Train Rides with Old Saint Nick

Celebrate the holiday season in a uniquely festive way aboard the annual Santa Express. Santa will visit as you take in the spirit of Christmas past on an early 1900s adventure. All cars are kept comfortably warm using the over century-old tradition of steam heating or coal-fired stoves, just like at the North Pole.

A uniformed conductor will welcome you aboard and collect your tickets. Once aboard, Santa takes time to visit each and every family at their seat during the 55-minute ride. Santa’s elves are also aboard and help spread Christmas cheer with small gifts for the children.

Note: Our Santa Express trains do not include hot chocolate or snacks. Check out our Holiday Flyer trains for a festive ride with hot chocolate served aboard the train.

Included with This Ticket

• 55-minute train ride in festively decorated early-1900s coach cars pulled by a diesel locomotive.
• A brief visit from Santa at your seat.
• A small gift from Santa's elves given to child passengers.
• Admission to museum display buildings.
• Self-guided tour pamphlet (provided at ticket window).

Duration

Train ride takes approximately 55-minutes. Suggested additional time to allow for taking the self-guided tour of the museum displays and a visit to the gift shop is about 1 hour. The museum areas can be explored before or after the train ride.

About our Museum and Train Excursions

Take a memorable, seven-mile round-trip train ride on a former branch line of the Chicago & North Western Railway nestled in a valley between the Baraboo Hills in rural Sauk County. Passengers ride in restored steel coaches built a century ago. An authentically-attired conductor will call “all aboard!” before the train leaves from a historic wooden depot, built in 1894.

Mid-Continent is much more than just a train ride. Our Coach Sheds are filled with restored wooden passenger cars, freight cars and displays from the turn of the century. There you will find examples of Mid-Continent’s nationally-renowned wood car restorations such as the Badger #2 “Fish Car”, the exquisite Art Nouveau-motif of the Milwaukee Lake Shore & Western #63, the 1903-built Copper Range coach #60. In our outdoor display yard, you can inspect century-old steam locomotives up-close, including Copper Range locomotive #29, Soo Line #2645 and Kewaunee Green Bay & Western #49. In all, there are nearly 40 train cars and locomotives on prominent display with many more awaiting restoration.

What to Know

• Santa Express trains operate as scheduled regardless of weather conditions. If driving through winter weather please plan extra travel time and arrive at least 20 minutes prior to your train’s scheduled departure time.
• Museum grounds are open from 9:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
• All trains are powered by diesel locomotives.
• Seating is not assigned.
• Temperature on the coaches can vary significantly depending on seat proximity to heat sources and doorways. Come prepared for a range of temperatures.
• The depot, gift shop, and restroom buildings are heated. The museum display buildings are not heated.
• A food truck will likely be onsite (not yet confirmed for 2025) during the event with food and beverages available for purchase. Food and drinks are not permitted aboard the train (water and infant formula excepted).