Catskill Mountain Railroad

On 11/30/25, we took our daughter, son in law and 4 grandchildren on The Polar Express. We had such a great time! We all enjoyed ourselves! It was so much fun. I felt like a little kid myself, lol! The actors were so friendly and cute! The prices were also reasonable! We will definitely try the other seasonal rides too, BUT... I read in the Hudson Valley One newspaper that some "brain surgeons" want to rip up the tracks or something to that affect and do away with this fun, amazing train ride. I hope I'm wrong! The train was packed on Thanksgiving weekend and this would be a huge disservice for Kingston, not to mention, the sadness to see this go. I really hope the "brain surgeons" rethink this through! A BIG THANK YOU to The POLAR EXPRESS and their WONDERFUL STAFF!!! PS, Santa, you asked me what I want for Christmas, I said I don't need anything. I would love to see world peace and keep this train running! 😍

My family and I attended the Catskill Mountain Railroad Polar Express the Monday after Christmas, and I’m really glad we went during an off peak time. Based on some mixed reviews, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but our experience was excellent from start to finish. We arrived about 45 minutes early for will call, and the ticketing staff was friendly, helpful, and organized. They let us know exactly where to board and even suggested we stay warm in our car until the train arrived. As luck would have it, it started snowing right as the train pulled in, which made the moment feel truly magical for the kids. Once onboard, the staff and performers were funny, engaging, and great with children. We received our golden tickets, and hot chocolate and cookies were served before the train departed, which I really appreciated especially with younger kids (no spills while moving!). The performers read the story, danced, and interacted with the kids throughout the ride. My children loved turning the pages of the book and spotting familiar characters (even the “hobo/sock man,” who jokingly threatened to go on the roof - classic Polar Express fun). The ride itself was a bit rocky at times, but it didn’t matter because the entertainment never stopped. The hot chocolate was actually hot, and although one of my kids has a dairy allergy, we were able to bring an alternative and they provided hot water so he could still enjoy the experience. The trip to the North Pole was fairly quick but fully engaging. The North Pole itself was nicely decorated, and Santa and the elves boarding the train was a highlight. While my 5 year-old (a HUGE Polar Express fan) wished the North Pole was more like the full village in the movie, Santa coming onboard, taking photos, and giving out the bell made up for it everyone, young and old, loved that part. If I had one suggestion, it would be adding more build up decorations before reaching the North Pole or possibly an interactive stop in the future. That said, these are small wishes not complaints. Overall, this was a wonderful family experience and a memory my kids will remember for years. I definitely recommend going during off-peak days if possible. We had a fantastic time!

Ok, this is a fun train out of Kingston. The folks running it were kind and helpful, the views were nice and the whole vibe was extremely friendly. Parking was easy, family friendly, lots of things around. Say hi to Vinny Nigro who was the announcer and events guy on our train.... funny, a great guy and an epic story teller if you get him going.... Vinny alone made the trip a blast but there is so much more!

I had the most magical experience on the Polar Express Train Ride with the Catskill Mountain Railroad. From the moment we boarded, it truly felt like stepping into the beloved Christmas story. The staff brought the holiday spirit to life with their energy and warmth. We enjoyed delicious hot chocolate and cookies while singing along to classic Christmas songs, and it made the whole ride feel cozy and joyful. The absolute highlight was getting to meet Santa himself! He was so kind and patient, making sure every child and adult felt special. The entire experience was beautifully done — festive decorations, cheerful staff, and a heartwarming atmosphere from start to finish. If you’re looking for a holiday activity that brings the magic of Christmas to life, this is definitely the one. I can’t wait to go again next year! 🎅🎄✨

We had a magical experience on the Polar Express! Fantastic energy from the staff, great Christmas vibe, and super child friendly program. We'll be remembering this for a while!

We visited for the fall foliage trip and while we enjoyed our trip and were welcomed by excellent, friendly staff, the trip itself was somewhat lackluster. The foliage was not quite as vibrant as we had hoped (no fault of the railroad of course) but the views from the train are limited by traveling through the woods and the tracks travel through more populated areas than I had hoped.

