If you have missed your visit with Santa this year or forgot to tell him earlier about that little extra someting you may be hoping for. You have one more chance to visit with him this Satuday Dec 20th. Santa will arrive via a 1913 built wood caboose pulled by a 1943 built diesel locomotive at 12:30 PM and he will depart just 3 hours later at 3:30 PM the same way he arived via the 101 year old wood caboose. Admission to the Railroad museum is free for this special event. What is there to do? Take a look.
Car Shops building: Visit Santa and have your picture taken with him. If you don't have a camera we have a photograher that will take your picture and print it out on the spot for only $5.00. Also, we have kids activities for the kids to make popcile stick Christmas tree ornaments and Santa's Elf's construction paper hats. There is also our volunteers sponsored Bake Sale. 100% of the money raised at the bake sale goes into our Building fund to continue the restoration efforts of this 1917 built railroad locomotive and railcar repair facility. Just outside of the Car Shops building is one our friends selling funnel cakes, hot dogs and other hot tasty treats.
Civil Engineering Display Hall - While we are still working on the design and building of our railroad Civil Engineering displays it doesn't mean the building is not busy. We have 3 operating model railroads in O, HO, and N scale that are in varoius stages of completion for you to enjoy and discuss with our volunteers. Maybe you can take home some tips on how to build your own railroad empire at home.
Outdoor Stage - Here you can take your picture with some Christmas settings or go around back and throw snowballs at some snowmen.
The Roundhouse - Explore Sioux Cities pride and joy Great Northern (GN) Railway steam locomotive #1355. Take a tour of the cab and ring the bell on this beautiful locomotive from the romantic rail travel days of the past. This is the sole surviving locomotive of the Class H-5 steam locomotives of the GN. It is also historically signicant to the industrial history of the United States. It is listed on the National Register of Historic places. You can also visit the gift shop for the rail fan in your life. And of special note; have a seat in the orange Milwuakee Road caboose sitting in Bay 3 at 1:00, 2:00, or 3:00 for your own personnal reading of the book the Polar Express by none other than the train conductor from the Polar Express itself! Do you believe?
Are you getiing tired of walking? You can take a free ride on our hay rack ride and see the railyard or try out our motor car winter express ride for only $1.00 each. This 10 minute ride is our version of a good old fashioned horse and sleigh ride (without the horse and sleigh). It's a great way to have fun, and get a geat big family cuddle going to stay warm.This is a lot of fun for the entire family. We have had 1,700 visitors so far the past 2 Saturadays so don't miss out!
WEATHER ADVISORY: Many of the buildings are still under restoration and some have little to no heat in them so please dress appropriatley for the outside weather conditons.
