THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride — Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad is a seasonal holiday excursion based on the Chris Van Allsburg book. The train leaves the Bryson City Depot for a round trip to a "North Pole" where Santa Claus boards.

The railroad describes the ride as a 1¼ hour round-trip passenger excursion set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack. Guests are served hot cocoa and a treat while listening and reading along with the story, and Santa visits each coach on the return trip to give every child a silver sleigh bell, the first gift of Christmas.

Seating is sold by class of service — First Class, Premium Crown Class, Crown Class and Coach Class — and the railroad says certain dates and car types sell quickly. The event is run by the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, which operates scenic excursions out of the same depot throughout the year.

The railroad describes a 1¼ hour round-trip excursion from the Bryson City Depot to the North Pole. On board, chefs serve hot cocoa and treats while the story is read, and Christmas carols are sung on the way back. Santa boards at the North Pole and gives each child a silver sleigh bell. Passengers are encouraged to dress warmly; pajamas are allowed but closed-toe shoes are required.

Departs from the Bryson City Depot in Bryson City, NC; the railroad's GPS address, 45 Mitchell Street, Bryson City, NC 28713, is the parking across the street from the depot, and parking fees are charged with the reservation. All trains are round trip and return to the depot. Classes of service are First Class, Premium Crown Class, Crown Class and Coach Class. Table seating in the upper classes must be bought in full, and one complimentary lap child (0-23 months) is permitted per adult ticket in those classes; in Coach, infants need their own seat. The operator's displayed pricing is all-in, including a historic preservation fee and a ticket fee, and peak or Christmas Eve fares may be higher. The railroad asks guests to arrive one hour before departure. Restrooms are available on the train. On the vintage cars, accommodations for passengers with special needs are limited; the railroad asks those guests to call reservations at 1-800-872-4681 so other arrangements can be made, and offers golf-cart boarding assistance. No alcohol is sold or allowed on board or on the event grounds. All trains, including special event trains, operate through winter weather.