Went on the Polar Express train ride with the family and grandkids. What an enjoyable day we had! The kids loved it. It was an all around great experience.

It was okay, but maybe our timing was wrong. We didn't get the autumn colors we expected, even though the website said it was the peak time. The train doesn't take a loop; it just comes back the same route in reverse. The view on one side is just a road, so overall, it's not worth it. You could just drive around in a car and get the same view

If you like looking at tree trunks, this is the ride for you! If you can't sit on boards for more than a few minutes, bring a pillow. Only one of the open air "carriages" has backs on the benches... the others are just... benches. There are two enclosed carriages but the windows don't open. We came through Kingston on a river cruise, and this was one of the excursions. I imagine the special rides are really good... Polar Express, maybe the Easter ride. Good for children, too, but for mature adults, I wish I'd caught an Uber to the Farmers Market instead.

Hubby recently booked a Polar Express experience with Catskills Mountain Railroad for our family, and I have to say, I was beyond ecstatic! This was a first for all of us and it was especially meaningful for me. My husband has been helping me relive my childhood one memory at a time, so being able to experience this together as a family was truly special. I'd never seen or read The Polar Express in its entirety though I'd heard so many wonderful things about it, which made me even more excited for the train ride. From start to finish the experience was magical. The highlight for me was the hot chocolate. It was absolutely amazing! The cookies were nice too, though they were more on the okay side, but the fact that they came from a local bakery made it feel that much sweeter. The trip was full of joy and excitement. It was a beautiful way to create family memories and celebrate the holiday season. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to add a bit of magic to their Christmas traditions.

Did the polar express today. Easy to redeem your tickets at the booth, just gave them my last name. Make sure to have enough time to use the porta potty because there's no bathroom on the 45 min ride. Prepared by making my 2 yr old watch the polar express movie 3x last night. She was so excited when she received the golden ticket! The train interior was festive. People game out to dance and sing. We were served delicious cookies and warm chocolate drink. They began reading the book to the whole cart and suddenly we started to move. The views were not amazing, it was just a simple train ride. We barely paid attention to the views because there was always something happening. The actors were interacting with all the kids and it was fun for the kids. We met the train conductor, he was awesome! Santa was a great surprise and we loved the take home ornament! It was a high quality ornament and we definitely recommend this ride if you're not here for the views. Our ride was for 1pm. We parked at 12:40 when we heard them announcing last call for boarding so we freaked out and rushed. No need to rush!!! After picking up our tickets , we made time to use the porta potties and get onto the train by 12:55. We did not leave til after 1:10, I saw some people boarding at 1:08. I recommend getting there early so you won't panic. Also, no strollers! Leave in your car.

Just a train ride. No fall colors. Fake cardboard animals. Maybe kids would it? At least it was a day out

I seriously, 100% believe the adults- not the kids, downright enjoyed The Polar Express reenactment train ride done by the Catskills Mountain Railroad in Kingston, NY. Some of the children were dazed and confused and looked bored. I know why. Don't get me started. Other children partook and had loads of fun as they should. I initially wanted a November+Foliage pedal train car ride that ran along Phoenicia, NY as a pre, pre, pre December b'day gift for hubs- but they were all sold out. While searching for other possible events, it led me to The Polar Express and knew hubs would like the train part. But I continued planning as flawlessly as possible because now: (1) hubs' b'day was soon approaching the week before Christmas and (2)my daughter was staying with us during the Holiday season- plus the story is sentimental when I read the story to her as a child. Booking double seat booths and another booth so the 3 of us can be together was challenging. Since I was off from school, I lucked out and booked a Wednesday, Dec 27th, 8pm ride ASAP that worked perfectly for all 3 of us. Reserving and paying online is smooth. Use the email confirmation and go to the ticket counter kiosk the day of your event and you'll be given your tickets, wait a bit for a story intro outside and once finished, you're all set to go on board The Polar Express. The young folks do a nice job at dancing and entertaining us passengers, but I felt at times, the chatter amongst themselves and the humor they tried to bring into the mix, was a bit off the cuff. And even if I knew the storyline, I still would like to hear the recorded story on the speakers. With the mild weather we've been having, the train ride was extremely stuffy with no way of opening windows and the 2-seater booths faced another booth so my daughter's knees and mine, were almost touching the folks in front of us. Between the Swiss Miss Cocoa and cookies, Santa and the train ride-as it makes the transition from downtown Kingston to slightly further north where it's woodsy, was cute and adds further oohs and ahhs to the live experience.

