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A Wisconsin Christmas Train Ride In Trego!

Published: November 15, 2025

By: Adam Burns

The Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad has quietly become one of the Midwest’s signature excursion lines, blending classic railroad charm with creative themed outings in Wisconsin’s Northwoods.

Based at Trego, the operation runs over a remnant of Chicago & North Western track laid more than a century ago between Spooner and points north, now about 15–26 miles of preserved line along the scenic Namekagon River and through deep pine forests.

From modest beginnings in the late 1990s, the railroad has grown into a family-run attraction known for dinner trains, America’s only moving bed-and-breakfast train, and a full roster of seasonal specials. Among the most popular are its Christmas season offerings: the family-friendly Santa Pizza Train and the adults-only Holiday Wine Train, which together turn the railroad into a rolling holiday party.

Background and history

The Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad (WGNR) was founded on April 1, 1997, with a mission to preserve railroading history while creating a unique tourism draw in northwest Wisconsin.

The line occupies former Chicago & North Western trackage stretching between Spooner and Hayward Junction, with today’s excursions typically running about 15 miles between Trego and Springbrook along the Namekagon, part of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway.

From the outset, the railroad focused on classic passenger experiences rather than simply short caboose hops. Early trains were built around restored heavyweight and streamlined cars acquired from various railroads, giving the WGNR an unusually diverse passenger fleet for a tourist line.

Over time the collection has grown to include sleepers, diners, coaches, and lounges from roads such as Santa Fe, Atlantic Coast Line, Union Pacific, and others, many of them rebuilt with modern amenities while retaining period character. 

One especially notable piece is the Sky Parlour car “Namekagon View,” a Budd-built Hi-Level lounge constructed in 1956 for Santa Fe’s El Capitan and later used by Amtrak on the Coast Starlight as a Pacific Parlour Car. Today it serves as the signature car on the railroad’s wine and cheese trains, offering upper-level views of the surrounding forest and river. 

Although best known for passenger excursions, the WGNR also maintains a modest freight presence. It holds a switching contract to serve local industries at Hayward and a pulpwood yard at Springbrook, and car storage on the line provides additional revenue—helping to keep the historic passenger operation financially viable.

Core excursions today

The railroad’s operating season has expanded to cover much of the year, with a menu of themed trains that appeal to different audiences:

• Sightseeing Train: A roughly two-hour run ideal for families, offering views of deep woods, river crossings, and small valleys, with narration by the conductor about the railroad and its equipment. 
• Family Pizza Train: One of WGNR’s signature trips, pairing a leisurely ride with fresh, onboard-baked pizza served in vintage dining or lounge cars. 
• Dinner Train: A full-service meal in refurbished dining cars as the train glides through farm fields, forests, and along the Namekagon River at a gentle pace. 
• Bed & Breakfast Train: Billed as America’s only moving bed-and-breakfast train, this overnight experience allows guests to dine, sleep, and awaken aboard the train as it lays over at the end of the line.

Layered atop these regular offerings is a robust slate of seasonal trips—fall foliage runs, moonlight trains, and winter specials. It’s in this last category that the Santa Pizza Train and Holiday Wine Train have become headliners, drawing both families and adults looking to start a new holiday tradition.

The Santa Pizza Train

The Santa Pizza Train is the railroad’s flagship Christmas outing and, by most accounts, its most in-demand seasonal trip.

What the experience is like

The excursion typically lasts about two hours, mirroring the regular pizza train but with a heavy dose of holiday magic added in. Each ticket includes:

• A two-hour round-trip ride through snow-covered forests and across trestles, often after dark or at twilight for maximum atmosphere
• A personal pizza for each guest, baked in the onboard kitchen, and an initial beverage
• A visit with Santa himself, who makes his way through the train to greet children and pose for photos
• A stop at Santa’s private car, where families get additional photo opportunities and time to chat
• Holiday cookies and hot chocolate served on the return leg to Trego

The railroad emphasizes privacy and comfort by seating each family of up to six in its own dining compartment wherever possible; larger groups are accommodated in adjacent tables or a traditional dining or lounge car. 

Cars are decorated with lights, garlands, and seasonal décor, while Christmas music and storytelling round out the ambiance.Schedule and atmosphere

The Santa Pizza Train typically operates on select dates from mid-November into the week before Christmas, with multiple departures on the busiest days.

Travel Wisconsin has singled it out as one of the state’s classic “snow trains,” highlighting the combination of pizza party atmosphere, cocoa, cookies, and Northwoods winter scenery. 

Because trains routinely sell out—sometimes well in advance—guests are encouraged to book early, especially for Saturday runs or prime evening time slots.

The Holiday Wine Train

Complementing the family-oriented Santa trips is the Holiday Wine Train, an adults-only lounge-car experience aimed at couples, friends, and office groups.

Rather than operating as a completely separate train, the Holiday Wine Train is structured as a dedicated 21+ lounge car that runs as part of selected Santa Pizza Train departures. Guests in the Holiday Wine Train have their own space and atmosphere while still sharing the broader train consist and route.

Onboard features

A typical Holiday Wine Train includes:

• Reserved seating in an adults-only lounge or parlor car, separated from the family compartments
• A featured holiday wine from Door Peninsula Winery, a well-known Wisconsin producer
• A selection of hot and cold hors d’oeuvres served during the journey
• Soft holiday music, subdued lighting, and classic decorations aimed at creating a cozy, up-scale feel
• A likely “toast with Santa,” as the jolly visitor stops through the car to wish guests a Merry Christmas 

A full cash bar is also available, giving passengers options beyond the included wine. The combination of vintage lounge car, winter forest views, and relaxed social vibe has led regional media and tourism sites to recommend the Holiday Wine Train as one of Wisconsin’s more unique adult holiday outings.

Final Thoughts

In a state rich with railroad heritage, the Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad has carved out a distinctive niche. Its mix of preserved equipment, scenic ex-C&NW trackage, and clever themed excursions keeps the operation fresh, while holiday offerings like the Santa Pizza Train and Holiday Wine Train ensure that the Christmas season in the Northwoods comes with the sound of steel wheels, laughter, and the clinking of glasses echoing through vintage cars.  To learn more about the railroad and its holiday events please click here.