Posted on November 12, 2019
Santa Claus to Arrive by Train
Hamburg, New York – Santa Claus will make his way to the Village of Hamburg’s historic Erie Railroad Depot at the corner of Scott and Union Streets by train on Saturday, November 30th. St. Nick will arrive at 9:30am aboard a train pulled by a vintage 1950s era diesel locomotive.
Santa will then make his way inside the depot to Artcraft Toy Trains where he’ll meet with children until departure time. Parents are encouraged to bring their cameras to take free pictures with Santa.
Once Santa arrives, short train rides on the Santa Express to Eden Valley will depart the Hamburg Depot on Saturday, November 30th, Sunday, December 1st, Saturday, December 7th, Sunday, December 8th, Saturday, December 14th and Sunday, December 15th at 11am, 1p & 3p. The cost for the 45 to 60-minute rides (7-mile round trip) is $20 per person. On board, Santa and the elves will be on the train to greet families and give children (ages 2-12) a small surprise gift as part of their ticket. Tickets may be purchased online at BCJRailroad.com or at Artcraft Toy Trains.
This special holiday train arrival is being coordinated by Artcraft Toy Trains in partnership with the Buffalo, Cattaraugus & Jamestown Scenic Railway and the Buffalo Southern Railroad. Now in its 19th year, Artcraft features a large operating toy train layout and specializes in toy trains of all gauges especially Lionel and American Flyer trains. Artcraft is also an Authorized Lionel Service Station and is Buffalo’s only business that services vintage toy trains on premises.
The trips are being conducted by the Buffalo, Cattaraugus & Jamestown Scenic Railway Company, Inc. The BC&J was founded in 2011 is chartered as a New York State 501c3 not-for-profit corporation. The BC&J’s mission is focused on developing and operating educational steam and diesel-electric passenger train excursions in the Buffalo-Jamestown corridor as a way of promoting Western New York’s industrial, transportation and agrarian heritage. The railroad right-of-way is owned by Erie County and leased to the Erie County Industrial Development Agency who manages the property. Buffalo Southern Railroad, a locally owned Class III Common Carrier shortline railroad, operates the line