Over the weekend, I enjoyed a nice train ride with the Catskill Mountain Railroad. First off, I purchased 2 tickets online which came to $40 in total. I was then emailed my boarding pass which I showed to the check in desk which was a quick process. The staff/service were helpful throughout the experience. Staff/service rate 8/10. Getting onto the train and finding a seat didn't take long. Although it may look like there aren't enough available seats, that won't matter because once the train ride starts, a majority of the people are standing up, so seats will free up. In addition, the train is fairly big consisting of indoor and outdoor cabins. The ride was an hour long, and it went halfway through the town of Kingston and back. You were able to see some scenic views of open fields and colorful trees. However, throughout the majority of the ride, you see mostly woods. This was upsetting because I expected to see more breathtaking views like of the mountains. Overall, it was a nice experience and great for kids, couples, and many more people who enjoy activities like these. However, I don't think it was worth $40 considering it lacked the foliage views I was hoping for.

My family and I recently went on the Polar Express train ride, and we had a blast! My nephews loved it! We all wore Christmas pajamas, and so did everyone else. What a sweet and magical way to celebrate the Christmas season. Their production was fun, engaging and entertaining. The hot chocolate and cookies were delicious and we all enjoyed the trip to the North Pole! We even got our "first Christmas gift!" We made a weekend of it, and stayed at a Hilton in Poughkeepsie - it was only a half hour drive to the train station. Highly recommend for families with children, especially those that love the movie!

I'm a railfan and enjoy train rides of all types. I have ridden dozens over the years, including this one previously a decade ago when it operated back and forth around Kingston instead of its new route mostly west and then back. We paid extra for their Easter Bunny special trip. A couple of things to keep in mind: the train ride is short (ours was 90 minutes including a mid-trip stop to meet the Easter Bunny and find eggs), and I imagine that regular trips are even shorter. Those of you with kids who don't want a long ride will appreciate this. Second, it seems to go from a parking lot to nowhere and back. There are lots of trees and some waterfalls and streams to see, but there are also the backs of buildings, highways, and parking lots as well. It isn't the most scenic trip... or it wasn't in March when we went. Maybe in the fall it would be better. The seating is open, and it includes benches facing each other, single direction benches (so you are facing the wrong way for part of the trip), sideways benches, and several outdoor cars where you can walk around and take in the fresh air. If you need a specific type of seating arrangement for your group you should get there earlier enough to be in the front of the line. If the train doesn't sell out, though, you shouldn't have a problem anyway. The staff seemed friendly though on our trip there was no announcements along the way to point out interesting sites or local history. That would have been nice, but sometimes hearing someone ramble about every little tree and building can get annoyting too. As it was, our car was loud with excited kids so I doubt I could have heard anything anyway. Our trip wasn't cheep cheep (!) but we did get to meet the easter bunny, a fox (?), a baby chick, and gather Easter eggs filled with candy. You pay extra for those things and they were fine for this trip, but most days I would rather just ride a regular train. All in all, it was fun for what it was. A bad train trip is better than just about anything else.

Quintissential small tourist railroad. The crew is friendly and very capable. The trip runs for just over 75 minutes and there are many annual specials.

Really a disappointment! We went yesterday for the Pumpkin Patch ride. You are on the train for about 30 minutes each way. The train often feels like it is just going to fall apart. The scenery is non existent, so I have no idea how they claim to do scenic tours. You spend half of the ride looking at run down buildings on one side and a mountain that is too close to appreciate on the other. You are typically traveling down an alley of bushes to eventually arrive at a patch of dirt, where they place store bought pumpkins. Save yourself time and money and just take your kids to a store and buy them a much nicer pumpkin.

