This Holiday Train Ride Is Just 2 Hours from Kalamazoo

Couldn't get ticket's to Michigan's Polar Express? Heads to Fort Wayne, Indiana and ride the Santa Train this Christmas season.

Kids of all ages love Christmas train rides. One of the most unique is Michigan's Pere Marquette 1225, the train used as a model for the Tom Hanks film The Polar Express. It is also one of the most popular, selling out every single year, long before Christmas. In fact, before Halloween even arrived, there was just one chance left to get a ticket.

The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society's pumpkin train is in the station and the Santa train rolls out weekends starting in December. Kris Kringle fanatics can explore Santa’s railroad workshop, enjoy a cup of hot chocolate and climb aboard his red caboose during the 17th Annual Santa Train. Tickets are $7.00 each and children ages 3 and under are free. Each trip is operated by a vintage diesel locomotive and lasts approximately 20 minutes. Trains run weekends, December 7th and 8th, 14th and 15th, 21st and 22nd, opearating  9 am-5 pm Saturdays and Noon-5 pm Sundays. Due to demand, tickets must be purchased in advance. Tickets sales begin November 13th and all ticket purchases support non-profit historic railroad preservation efforts in Northeast Indiana.