Santa Train is the Museum's most popular seasonal program.  A Northwest tradition since 1969, the event allows participants of all ages to travel by train for a visit with Santa Claus and to enjoy refreshments (included with tickets) served from the Museum's railway kitchen car.  Children visiting with Santa receive a small gift (in 2007, a whistle) and there is time to visit local shops and attractions.  While in the Upper Snoqualmie Valley, participants often visit one of the many local holiday tree farms or lots, and the many unique shopping destinations.

If you have a membership in the Northwest Railway Museum, you will receive written notification of ticket availability in August.  Members are able to purchase tickets by mail or through this web site before they go on sale to the public. Please allow until October 10th for your tickets to arrive. Call the Museum if they have not arrived by October 10th.

This year we are expecting over 11,000 people to participate in this two-hour event.  They will board the Museum's railway at the North Bend Depot for a 20 minute, 3.5-mile trip to Snoqualmie.  Once in Snoqualmie, they will enter the restored and seasonally decorated 1890-built Snoqualmie Depot for a visit with Santa Claus.  Children will receive a small gift from Santa.  Participants can then step on to the Museum's restored railway kitchen car for refreshments where they have a choice of hot cocoa or coffee.  They also have a choice of several different kinds of cookies, all of which are fresh baked in the kitchen car's large coal stoves.  There is a little bit of time to visit local shops and attractions before boarding the Snoqualmie Valley Railroad for the return trip to North Bend.

Locomotive 4012 pulls the Santa Train on a chilly December afternoon.

Santa and Mrs. Claus welcome Santa Train to Snoqualmie.

Cookie trays are rotated in the kitchen's huge coal stoves.

Since 1969 Santa Train has been delighting children from 1 - 99.

Santa Train 2008 is scheduled for November 29 & 30, December 6 & 7, December 13 & 14 and December 20. Trains depart hourly from North Bend beginning at 9 AM; the last departure is at 3 PM.  

Tickets are $15 and are required for each person two (2) years of age and older.  Online and telephone orders will also be charged a $2.00 per order (not per ticket!) fee to defray postage.

Please note that "will call" tickets must be picked up in North Bend.  If you wish to attempt purchase of tickets on the day of the event, tickets are subject to availability and you must do so at the North Bend Depot.

Please do not count on tickets being available on the day of the event.  Since 1995, every train has been sold out well in advance.

Tickets will be offered to members beginning at the end of August 2008.  Tickets will go on sale to the public in mid-September, but only for people who visit this web site.  Please allow until October 10th for your tickets to arrive. Call the Museum if they have not arrived by October 10th. In-person sales begin October 6th.  The Museum accepts Visa, MasterCard and American Express.

Members can purchase their tickets through the mail and receive advance notification before tickets go on sale to the public.  Members also receive many benefits including free tickets to ride the Snoqualmie Valley Railroad during the regular season, discounts in the Depot Bookstore, and a newsletter.  Click here to learn more!

The Issaquah Hilton Garden Inn is offering special $99 room rates for Santa Train 2008 guests. The Hilton Garden Inn is located at 1800 NW Gilman Boulevard in Issaquah and is just 20 minutes from the North Bend Depot. To book a room, select the weekend you plan to attend Santa Train: November 29/30, December 6/7, December 13/14, December 20.

Copyright © 1999-2008 Northwest Railway Museum. All rights reserved.

The Northwest Railway Museum is located in Snoqualmie, Washington.

Please call us at (425) 888-3030, or email