The -- w o r s t -- save your time and money Do not waste your money or time. Filthy rundown train & seats. The NYC trains and buses are cleaner than this. No bathroom on train for a "45 minute" ride. The ride was 10 minutes in and went back to the station 20 minutes total, if that We were told they had to "add more train tracks" after the train came to an immediate stop 10 minutes in. The train felt like it was going to fall apart when we were in it. Complete scam of a business over $23 person for what? No scenery, a bunch of backyards of peoples houses and one river. Horrible, scam, false advertising of a 45 min scenery train ride Spend your day elsewhere and put your money into and actual enjoyable event

The kids enjoyed the experience. It was a bit too cold the day we went for the easter ride. Staff said there was heat on the train and it would take "a bit" to warm up. However, 1.5hrs later, pretty sure that is inaccurate at best. Maybe if the weather wasnt so cold the experience would be more enjoyable, but I dont think i would come back for this. The egg hunt was a bunch of eggs scattered on the side of the track, again, the very young kids dont know the diff, but I didnt think it was well done. There was an easter bunny on the train which kids enjoyed (only highlight of the experience), but again train was too cold. Recommend bringing your own food as theres nothing nearby besides a bagel shop.

FALL FOLIAGE -- I went on the fall train ride to see trees transitioning but the two times I've been on train rides like this for fall I have yet to experience a beautiful transition of leaves for the fall season. The train traverses through some open fields and rocky terrain but you don't see beautiful magazine worthy views of fall leaves transitioning. Overall this is a relaxing train ride for the entire family but if you are going specifically to see beautiful fall leaves you're milage will vary greatly depending how Mother Nature decides on the speed of the trees transitioning during the time of year tickets for the fall train ride go on sale. Expectations aside, it was a pleasant train ride that felt short but lasted about an hour.

I was disappointed in this train ride. The views were not scenic most of the time! It just goes up a little ways, then backs up on the same route. No water views at all. Probably wouldn't do it again.

My first time on a train. It was neat to be in the open air side vs the covered side. I wasnt sure which side at first but since it wasn't too hot I thought it would be better also for the views. I sat towards the front. It wasn't too busy maybe 5-7 people per car. 4 cars I think. You can move about the cars as well. It just goes straight through and back. It's a time pass but nothing too exciting. Nice views for sure. Fun to cross the streets. I was def impressed. There were bugs in the car as well. Mostly daddy long leg spiders. Some other crawlers.

The Polar Express at the Catskill Mountain Railroad a unique and mind blowing experience for kids and adults. There are incredibly entertaining and talented characters from the movie roaming around singing and dancing. Spoiler alert: A ghost hobo lives on top of the train and please don't ask to smell his sock it's terrible. Pro-tip: It sells out very quickly so if you didn't already get tickets this year get them early for next Christmas season.

Great idea, but not very exciting. I was really excited to try this railroad as the train goes through the Catskills and this time of year you can see all changing color leaves on the trees. Unfortunately the ride was very slow and we did see some nice areas but it was definitely not a trip worth $17. This is a nice idea to do with kids but many of the adults were distracted because it was just not a lot going on... I could drive around and see more. All in all, nice idea just a little pricey for what you see (or really don't see lol)

To be honest, we did this trip last year and enjoyed it so much, we had reservations again this year. As we were waiting for the train to arrive we were told by a very nice gentleman that the trip had to be cancelled as the train was in need of repair. I mean these things happen or course. But, the people were genuinely so kind and helpful we did not mind the cancellation. Then the company surprised us with comped trip! What a fabulous surprise and says a lot about the company.

A really fun ride in open rail cars through the New York Catskill area countryside. It was exciting to see and experience part of the historic old Ulster and Delaware rail line that ran between Kingston Point Park and the Phoenicia Station. In Phoenicia (until 1900) the cars were switched to a smaller rail gauge (3 feet) before steaming up the Catskill Mountains. A friendly and well informed staff added to the experience. I highly recommend taking a ride on the Catskill Mountain Railroad.

