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Wisconsin "The Polar Express" Train Rides At The NRM!

Published: November 9, 2025

By: Adam Burns

Tucked along the Fox River in Ashwaubenon, just minutes from Lambeau Field, the National Railroad Museum invites visitors to step into the powerful, hands-on story of American railroading.

Founded in 1956 and formally recognized by Congress in 1958, this nonprofit institution is one of the nation’s oldest and most significant museums devoted to preserving the technology, people, and culture that grew up around the iron road.

Spread across a broad campus with indoor galleries and outdoor yards, the Museum delivers a rare combination of world-class artifacts and approachable, family-friendly experiences—everything from climbing into locomotive cabs to riding behind vintage equipment on a demonstration railroad.

The collection is both deep and varied, spotlighting milestones in engineering and design from steam’s heyday through the diesel and electric eras. At the center of many visits is Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4017, one of the largest steam locomotives ever built. Standing alongside its immense drive wheels, you immediately grasp why railroads were once called the “engines of progress.” Built to crest western mountain grades with gargantuan trains, the Big Boy embodies the scale, ingenuity, and ambition that defined mid-century American industry.

Across the gallery, another global headliner tells a very different story: the streamlined British LNER Class A4 No. 60008 “Dwight D. Eisenhower.” Sleek and aerodynamic, this locomotive type holds the world steam speed record; the Museum’s example commemorates Eisenhower’s leadership of Allied forces during World War II and is paired with historic carriages from his wartime command train. Together they form a riveting transatlantic narrative—how railways shaped strategy, logistics, and social history in moments that mattered.

The Museum’s roster continues with other icons that changed the way America moved. A futuristic 1950s GM Aerotrain captures the era’s optimism, styling cues borrowed from automobiles and a promise of modern speed. A Pennsylvania Railroad GG1 electric, with its curving Raymond Loewy lines, highlights electrification’s elegance and efficiency in the Northeast corridor. Around them are freight and passenger cars, cabooses, switchers, and maintenance-of-way equipment—each piece illuminating a different role in the complex choreography of rail operations.

Exhibitions give these artifacts context. Interpretive displays explore the lives of railroaders and passengers, the communities railroads knit together, and the innovations that kept trains safer, faster, and more reliable. The Frederick J. Lenfestey Center, a vast indoor display hall, allows year-round viewing of major locomotives and rolling stock, while outdoor tracks and yards let you see and hear equipment under open sky. The Museum’s emphasis on education runs throughout: school field trips, scout programs, public lectures, and special workshops make railway heritage accessible and engaging for all ages.

A standout feature for many visitors is the chance to ride the rails. On scheduled days—particularly in the warmer months—the Museum operates a train on a demonstration railroad that encircles the grounds. It’s a short, family-friendly excursion that delivers the rhythmic sway, the click of rail joints, and that ineffable, only-on-a-train sense of motion you can’t get from static displays alone. Conductors share tidbits about the Museum, the equipment, and railroading basics, turning a pleasant loop into a living classroom.

As autumn turns to winter, the Museum transforms into a holiday tradition beloved across Wisconsin and beyond: The Polar Express Train Ride. Officially licensed and inspired by Chris Van Allsburg’s classic book and the Warner Bros. film, this immersive experience brings to life the magic of believing. Families arrive in cozy pajamas, golden tickets in hand, for a journey that blends storytelling, music, and theatrical touches with a real train ride.

The evening typically begins with the tale of The Polar Express, setting the stage for a trip to the “North Pole.” On board, uniformed conductors greet guests and punch golden tickets while chefs serve hot cocoa and cookies. Familiar songs and scenes from the story unfold in the cars, inviting sing-alongs and creating that warm, shared energy you only find when a whole train is in on the fun. As the train glides through the Museum’s grounds, anticipation builds for the moment the North Pole appears—an imaginatively staged stop where Santa and his helpers bring the wonder of the holidays right onto the train.

No Polar Express ride would be complete without the silver sleigh bell. In the story, only true believers can hear its clear ring; on the Museum’s official ride, Santa presents bells to young passengers as a keepsake and a reminder of the season’s spirit. Expect smiling photos, excited whispers, and lots of “I can hear it!” in the aisles. It’s a carefully crafted event that balances authenticity—real tracks, real cars, real railroad staff—with heartfelt theatricality.

The Museum complements The Polar Express Train Ride with festive touches throughout the campus. Holiday decorations brighten the Lenfestey Center, and a forest of themed trees often turns the galleries into a winter wonderland. While programming details evolve each year, you can count on family photo ops, a well-stocked gift shop with train sets and storybooks, and plenty of places to warm up between activities. If you’re planning to attend, book early. Timed departures on select dates in November and December tend to sell out quickly, and there are typically both daytime and evening options to fit different schedules.

Beyond the holiday season, the Museum’s calendar is dotted with special events that keep the community engaged with rail history in fresh ways. From hands-on kids’ days and behind-the-scenes tours to seasonal favorites like the Great Bunny Train and visiting character events, there’s always something new to see or do. These programs underscore the Museum’s mission: preserving artifacts is only part of the job; sharing them in ways that spark curiosity and connection is the heart of it.

Practicalities are straightforward. The National Railroad Museum sits at 2285 S. Broadway in Ashwaubenon, a short drive from downtown Green Bay and regional highways. Hours vary by season and by special events, so check the schedule before you go. Plan two to three hours for a first-time visit—more if you’re a serious railfan or you’re pairing your trip with a train ride. Much of the collection is accessible inside the Lenfestey Center, offering all-weather viewing, and staff are welcoming and knowledgeable. Parking is on site, and the campus accommodates families with strollers and multigenerational groups.

What sets the National Railroad Museum apart is its blend of authenticity and approachability. You can stand beneath a Big Boy, trace the lines of a world-speed-record thoroughbred, slide into a passenger seat once bound for some distant city, and then step aboard a live train—all in one visit. The stories are broad enough to encompass geopolitics and industrial design and specific enough to honor the people who built the right-of-way, fired the boilers, signaled the meets, served the meals, and punched the tickets.

For many, that’s precisely why The Polar Express Train Ride resonates so deeply here. The event isn’t just seasonal entertainment; it’s a distillation of what the Museum does all year—pairing real railroading with imagination to remind us why trains captured the world’s attention in the first place. Whether you arrive as a dedicated rail historian, a parent with a train-loving child, or a traveler chasing a memorable holiday outing, you’ll find an experience that’s both transporting and grounded, magical and mechanical.

In Ashwaubenon, the rails of yesterday carry the stories of today. And when the cocoa is warm, the conductor calls “All aboard,” and the bell rings clear, you’ll believe—even if just for a moment—that a train can take you anywhere.