanced ticket purchase is required.
Buy tickets & books online or call (717) 927-9565.
The event is rain or shine, unless ice makes travel by rail unsafe. Tickets are non-refundable unless the event is canceled.
The Ma and Pa Railroad is located at 1258 Muddy Creek Forks Rd, Airville, PA 17302
| Stewartstown Railroad |
Santa Claus Express
We invite you to take a train ride with the big guy himself, Santa Claus! Our 1920 Passenger coach will be decorated for the season. Every family will have time to visit with Santa. Take your own photos at no extra charge. Every child will receive a treat from Santa. Children under 2 are free but require a ticket. This train ride is about 50-60 minutes long. Times listed are departure times. Please arrive 30 minutes early to pick up your ticket. Our train rides are rain or shine!
The holidays are a tough time for some families and individuals facing food insecurity. We ask that you bring a non-perishable food item to help us with our food drive. All food will be donated to a food pantry located in Stewartstown.
Dates
November 25 & 26
December 3, 16, 17, 23
Times
10:30am, 12:00pm, 2:15pm
Prices
Adult – $17.00
Senior (65 & up) – $16.00
Children (2-12) – $15.00 Under 2 rides free
The Grinch Express
We invite you to take a ride with everyone’s favorite grumpy holiday character! We received special permission from Dr. Seuss Enterprises to offer a reading of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, written by Dr. Seuss in 1957. Every family will have time to visit with our special Holiday Grump (can you guess who it is?). Every child will receive a treat from The Holiday Grump. This ride might be best for older children, the Holiday Grump can be scary to young children. Because Santa Claus and The Grump don’t get along, Santa decided to take this day off. Children under 2 sitting on an adult’s lap ride free but require a ticket. This train ride is about 50-60 minutes long. Times listed are departure times. Please arrive 30 minutes early to pick up your ticket. Please note- All ticket sales are final, no refunds for this event. However, we offer exchanges for different dates and times. Our train rides are rain or shine!
The holidays are a tough time for some families and individuals facing food insecurity. We ask that you bring a non-perishable food item to help us with our food drive. All food will be donated to a food pantry located in Stewartstown.
Dates
December 2 & 10
Times
11:00am, 1:15pm, 2:45pm
Prices
Adult – $17.00
Senior (65 & up) – $16.00
Children (2-12) – $15.00 Under 2 rides free
Evening with The Grinch
We invite you to take a ride with everyone’s favorite grumpy holiday character! We received special permission from Dr. Seuss Enterprises to offer a reading of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, written by Dr. Seuss in 1957. Every family will have time to visit with our special Holiday Grump (can you guess who it is?). Every child will receive a treat from The Holiday Grump. This ride might be best for older children, The Grump can be scary for younger children. If you think the Holiday Grump is grumpy during the day, just wait, he’s more of a grumpy, grump in the evenings. Because Santa Claus and The Grump don’t get along, Santa decided to take this day off. Children under 2 sitting on an adult’s lap ride free but require a ticket. This train ride is about 50-60 minutes long. Times listed are departure times. Please arrive 30 minutes early to pick up your ticket. Our train rides are rain or shine! Please note- All ticket sales are final, no refunds for this event. However, we offer exchanges for different dates and times.
The holidays are a tough time for some families and individuals facing food insecurity. We ask that you bring a non-perishable food item to help us with our food drive. All food will be donated to a food pantry located in Stewartstown.
Date
December 2
Time
6:00pm
Prices
Adult – $17.00
Senior (65 & up) – $16.00
Children (2-12) – $15.00 Under 2 rides free
Ice Princess Special
Start your holiday with a wish come true! We invite you to take a train ride with our special guests, the Ice Queen, the Ice Princess and the Ice Harvester. Join along as our special guests sing songs you know and love. Everyone will have time to take photos with all our special guests at no extra charge. Please feel free to dress up as your favorite Ice Princess or in your favorite dress up outfit. Santa will not be on this train ride; he is taking the day off to prepare his sleigh. Lap babies sitting on an adult’s lap ride free. This train ride is about 60-70 minutes long. Times listed are departure times. Please arrive 30 minutes early to pick up your ticket. Our train rides are rain or shine!
The holidays are a tough time for some families and individuals facing food insecurity. We ask that you bring a non-perishable food item to help us with our food drive. All food will be donated to a food pantry located in Stewartstown.
Date
December 9
Times
9:00am, 10:45am, 1:30pm, 3:15pm
Prices
Adult – $22.00
Children (2-12) – $19.00 Children under 2 ride free
Evening with Santa Claus
We invite you to take an evening train ride with the big guy himself, Santa Claus! Our 1920 Passenger coach will be decorated for the season. Every family will have time to visit with Santa. Take your own photos at no extra charge. Our Special Evening with Santa Claus will include a reading of “Twas The Night Before Christmas”. Every child will receive a treat from Santa. Children under 2 are free but require a ticket. This train ride is about 50-60 minutes long. Times listed are departure times. Please arrive 30 minutes early to pick up your ticket. Our train rides are rain or shine!
The holidays are a tough time for some families and individuals facing food insecurity. We ask that you bring a non-perishable food item to help us with our food drive. All food will be donated to a food pantry located in Stewartstown.
Date
December 16 & 23
Time
6:00pm
Prices
Adult – $17.00
Senior (65 & up) – $16.00
Children (2-12) – $15.00 Under 2 rides free
| Northern Central Railway |
Elf Express
Where Mischief Meets Christmas Magic!
It’s one month until Christmas, and Santa’s elves are already working hard to prepare for the big day. They visit the Northern Central Railway to enlist some helpers and collect letters for Santa, but everything goes wrong when Finnegan Frost, the mischievous elf, shows up to cause trouble. He interrupts the good elves’ merry holiday sing-along at the platform, using his sing-a-wrong machine to ruin the Christmas cheer. Usually, they use their good-elf-o-matic to keep his behavior in check, but now Finnegan has scattered pieces of the machine throughout the coaches. Guests must search for and conceal the machine pieces on board. If Finnegan catches someone with a piece in hand, they must give it back to him. At the end of the ride, guests will bring all found pieces to the platform to hopefully repair the good-elf-o-matic and save Christmas.
Dates: November 24-26
Price: $39.99 for Adults, $ 26.99 for Children (2-12 years)
It is requested that children under two sit on their guardians’ laps. If a seat is required, please purchase a ticket
Get your tickets here
Santa Express
Get into the holiday spirit with our popular Santa Express Trains! Our train is decked out for the festive season, bringing holiday cheer, no matter your age. Boarding at the beautiful Historic New Freedom Train Station, you will ride with Kris Kringle to Glen Rock. Each child will have an opportunity to visit with Santa, who will have a special gift for kids on the “NICE” list. After your ride, visit the NCR Engine House for a complimentary hot chocolate and a cookie! Don’t forget to visit the model train room or enjoy the sounds of our strolling fiddler, Keith Engle!
Dates:
December 2-3
December 9-10
December 16-17
December 22-23
Price: $39.99 for Adults, $ 26.99 for Children (2-12 years)
It is requested that children under two sit on their guardians’ laps. If a seat is required, please purchase a ticket
Get your tickets here
Glen Rock Carolers on the NCR
Date: December 10, 2023
Click here for details