A complete waste of money. I really hope no one spends money on this tour I expected for foliage what I got was basically a ride on a train through a wooded area the car ride out there was more beautiful than what I saw there was no for foliage to really look at the train was a bit run down and all we really saw was like a hiking trail behind a neighborhood I expected so much more and was highly highly disappointed

Honestly we wanted to love this train ride. We were all so excited to make this a tradition for my son, starting with his first Christmas. Walking on to the train you see all the rust which you try get past for the kids , this is supposed to be magical. We sit in our chairs knee to knee facing 2 other people we don't know, still trying to look past all this because we are here for the kids to see Santa. They give you your hot chocolate and cookies playing the polar express song for this on repeat for 15 minutes. At this point kids were already getting restless. We finally go at a crawl of a pace so they can fill the time slot. By the end of the trip our train car was so hot many kids had to take off their clothes. There was absolutely no air circulation in the train car. Kids are coughing,crying, trying to run around. Such a mess of an environment and experience. We went on Sunday by Wednesday we were sick and testing positive for Covid. They really need to update theirs train cars with any sort of air circulation system , clean in between train rides and space groups of people way better. It's not the polar express it's the Covid Express.

Honestly so disappointed. I bought this as a gift for my son, daughter in law, and my grandson. I thought it would be an amazing gift. I was so wrong. The train car was crowded. the kid next to them coughed hard the entire ride, hopefully not getting my 2 year old grandson sick. The "sights" were non existent. Pretty much stores. finally got to Santa's house, which was nothing. The "hot" cocoa was cold and small and the cookie was hard. I felt terrible because this was actually my Christmas gift for six of them. I spent close to 400 on six seats together. A couple could not come with the twins because of the sickness, but the other three still went thinking it would be a great experience. I've heard about this for years, and I always thought I couldn't wait to actually come. I am extremely disappointed how terrible it was.

Amazing Christmas adventure for the whole family! my grandkids loved it! and the Hobo is legit! the entire experience was great!

We went last night to the polar express in Kingston. We had such a great time My daughter who is 3.5 loved the entire trip. You get on at 530 train leaves at 6. Then you see Santa at the North Pole they keep you occupied with characters from the movie entire time. You get hot chocolate and cookies. Truly was a great time Also we were lucky enough to go into the actually locomotive part I guess they randomly pick people. The staff was great and friendly. Especially David who made the trip even more magically for my daughter

My mother, significant other, and I participated in one of the scenic train ride endeavors offered via Catskill Mountain Railroad last summer (2022). The three of us enjoyed an hour ride for a reasonable fee! Overall, I would recommend and encourage those that are interested in engaging in a daytime activity that is not time consuming to board upon this train for a trip!

This review is based on the Polar Express train ride. Very cute and entertaining. They hand out hot (warm) chocolate and cookies as we travel and tell the story of the polar express while your ride to the North Pole. Once there Santa gets ok the train for the ride back and visits each car to take pictures with your family and hand out Jingle bells. There are entertainers that sing, dance and play games. It's really very cute. *beware of the very slippery steps... I fell and busted my @ss getting off the train. Hurt my wrist, neck, back and rear. They really should have sand or salt on the steps and platform since there is currently snow covering the path on/off the end which is where we sat.

Polar express was a Horrible experience. The train was dirty, there was no entertainment on the train. The only scene they attempted was the hot chocolate scene. Three people played the hot chocolate song, they were not energetic at all, couldn't even hear them singing. They didn't engage the passengers or children. One guy that worked on the train, dressed as the hobo from the movie, was strung out on some drug. His eyes wouldn't stop moving and he was clenching his teeth the whole time. What a waste of time and money. If you want a good experience go to the one in Jersey, Winappe Station

If I could give this company 10 Stars I would. A true testament that Christmas spirit and the true meaning of Christmas is still alive! On our way to the train we accidently made a wrong turn and ended up on the NYS Thruway. This meant we had to drive many miles just to be able to turn around legally and come back those many miles. My daughter was devastated because we were never going to make the train on time. Our entire family was on the train praying we would make it. The conductor found it in his heart to wait an extra 20 minutes past departure and prioritize my child's Christmas train experience over his schedule. When we finally arrived we were greeted with such kindness and warmth. I can't begin to describe the gratitude I have to this company for what they did! Merry Christmas, Catskill Mountain Railroad Polar Express!

