Schedule

Our 2018 Schedule typically begins in April and ends in December with our popular Holiday Santa Trains.

See our Calendar for a month-by-month listing of our excursion rides, events and rentals.

Our weekend ride days now include Slow Down Sundays and Saturday special events. We’re 100% staffed by volunteers, so while we don’t operate on a regular schedule, you can plan ahead, buy your tickets online and count on a memorable experience on the days listed below.

Buy your tickets here where you’ll also find the fares and train departure times for the day you plan to be our guest. Or you can click on the ticket icon (Buy Tickets) on the upper right-side of this page.

Larger groups, such as schools and senior centers, prefer our weekday rides held once a month on Wednesdays & Fridays. For special occasions, see our Party Caboose and Parties & More pages or let the train enthusiast in your family (16 years or older) https://www.triangletrain.com/buy-tickets/drive our diesel engines in our Operate-a-Loco program.

The steam engine will be undergoing federally mandated repairs and updates through 2018. All trains running on our tracks will be diesel engines pulling covered, open-air passenger cars for a memorable experience our customers have enjoyed for more than 30 years.

Our trains will be operating on the following days. Please click on Buy Tickets for train departure times and ticket prices. A small processing fee will apply for each transaction and is not included in the rate shown.

April 8 – North Carolina Science Festival
April 28 – Brew ‘n’ Choo Strawberry Festival
May 12 – Train Ride Day
May 26 – Brew ‘n’ Choo Bonsal Beach Party
June 10 – Slow Down Sunday
June 30 – Brew ‘n’ Choo Luau
July 8 – Slow Down Sunday
July 28 – Brew ‘n’ Choo Ice Cream Social
August 12 – Slow Down Sunday
August 25 – Brew ‘n’ Choo Pizza Party
September 9 – Slow Down Sunday
September 29 – Beer, BBQ & Choo Choo
October 13 – Track or Treat: Halloween Express
October 20 – Track or Treat: Halloween Express
October 27 – Track or Treat: Halloween Express
November 11 – Slow Down Sunday
December 1 – Holiday Santa Trains
December 2 – Holiday Santa Trains
December 8 – Holiday Santa Trains
December 9 – Holiday Santa Trains
December 15 – Holiday Santa Trains

Weekday Ride Days: Wednesdays and Fridays at 10:30 a.m.
April 11
April 27
May 9
May 25
June 13
June 22
July 11
July 27
August 8
August 24
September 12
September 28
November 14

We offer excursions, rain or shine, on our monthly excursion days.

We work with partners who join us in the rail yard throughout our ride season. NHVR’s food vendor Chef’s House serves food available for purchase during ride days. Bruster’s Real Ice Cream of Apex serves homemade ice cream in a variety of flavors coinciding with themed ride days. Craft breweries, local wineries and musicians and a DJ join us for Brew ‘n’ Choo events (beer and wine is available at an additional cost).

Important information about Train Rides:

  • Please dress appropriately for the weather the day of your ride. The railroad operates open passenger cars, rain or shine.
  • Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before your train’s departure time. Allow ample time to park and board your train. The trains do not wait for late passengers and you are not guaranteed a ride on another train if you miss your departure time.
  • The excursions take about one hour. There are no bathrooms on the trains, so please plan accordingly. There are bathrooms (porta potties) on the rail yard grounds.
  • Limited handicap facilities are available. Please contact us regarding any special needs.
  • The staff is an all-volunteer crew trained to operate the equipment in a safe and professional manner. If you have questions concerning the railway or museum, you are encouraged to ask an on-duty volunteer.
  • No refunds or rain checks are offered due to inclement weather.
  • The railroad reserves the right to substitute equipment or cancel any event or excursion without notice.
  • You may call to verify trains are operating before visiting.
  • Please come to the ticket office on the ride day. If you paid online and printed your ticket at home, we still need to check you in. You may also pay online and we will print your tickets at the ticket office or you may purchase your tickets at the ticket office the day of the ride. Boarding is first come, first serve so please board as soon as possible. Trains will depart at the scheduled time or earlier,  if full.
  • Special event fare and schedule may vary.