Michigan Christmas Train Rides (2026): A Complete Guide
Last revised: September 2, 2026
By: Adam Burns
Michigan’s signature Christmas train is the North Pole Express behind Pere Marquette 1225 at the Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso—the Lima Berkshire whose drawings and sounds inspired the locomotive in the 2004 film The Polar Express. Inspiration is not a license. SRI does not run Polar Express. Coopersville, Crossroads Village, and Coldwater fill out the rest of the state. There is no licensed Polar host in Michigan; use the Polar Express hub if that is the product you want.
The Little River Railroad's Christmas Express, which usually is a steam-powered event. Little River Railroad photo.
On this page: At a glance · Christmas hosts · Planning tips
Michigan Christmas trains at a glance
| Host | City | 2026 product | Deep dive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam Railroading Institute | Owosso | North Pole Express, weekends Nov. 20–Dec. 20. ~4.75 hr Owosso–Ashley. Coach $85. 1225 when healthy | Owosso 1225 2026 |
| Coopersville & Marne Railway | Coopersville | Santa Train, weekends Nov. 28–Dec. 20. ~90 min. Coach from $38 / child $33 | Railroad site |
| Huckleberry Railroad | Flint / Genesee | Christmas Holiday Magic, select nights Nov. 27–Dec. 27. Village + narrow-gauge night train. Confirm fares | Parks site |
| Little River Railroad | Coldwater | Christmas Express Dec. 5, 6, 12, 13. Steam when available. Adult $22 / child $15 listed | Railroad site |
Schedules and fares change. Confirm on each railroad before you book. Information compiled September 2, 2026. These are Christmas trains—not licensed THE POLAR EXPRESS™ events.
Christmas hosts
Steam Railroading Institute
(Owosso): 405 S. Washington Street, in the old Ann Arbor steam shops. The North Pole Express is a 4.75-hour round trip to Ashley: two hours in town, Santa, cocoa, a “Believe” bell. Pere Marquette 1225 pulls when she is healthy; SRI substitutes diesel if steam is down. Cars are not ADA accessible. Tickets went on sale April 1, 2026; many coach dates were gone by May.
2026: November 20–22, 27–29; December 4–6, 11–13, 18–20. Fridays 5:00 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Coach $85; Cocoa Class and Claus Club higher. michigansteamtrain.com. Full product page: SRI North Pole Express 2026.
Coopersville & Marne Railway
(Coopersville): 306 Main Street, former Grand Trunk Western, about 90 minutes Coopersville–Marne and back. The Santa Train puts Santa on board; elves escort each child for a photo and a gift. A storytelling princess works the cars. Heated coaches with restrooms. Premium is table seating with cocoa and a cookie from Delly Belly. One cab-ride add-on is sometimes sold for age 13+.
2026: Saturdays and Sundays November 28–December 20. Coach $38 (13+) / $33 child (1–12); Premium $49 / $47; infant under 1 free without a seat. Wheelchair tie-downs must be reserved. mitrain.net.
Huckleberry Railroad
(Flint / Genesee Township): Crossroads Village, 6140 N. Bray Road. Three-foot-gauge loop on the old Pere Marquette Otter Lake Branch. Christmas Holiday Magic is a village night: lights, Santa on the grounds, and a combination ticket if you want the train. Opening night is usually a tree lighting. Drive-through-only nights are a different product.
2026: Select nights November 27–December 27, typically 4:00–9:00 p.m. Buy the combination train-and-village ticket if you want the railroad; village-only is cheaper and does not include a seat. Confirm the live grid and prices on geneseecountyparks.org.
Little River Railroad
(Coldwater): Lake Shore & Michigan Southern depot, 29 W. Park Avenue. Steam when 0-4-0T No. 1 or 4-6-2 No. 110 is healthy. The Christmas Express is Coldwater to Quincy and back with Santa on board. Dress for it; the cars are old and heated, not sealed. A longer Quincy Stop-and-Shop Christmas trip is listed separately when they post it.
2026: December 5 (1:00 and 4:00 p.m.), 6 (1:00), 12 (1:00 and 4:00), 13 (1:00). Adult $22 / child 3–11 $15 as listed. Non-refundable. littleriverrailroad.com.
Planning tips
- Owosso is a long, cold day. Coopersville is 90 minutes. Coldwater is a short steam hop. Crossroads is a village night with an optional train. Pick one.
- 1225 is the movie locomotive. It is not Polar Express. If you want the licensed story, leave Michigan.
- SRI coach dates sell in the spring. Coopersville Santa sells on weekends after Thanksgiving.
- Huckleberry combination tickets are the ones with a train. Village-only is walking the lights.
Related Reading on American-Rails.com
- SRI North Pole Express 2026 (Owosso 1225)
- THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride Locations 2026
- Christmas Train Ride Locations 2026
Always verify 2026 schedules, fares, and event names on each railroad’s official website before you travel. American-Rails.com does not sell tickets.
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