Went 12/9/23. Kids enjoyed themselves as kids would in a group. There was no "show" other than 3 chefs walking up and down 3 times to the "Hot Chocolate" song. After the book is read, which we couldn't hear, Christmas music plays. That's it. That's the entire trip. Cookies and cocoa are served before the train even leaves. Lastly, and most terrible, was Santa. This man not only looked liked he was pulled off the street, he smelled like it too. He looked and smelled dirty. It was nauseating. I'm not going into detail but there were various smells coming off of him. We spent a lot of money for a very disappointing experience. Kids enjoyed the hotel pool more in the end. Very sad.

Very interesting and entertaining! My grandchildren young And older all enjoyed it.My husband made friends with the staff members. The Hot Chocolate and Cookies were amazing along with the performance! 10/10 Would recommend

This was a fun trip to do early in the morning! We had our breakfast and made the early train. The train itself is an old NYC diesel train that was in service in Long Island and Staten Island. The seats? They're old with springs that you can feel but the interesting part, you can move the seat back to make a 4 seat area. Very cool! The front of the train had about the size of two train cars converted into an open roof setting. To go through the mountains and see the fall foliage and fresh air was completely amazing. First the train goes backwards and there is an engineer standing out back making sure there is nothing on the tracks. The tour would of been longer but a hurricane a few years back ruined the tracks and thats all folks. Going forward, there is a stop and the guests are able to get off and see an old train station. They have a ticket booth and a old waiting area. The details in the ceiling arch is incredible. There is tourist gift section where you can purchase train items. The rear conductor was telling me there was a litigation issue with fixing the track. The Gov't gave them money to fix the track. On the broken town side, they want to make it like a High Line concept, pave over the tracks and make hiking trail. The train side wants to fix the tracks. Who wins? The friggin' lawyers!!! Stop all this nonsense. I'm gonna fix this problem, once and for all. Ready? Fix the damn tracks and make a hiking train ON THE SIDE of the tracks. This train isn't a train in Queens, its not a busy line and hikers can hike and train riders can have a better experience. Laywers suck, they'll take all of the damn money needed for repairs. Now pay me 500,000 dollars for my arbitration fee

We've been to two separate Polar Express train rides in two different states - NJ and CT. NY is the winner and three is definitely a charm. :) This is the most interactive and special Polar Express experience. It was so cute and my boys were charmed from start to finish. It's all about the journey and they made it magical. This was so much more than the customary long-awaited visit with Santa. The characters from the book are wonderfully fun and enthusiastic and they interact with you in a way that we've never experienced before. What could be better than hanging with the hot chocolate chefs and playing tic-tac-toe on the window with Hobo Joe?! The true spirit of Christmas is alive and kicking here and you feel it from the minute you step on board. Still jingling our bells and believing! Can't wait to do it again in 2020!

This was honestly the worst Polar Express ride that we've gone on. Not a single actor, no dancing, no singing. They handed out hot chocolate and cookies, showed the large format books, had the recording of the story, and that was it. I mistakenly assumed that the Polar Express format was followed at all points. Will not being going back to this location.

Beware! Our engine broke down -we never reached the "north pole"! Management was to contact me in regard compensation (4 adult tickets at $50 each and 4 children at $39 each!) i left my number with employees and have called several times, leaving messages, and have received no response. In addition, as i checked out purchases for my grandchildren at the register of their store, i was charged for a $12 item that wasn't on or near the counter. hmmmmm.....overall shady operation!

Went on Father's Day weekend. It was fun. 4 year olds loved it!!!! Some of the ride was scenic. Love that their was a mascot. My kids took a photo. Wish they described more of the history we had to ask questions.....its actually has a ton of history!

This was such a wonderful experience! I brought my nephew (5 years old) and he absolutely loved it! When we first boarded the train, we were nicely greeted by the conductor who gave us the golden ticket. When we sat down, we found there were hooks to place your coat which I thought was very nice. Not soon after we board, the chefs came out and started dancing as they did in the movie, they brought out hot chocolate and it was pretty good. They also brought out the cookies which were chocolate chip and it was okay. They then read the polar express and let the kids flip the page which I thought was sweet. Once they did that, they brought out trash cans so we can throw away trash. They did very cute activity's to entertain the children such as a conga line, meditating and letting the kids decide what to say, and they also asked them a bunch of questions such as, "what did you get for Christmas?" When Santa boarded the train, he gave everyone a silver bell and took pictures with everyone, his elves also took photos if you wanted everyone in it. Overall, the place was super cute and I would definitely come back here!

