I have to share some great railroad Christmas pics.
As become a tradition at the holidays, I have to share some great railroad Christmas pics. This year, I decided to try and concentrate on the stations rather than the trains. But…distractions!
Right off the start, I saw this pic (which is not a station!). Besides the Christmas decorations, the wheels say this may be a diesel loco (but probably really isn’t powered). But then, there’s a small sized boiler shape on the front, and an elongated cab that partly resembles the back of a galloping goose. I have no idea what the lettering on the side says!
This is McAdam Railway Station in New Brunswick, Canada. It’s touted as a provincial and national treasure. They appear to do Christmas full throttle with every nook and cranny decorated with lights, glitter, and fir boughs. And a visit gets you cookies, cider, and Christmas carols. A walk through the station finds every room fully decorated. A holiday snowstorm added the final touch for this pic.
I have no info on this pic, however the train resembles a train in another pic below.
Wine Train / Santa Train – Now that’s my perfect Christmas train! If there’s one thing Napa Valley is known for, it’s wine. However if you visit, just because you’ll be enjoying a glass of wine doesn’t mean your kids can’t come along. This experience is completely kid-friendly and offers time with Santa Claus, a gingerbread man, Frosty the Snowman, and other costumed characters.
Here’s another perfect Christmas train: 1880 Train / Holiday Express—Spiked! – Based out of Hill City, South Dakota, this holiday experience is like a trip to the North Pole for grown-ups only. You’ll get a visit from Santa, holiday snacks, and a keepsake mug filled with spiked hot chocolate. Guests can also buy mulled wine in the depot prior to departure and bring it on board.
Getting back on track with stations – Some of the best holiday pics are of the Kansas City Union Station. This pic catches a piece of the station I haven’t seen before.
Sticking with Kansas City, here’s a pic inside Union Station.
Denver Union Station is trying to match Kansas City.
And Chicago’s train station matches with a Christmas Tree in Athena’s Art Cove.
Every year, there’s always some great Canadian Pacific Christmas train photos.
I’m not sure where this station is, but nice decor.
This pic is taken in the UK – but not sure where. It looks like a steamer pulling the train (maybe the Flying Dutchman ??). The lights reflecting off the steam create almost a nighttime rainbow effect.
This is the same train, in UK, at the station – I’m trying hard to stay with the theme!
Staying in the UK, this is Kingsbury Water Park, part of Warwickshire’s Country Parks. Not quite what I would call a “real” train, but well decorated for the holidays. And, the kids always love these mini train rides.
Here’s a great pic of the station at the Conway Scenic Railroad
…Santa with his reindeer on the flatcar behind the caboose, Conway Scenic Railroad.
Here’s the old Train Station with Christmas lights at Frontier Park in St. Charles, MO
This is a great shot of the Christmas train, and a little bit of the station, at the Filmore & Western Railway.
Here’s the Niles River Canyon Railway train at the station.
Another of those not so real mini trains at Irvine Park, Orange, CA. But it’s a great ride, and well decorated for the holidays.
The train ride takes you to the North Pole to see Santa – Okay, that’s a station, isn’t it? (Is the North Pole in Orange, CA?)
Part of the train ride takes you through the magical “Tunnel of Lights”. Towards the end of the ride, you’re greeted with a light flurry of snow – So maybe you are at the North Pole in lieu of Orange, CA!
Denton Farmpark is a great place to experience the Country Christmas Train (and we got the station in the pic, too).
Blue Ridge Scenic Railway Santa Train.
Here’s a pic of the interior of one of the coaches on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway Santa train.
Every year I’ve included pics of the Tweetsie Christmas train. So, here’s the train at the station, photo by Dawson Tozier, Blowing Rock, NC.
The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, Chattanooga TN.
Tennessee Valley Railroad: North Pole Limited – This train tradition has been around since 1999 and takes riders on an imaginary journey past lighted displays to the North Pole. Young riders will write a letter to Santa that they’ll deliver in person upon arrival. All riders receive a homemade chocolate chip cookie, hot chocolate, keepsake boarding pass, letter to Santa, a bell, and ornament.
How about the Sing-a-Long Christmas Train Ride at the Stone Mountain Station, Stone Mountain, GA.
While looking for decorated stations, I found this pic of a famous hometown Cincinnati landmark decorated for Christmas. The original Fountain Square was an esplanade in the middle of Fifth Street. Here it is dressed for the holidays, 1955 (just a few years before my time).
Here’s an even earlier view of the Christmas decorations on Fountain Square, circa1924. Also shown is the Mabley & Carew department store, the Carew Building, and Rollman’s Department Store. All three buildings are gone today.
Part of the reason I had to mention the Christmas decorations on Fountain Square and the Mabley & Carew department store, was a memory from my high school years. First an historic point – Mabley & Carew occupied all three of those long gone buildings near Fountain Square at different times in the last century. Now to the memory: During the frigid January of 1977, Cincinnati faced below freezing weather for 26 consecutive days, and set records for the coldest ever on three consecutive days. Record snow fall occurred that winter (only to be exceeded 12 months later in 1978). The Ohio River froze over for only the 13th time in recorded history, and some daredevils drove their cars across the river. The schools were shut down for 3 to 4 weeks because of the combination of the cold and the energy crisis heating fuel costs. I attended St. Xavier HS which tended to have many connections with the downtown business community. As such, with the school being shut down, and in order to keep us high school students in line with our education, Mabley & Carew department store offered to allow St X to hold classes in their department store – Store traffic was slow (because of the weather), but they stayed open nonetheless. Christmas sales were over, and turn of the year inventory reduction left plenty of room for makeshift classrooms between sales counters. Attending classes at a department store was rather entertaining, but my personal highlight was AP Calculus being held in the lingerie department!
Thx,
Kevin
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