Join Santa Claus and his elves for a magical ride behind Portland’s famous steam locomotives. Vintage rail cars transport you along the Willamette River in the heart of the city.

Tickets

Prices

Adult Child* Family** Patron Adult Patron Child*
$25 $20 $80 $20 $16
Service charges apply for each ticket purchased.
*Child: 12 years or younger - children age 2 and under ride free, as a lap child
**Family: 2 adults, 2 children

2021 Dates & Times

Trains run on the hour – please arrive 20 minutes early.
Tickets typically sell out, so it’s best to purchase them in advance.

10 AM 11 AM 12 PM 1 PM 2 PM 3 PM 4 PM 5 PM 6 PM 7 PM 8 PM
Friday, Nov 26 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Saturday, Nov 27 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Sunday, Nov 28 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Saturday, Dec 4 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Sunday, Dec 5 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Saturday, Dec 11 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Sunday, Dec 12 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Saturday, Dec 18 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Sunday, Dec 19 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Location

The Holiday Express Train departs from The Oaks Station, located across the street from Oaks Amusement Park and Skating Rink. Look for the big white tent near the end of the road.

Will-call is located inside the tent.

Trains depart on time – please arrive 20 minutes before your scheduled departure.

The Oaks Station
7806 SE Oaks Park Way
Portland, OR 97202

Driving & Parking

Trains depart on time – please arrive 20 minutes before your scheduled departure. Traffic on the Sellwood bridge and in the Sellwood business district can be quite heavy, particularly on weekend afternoons, so please give yourself plenty of time.

Public Transportation

From the north, take the #70 bus to the SE 13th & Tacoma stop.
From the south, you can take the #70 bus to SE 13th & Tacoma, or the #99 bus to SE Tacoma & 7th.

Consult TriMet’s trip planner for other public transportation routes.

Get Directions on Google Maps

What to Expect

Trains depart on time – please arrive at least 20 minutes before your scheduled departure.

  • All Trains depart from OAKS PARK.
  • Each trip takes approx. 40-45 minutes round trip.
  • Be on time! Holiday Express trains depart at the advertised time.
  • Arrive at The Oaks Park Station at least 20 minutes before your scheduled departure time.
  • Trains travel on the Oregon Pacific Railroad along the Willamette River in SE Portland.
  • Trains are heated. Wear comfortable outdoor clothing and closed-toe shoes.
  • Check in at big white tent for will-call tickets and boarding call.
  • Santa will be on each train to celebrate the season.
  • The interiors of the passenger cars are decorated with garland, ornaments, and lights.
  • Daytime trains offer a variety of scenery and a chance to see wildlife.
  • Early dusk trains offer a great chance to see the train decorated with lights.
  • Restrooms, shelter, parking and refreshments available at the station.
  • Train concessions, t-shirts, videos and toys on sale.

Gift Shop

Make your family’s ride on the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation’s Annual Holiday Express a rail fan’s dream. You are sure to find the perfect gift for the train lovers in your life… regardless of their age.

FAQs

Is there wheelchair accessibility?

Due to the structural features and historic nature of the Holiday Express passenger equipment, there is no safe way to accommodate and secure wheelchairs on the train. For this reason the American with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 USC section 12184) expressly exempts trains of this type from accommodating wheelchair devices.

We are dedicated to making rail excursions accessible to everyone and to making your experience comfortable and enjoyable. Passengers who can board independently or with assistance from their companions are welcome to board the train. On-board transfers cannot be accommodated at this time. Passengers must be able to climb seven steps and then walk at least 85 feet to a seat. We are pleased to offer one of our limited number of wheelchairs to passengers with limited walking ability to get from the tent to train side.

Please be assured that the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation is committed to making reasonable accommodations to the Holiday Express and similar rail excursions. Our goal is to make the historic rail experience more accessible to Portland residents and visitors. We hope that you follow our progress toward that goal and that one day soon, more of us will be able to ride the rails together. For more information, please visit us at the information desk in the tent.

Please visit the Oregon Rail Heritage Center to see and get up close to the historic steam locomotives and other Pacific Northwest rail heritage themed exhibits. Our Enginehouse is fully ADA accessible.

Covid Policy

To keep everyone safe, masks are required for passengers 2 years old and older. Vaccinations are very strongly encouraged for everyone who is eligible.

We will be following the Covid-19 requirements and guidance from the TSA, Multnomah County, Oregon Health Authority, and the CDC that are in place at the time the Holiday Express runs.

Can I exchange or refund my tickets?

Tickets may be refunded or exchanged 4 days prior to your travel date, subject to availability. Please contact the ORHC office at info@orhf.org or by calling 503.233.1156

How do I use my member promo code?

Patron Members of the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation will received a unique discount code which will get them a discount of 20% on Holiday Express tickets.

  • A code may be used in only one transaction. Please purchase all discount tickets at one time.
  • An individual patron member code is good for one discount ticket.
  • A family patron member code is good for up to eight tickets.
Is will call available?

Will call is located at the Holiday Express Tent at Oaks Park Station. Tickets will be available for pick-up on the day of your train ride. We recommend that you print your tickets if possible. This will save you time on the day of your ride.

Lost & Found

Lost & Found items can be picked up at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center during our normal open hours.

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