The ride is 39 min one way and 30 min going back Very slow pace in the train No bathrooms on train Inside the car is hot!!! Had great expectations But no luck!! I Will Not recommend this Tripp

Affordable fun for the entire family! With cars that let you sit outside and get your fill of fresh air and beautiful nature scenes, and closed window coaches with comfortable seats that let you take a ride back in history! Bring the whole family out for a ride, you won't regret it! There was even live music on a few trains, and one time I was there they were running a steam engine! There so many other great things to do in the area there so many other great things to do in this area, that it's a great place to come be a tourist, and get away from it all!

Our family (4 adults and 2 children ages 4 and 6) took our second trip on board the Catskill Mountain Railroad Polar Express voyage. Our first trip occurred just before the Covid pandemic and we had to wait 2 years before we could board again. What a fantastic journey! The round trip is about 1 1/2 - hours. A complete delight. You pass through the countryside featuring Santa's village in view outside the train window before the real Santa comes on board with his elves! What a thrill for the kids! We enjoyed the complimentary hot chocolate. The trip re-creates the story behind the wonderful book The Polar Express. And I suggest you read the story to your kids before you enter the magical world featuring real-life waiters and elves from the story. The train cars are decorated with lights and boughs of holley. And the overhead racks are stuffed with "presents." Santa Claus comes through the cars and befriends the kids, posing for photos if you wish. One elf sat with our kids chatting with them for about 15 minutes. Then the singinging begins of favorite holiday songs. Believe me I sang every one of them! We have such wonderful photos of the whole experience. Take note that this is run by an organization trying to support the Catskill Mountain Railroad and refurbish their cars and the tracks. Many of the staff volunteer their time. If you want a super-polished high-end experience, try Disneyland or Legoland. This is a community experience bringing a wonderful experience you will not forget.

Polar Express review. I was really impressed with the polar express experience. I read so many negative review so I had to share a positive one. The kids that work on the trains are amazing. They are chefs, conductors, elves, etc. The whole ride they went out of their way to interact with every kid. They played games, asked to dance, and took pictures. Santa was amazing and sat down with every kid and talked to them. It was really nice to see a group of people who were happy to work and going out of their way to make it a great experience for everyone aboard. I can see some of the negativity in reviews becauSe the trains cars are really old, but they do a good job of decorating them. The train ride is mostly past shopping centers, but you barely notice because there is so much action on the train(I would not do the foliage tour after seeing the route though). I will definitely be returning for a winter weekend in the Catskills and going in the polar express train.

So much fun!! What a great way to spend a few hours in the beautiful Catskill mountains peddling thru the fresh air. We went on a beautiful summer day to celebrate my daughter's birthday she brought her one-year-old and he sat in front with me and did just great I would say keep the alcohol to a minimum because there are some responsibilities on the riders parts.

This was our third time on the Polar Express. The first two times were great. We would arrive at the "North Pole" all decorated in lights, Santa would get on and give the kids bells - they loved it and got a lot of satisfaction out of arriving at the North Pole. Because as we all know, the Polar Express is SUPPOSED to go to the North Pole. That is the whole point of the POLAR express. To go to the NORTH POLE. But this year, for some strange reason, the Polar Express did NOT go to the North Pole. The train just stopped in the middle of nowhere where the conductor claimed "Santa landed on the roof of the train." It was a complete cop out. What happened, they run out of money for a few lights and a Christmas tree? Not like they don't charge enough money. Needless to say, my kids were very disappointed that the train never got to its intended destination. My 4 year-old son kept asking me, "daddy, when are we going to get to the North Pole?" I had no answer for him. It wasn't cool, especially because he'd seen it the two years prior and was expecting it again. We won't be coming back to this Polar Express experience. There are plenty of others in the area to try out next time.

