Holiday Express — Oregon Rail Heritage Center

The Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation runs the Holiday Express from the Oregon Rail Heritage Center in Portland. The operator describes a joyful ride with Santa Claus and his elves behind a historic steam locomotive, in heated vintage rail cars decorated for the season, along the Willamette River in the heart of the city. Its booking page names the locomotive as the logging steam engine Polson #2 and describes a round trip of about 45 minutes on Oregon Pacific Railroad tracks.

The operator calls the ride a Portland tradition. Daytime trains offer a variety of scenery and a chance to see wildlife; early-dusk trains give the best chance to see the train decorated with lights.

Admission to the Center is included with every train ticket, so a visit can include the gift shop and the exhibits before or after the ride. Hot cocoa, coffee, water and cookies are sold in the Center, and passengers may bring them on board. The foundation also runs weekend steam excursions and other special trains through the year.

A round trip of about 45 minutes along the Willamette River behind a steam locomotive, in heated and decorated passenger cars. Santa and his elves ride aboard each train, greet passengers as they walk through the cars and welcome photos. Admission to the Center is included, so there is time before or after the ride for the gift shop and the exhibits. There are no restrooms or food service on the train.

Trains depart from the Oregon Rail Heritage Center, 2250 SE Water Avenue, Portland, Oregon. Check in at the Will Call desk at least 20 minutes before departure; boarding begins 15 minutes before. Free parking is in the lot under the Highway 99 viaduct; the operator warns that Central Eastside freight crossings can cause considerable delay and publishes a map of recommended approaches on its Location and Parking page. Accessibility on the train is limited: the historic cars are exempt from the ADA, passengers must climb 7 stairs and walk about 85 feet to a seat, and wheelchairs, mobility devices and strollers are not permitted on the railcars (temporary storage is provided in the Center). The Center itself is ADA-compliant. Refunds are available if requested 14 days before the reservation, and no-shows are charged the full price. Service charges apply to each ticket. Fully trained service animals are welcome aboard the train and inside the Center.