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Ohio Christmas Train Rides In Nelsonville!

Published: November 29, 2025

By: Adam Burns

The Hocking Valley Scenic Railway is one of Ohio’s most enduring and beloved heritage railroads, a volunteer-powered nonprofit that has been introducing generations of visitors to the story of coal, clay, and railroading in the Hocking Valley for more than half a century.

Based in Nelsonville, the railway operates over former Hocking Valley Railway (later Chesapeake & Ohio) track, offering seasonal excursions that blend regional history with the simple joy of riding classic passenger cars through the rolling hills and river bottoms of southeastern Ohio.

Among its most popular offerings is the Santa Train, a Christmastime tradition that sells out year after year and has become a cornerstone of the region’s holiday festivities.

Origins: From Coal Road to Community Heirloom

Long before it hosted holiday excursions, the line that the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway uses was a hard-working artery of Ohio’s industrial heartland.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Hocking Valley Railway knit together coal mines, brick and tile plants, and small towns from the Hocking Hills to larger markets. The railroad’s coal trains and mixed freights fueled furnaces, powered factories, and carried the products of the valley’s clay industry.

Eventually, the Hocking Valley became part of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway. As regional industry changed and highway competition increased in the mid-20th century, portions of the line saw declining traffic and, ultimately, abandonment.

Rather than let this piece of regional heritage fade away, local rail enthusiasts, civic leaders, and history-minded volunteers organized in the early 1970s to save a segment for excursion use.

That grassroots spirit—neighbors rolling up their sleeves to preserve track, restore equipment, and staff trains—has been the organization’s hallmark ever since. The Hocking Valley Scenic Railway launched its first runs soon after, anchoring operations in Nelsonville and methodically rebuilding the line to host reliable, safe, family-friendly excursions.

The Route and Experience

Today’s excursions generally depart from Nelsonville, a town known for its handsome Public Square and 19th-century brick heritage.

The railroad’s route follows the Hocking River through Athens County, passing remnants of the region’s industrial past—old kilns, mine sites, and bridge abutments—alongside forested hillsides and bottomlands that turn brilliant gold and red in autumn and serene white under winter snow.

Seasonal trips range from standard weekend excursions to themed rides that tie into local events and holidays. Many rides include narration that traces how the railroad shaped the valley: moving miners and their families, connecting small communities, and serving as a lifeline for commerce.

A Volunteer-Built Institution

The HVSR is powered by volunteers—people who maintain track, repair and restore cars, staff the depot, sell tickets, and crew the trains.

Over decades, these volunteers have not only kept the trains running; they’ve restored rolling stock, refreshed depots, and educated thousands of visitors about southeastern Ohio’s rail and industrial history.

That ethos of stewardship is visible everywhere: in the lovingly maintained coaches, in the tidy right-of-way, and in the welcoming, family-oriented atmosphere that greets riders at the station.

The Santa Train

If one event epitomizes the Hocking Valley Scenic’s community role, it’s the Santa Train. Operating on select dates from late November through December, the Santa Train is a festive, kid-forward excursion that has become a rite of passage for many regional families.

Coaches are decorated for the season, and volunteers transform the train into a rolling holiday gathering. During the trip, Santa and Mrs. Claus make their way through the train, visiting with children, hearing wish lists, and posing for pictures. Helpers often pass out candy canes, and young riders typically receive a small keepsake.

The ride itself is part of the magic. After dusk, the valley’s riverside farms and towns glow with lights; by day, the winter landscape feels hushed and bright. The trip is long enough to be an adventure—usually around an hour and a half round-trip—yet short enough to hold the attention of excited kids.

Because these trains are extremely popular, many families book early. The railroad often adds extra dates or times to meet demand, and in some seasons offers daytime and evening Santa departures so riders can choose the ambience they prefer.

The Santa Train doesn’t just entertain; it anchors family traditions, introduces new generations to the romance of railroading, and supports the nonprofit’s year-round preservation work.

