Holiday Express — Blue Ridge Scenic Railway

The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway sells its Holiday Express as a festive one-hour train ride from its historic depot in downtown Blue Ridge, Georgia. The operator, which sells the ride without a layover, says passengers listen to holiday music and "The Night Before Christmas" story. Children receive a Blue Ridge Scenic Railway jingle bell and a candy cane, and have a chance to see Santa Claus.

Hot chocolate and other snacks are available for purchase in the concession car. The ride is offered in open-air coaches and closed coaches, plus an accessible coach that is reserved by phone; the operator installs vinyl windows in its open-air cars in winter. It warns that tickets for these rides sell out fast.

The railroad runs its regular scenic trips along the Toccoa River to McCaysville, Georgia, and Copperhill, Tennessee, on other dates; the Holiday Express is a separate one-hour product with no layover.

A one-hour ride with holiday music and a reading of "The Night Before Christmas", a jingle bell and candy cane for each child and a chance to see Santa. Hot chocolate and snacks are for sale in the concession car. Open-air coaches have bench seating facing the windows; closed coaches have padded seats in groups of four.

Boards at the Blue Ridge Railway depot, 241 Depot Street, Blue Ridge, Georgia. The operator strongly recommends arriving 45 minutes before departure to park and pick up tickets; weekends are the busiest days with limited parking in downtown Blue Ridge. Tickets are emailed after purchase and pre-paid tickets can also be collected at the Pre-Paid Ticket Window behind the depot. Each ticket assigns a car; seats inside the car are first come, first served. The accessible coach is booked by phone at 877-413-8724, not online. Only certified service animals are allowed on board. Strollers must be folded when boarding. Ticket office: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern, seven days a week.