Review about Rails of of Terror on the Catskill Mountain Road. Not spooky at all...not worth money. Sound system was terrible...nothing as advertised. Just a few people wearing mask roam around and people can take pictures with them. Not worth the time or money.

Horrible, not worth the money. Find something else to do. It's our fault for not reading all the reviews..we would have done something else..currently stuck in the train, on a rusty old bridge listening to bad "live" music...tempted to jump to escape.

I don't know why you would run a children-oriented business when you do not actually like (or have any idea how to speak to) children. I could excuse the really low rent presentation, organization and cleanliness if you were friendly, professional or treated people with the minimum amount of respect. Your railroad should be transporting cattle instead of human beings, let alone young impressionable ones. Gross.

Very disappointed..It is not what described on the flyer. It was about 3 miles, mostly in the city of Kingston..never went up the mountain. The train stopped right after the pumpkin patch and returned the same way we came. Didn't see anything else, no scenic views. The train is not vintage as described, it's just old. No bathrooms on board.The ride was the pumpkin express.

Definitely good for kids. More scenic in the spring before summer foliage grows up along the tracks. Chincy ice cream....one lousy skippy cup. Nevertheless a pleasant experience for all.

This was advertised on the website as a "Fall Foliage" ride. Picked up our tickets for our 11am ride at the ticket booth near the station. We were near the front of the line so we were able to be among the first to board. There were a few hundred people for the ride and although we got seats it appeared that it was difficult for the people in the back of the line to find enough seats together to seat their entire families. There were four cars on the train. Two were conventional railroad cars and two were open air cars with wooden benches and a canvas roof. The boarding process began at about 10:50 so the train left almost 10 minutes late for the one hour trip. The train was nicely decorated for the fall season and Halloween themed music was piped in through speakers mounted in each car. Once the train began moving, it went through part of the town and there was very little to see. Stores and roads don't have much Foliage. Only one real open field with a view of a couple of hills. Most of the slow 2 1/2 mile ride at about 5 MPH consisted of close in woods a rock cut out and a tunnel. The train stops by an old shack, stays about 5 minutes, and then backs down the same rails back into town. We returned at about 12:10. This is not what we had in mind when we decided to drive up from Staten Island. I must say that there were many kids on board and they seemed to enjoy the ride as well as the Halloween themed characters on board. It's a suitable ride for young children but not a true fall foliage trip.

POLAR EXPRESS It was our first time going on the Polar Express, we drove 2.5 hours to get there. The tent to pick up the tickets was not well put together and actually looked like a last minute set up in the parking lot. The souvenirs were cheaply made, our 22.00 train broke as soon as it was taking out of the packaging. The parking lot was muddy and the line to get on the train was cold and in the muddy parking lot. The train coming back was late, leaving a crowd of energetic kids in the dark waiting as well as a bunch of stressed out parents. The ride was awesome! There are no bathrooms on the train so make sure the kids go before hand in the porta potty provided. The ride starts with the conductor and the kid outside and then they invited us all on the train. The seats were comfortable and the train inside was great. What made this trip amazing was the staff. We got half a cup of hot chocolate, which was more than enough, especially with no bathroom on board. The chocolate chip cookie was one of the best we ever had. The enthusiasm of the staff, the cooks, servers, the bum, elves, Santa and the conductor that punched smiley faces in the golden ticket made the whole trip and wait worth it. They told the story while walking up and down the isle with a giant book, they played games with the kids and Santa was amazing. He took time with each kid, posed for pictures as all the characters did. He took my sons letter and gave us all a bell. The train ride was very slow making it seem like we traveled further than we did (you pass the town with all current stores, can't be helped but it takes away from the thought of being at the North Pole) . The North Pole could have been better to look at as it looked cheap. It looked like a train station where Santa was waiting for the next train instead of the North pole but my son who was 6 didn't know the difference, he was just so happy to see Santa. As adults we want everything to be perfect, but for the kids it was all perfect. My son was in awe, beaming with happiness and talked about it for months. Being there is so magical that all they care about is seeing Santa and they feel like they are part of the movie. I gave it 3 stars just because of the set up before hand and the North Pole being cheesy and not all it could be. Also felt like it was over when it just started. We are going to the Polar Express again this year but trying a different train line.