Classic Locomotives

A key part of the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway’s appeal is the authenticity of its trains. The railroad typically operates with historic diesel-electric locomotives from the mid-20th century—machines that once handled switching and mainline duties across America and now serve in excursion service. As of recent seasons, the HVSR’s workhorses have included:

GP7 #5833: Built in October 1952 by EMD, this 1,500-horsepower “Geep” helped the C&O transition from steam to diesel alongside its GP7 and GP9 sisters. In the 1970s, it and several other C&O Geeps moved to the Chicago, South Shore and South Bend Railroad, where it was renumbered 1508.  In 1982, it returned to the C&O for disposition and was purchased by HVSR in 1986. It’s currently operational.

GP10 #701:  Originally built in December 1957 for the Illinois Central as GP9 #9307, this 1,850-horsepower Geep was rebuilt in January 1974 at Illinois Central Gulf’s Paducah Shops as a GP10 and renumbered 8307.

It later served MidSouth Railroad as #1031 and then Southern Pacific Construction Services, where it received its current number and paint. It was acquired from the Ohio Central in September 2003 in exchange for Lake Superior & Ishpeming 2-8-0 #33. It's currently operational.

RS-4-TC #4005:  Built by Baldwin in 1954 for the U.S. Department of Defense (U.S. Army), this compact diesel switcher features a 500-horsepower Caterpillar engine, making it ideal for light switching. It was acquired in 1996 and repainted it in 1999. It is currently operational.

0-6-0 #3: Constructed by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in March 1920 for the Beech Bottom Power Company, No. 3 was built as an extra unit using spare parts, including a boiler originally intended for an unbuilt Grand Trunk locomotive.

It first shuttled coal from the mine to the power plant before moving to ash-dump service. No. 3 has 21,438 lbs of tractive effort, 42-inch drivers, and an empty weight of 92,000 lbs.

In 1968, it was retired and placed on display in Cumberland, Ohio, then donated to HVSR in 1982. Restoration began in 2001 and was completed in 2015. No. 3 is operaitonal and handles occasional steam specials.

SW1200 #1231: This switcher was built in the 1950s for the Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line in Virginia. It was acquired from ADM in 2023, and arrived on the property in March, 2024 where it is currently under restoration.

45-tonner #7318:  This 300-horsepower General Electric centercab switcher was built in 1948 for the U.S. Department of Defense and assigned to the Army. Acquired in 1981, it was the railroad's first diesel locomotive. It carried the number 7315 for many years before its original number was restored in 2003. It is currently out of service awaiting repairs.

65DE19a #8122:  This rare Whitcomb centercab was built in 1944 to serve in Italy during the later stages of WWII, though it ultimately never left the United States. It was acquired from Cargill in 2001 and returned to service in 2005. However, it has not operated in over a decade and is currently in storage, awaiting a cosmetic restoration to U.S. Army black and its original number.

Beyond Christmas

While the Santa Train is the headline act of the holidays, the railway’s calendar features spring and fall excursions, including popular Fall Foliage trains that sell out when the Hocking Hills reach peak color.

Themed rides—such as Easter, summer family days, and occasional special events—extend the mission beyond pure sightseeing, weaving in local culture and history.

Proceeds from every ticket help fund ongoing preservation, track maintenance, and equipment restoration, ensuring the line and its stories remain alive.

Why It Matters

The Hocking Valley Scenic Railway is more than a ride—it’s a living classroom and a community hub. It keeps tangible pieces of the valley’s past in motion, from the rails underfoot to the diesel growl up front, and it offers families a way to make new memories inside the preserved fabric of an older Ohio.

The Santa Train, in particular, shows what a small, volunteer nonprofit can do: knit together history, place, and tradition into something that feels both timeless and joyfully local.  To learn more about the train and purchasing tickets please click here.

Whether you come for twinkling lights and a visit with Santa or for the throb of a vintage ALCO climbing out of town, you’ll step off in Nelsonville with a deeper appreciation for the Hocking Valley—and for the people who work year-round to keep its railway rolling.