Santa Train 2023 is now a memory, but what memories!
Santa Claus has a parlor in the 1898-built chapel car Messenger of Peace, located inside the Train Shed exhibit hall.
The Northwest Railway Museum has hosted Santa Train since 1969, and today it is actually two separate and distinct experiences.
Artifacts in the Train Shed receive seasonal enhancements to add to the festive atmosphere.
Santa Express is 45 minutes long and operates between Snoqualmie and Snoqualmie Falls with an on-board Santa experience.
Santa Limited is a two-hour experience and operates between North Bend and the Railway History Center in Snoqualmie. Guests experience a visit with Santa inside the 19th Century chapel car located in the Train Shed, and receive complementary refreshments including coffee, hot cocoa, and cookies.
The 2023 children’s gift was a version of the Museum’s railway chapel car.
Children riding Santa Trains receive a complimentary gift from Santa. For more than 20 years, the Museum has taken pride in developing a unique gift, and in 2023 it was a wooden railway version of the Museum’s iconic chapel car Messenger of Peace. Prior years have featured replicas of traditional wooden toys, whistles, and even a railway tooth brush.
The Santa Limited is the most enriching experience of the two trains and includes one hour inside the Train Shed exhibit hall. Many familiar artifacts appear with festive enhancements, and there are added activities for younger visitors. Refreshments are served in the adjacent Railway Education Center.
Locomotive 924 is dressed for the Santa Train season.
Santa Train is the Northwest Railway Museum’s most popular program and this year it substantially sold out in late October. Santa Train 2024 will be on sale in August 2024.
