Railroad Museum of New England - Thomaston, Connecticut

N G.

I was extremely disappointed by this. Before purchasing tickets for the Governor’s Lounge (Autumn Ride) I checked the information on the website which said the windows open. Upon arrival, I walked into the lounge to find none of the windows opened. I had to put on my mask (as someone who has still never gotten COVID-19) as people piled in. It was underwhelming, as the barrel chairs were haphazardly pushed against the walls of the train car, and people began loudly complaining that there were not enough seats. After a group of people finally realized they were in the wrong car, everyone began sitting and waiting for the departure. The train was packed even though the website still shows there were 15 openings, and we were told it was a full train (I have no idea how that works). The heat was blaring, and people began coughing and sneezing repetitive within the 20 minutes I was seated. With 10 minutes before departure, I could see the discomfort that was going to unfold and forfeited my ticket, exiting the train. I let the conductor know how uncomfortable I was, and said this was advertised incorrectly online. I wanted to attend this and see the foliage, but was not going to risk getting COVID-19 for it. My parents stayed on the train and told me it was not enjoyable, as no one was there to attend them the majority of the time, and they were offered their refreshments last and they ran out of water before that. For the most expensive ticket you can get for this train, you would think they would accommodate you slightly better? I drove and picked up my parents at Fascia’s Chocolate as they did not want to take the ride back. It was a very expensive and uncomfortable ride, and I would not recommend it, especially if you are thinking it is something you can do while avoiding COVID-19. This is not a ride suitable for a Governor, and the Amtrak has far better service.

Harihara T.

Unplanned trip but it was a great experience. We went on the pumpkin patch train. The total experience was around 90mins. They handed out free apple cider and water. Kids loved the pumpkin patch stop where they got to get down and pick a small pumpkin of their own!

andrea P.

Absolutely awesome I went on the northern lights limited train ride that picked up santa and Mrs. Claus. They made Ballon animals, gave out bells, toys, and the reindeer came to visit also. This really brings out the spirit of Christmas out for all to enjoy, especially all the lights!

Rebecca M.

Awesome, AWEsome, AWESOME!!! We went on the ride that takes you to Fascia's Chocolates, and the scenery was beautiful! I loved hearing about the history of each cart, and about trains in general.

Note: we sprung for the "luxury" seating, and that cart was trash. It looked like an old reception office with grungy gray carpets and frowning people. So we walked back to a regular cart, and that was much more like it: actual exposed wood, original windows, and beautiful black leather chairs. Much prettier, and it would have been cheaper!

L D.

We took the ice cream train and my 4 year old loved it. We played a scavenger hunt on the train and collected some cool Thomas the train tattoos for completing it. The staff were great. There is a gift shop, washrooms and tourist info at the station.

Jared O.

Have been going to the other Santa train in CT for many years. Decided to give this one a try. This was a first and last for us. And we had the "lounge" experience, i feel sorry for those in coach. The best way to explain the experience at the Santa train on Saturday afternoon was....we felt like we were inconveniencing the staff for showing up. The parking attendant yelling at me for backing in outside the lines and trying to fix it, the conductor being sarcastic when asking him to help us find the correct car..."well how am i supposed to know", or perhaps the actual conductor taking our tickets when he was loading 1 car at a time and i am literally next to board the train with a baby in the freezing cold and he decides to take people from the next car first. I asked if i could just get on quick and out of the cold and replied, basically yelling at me, that he was the only person doing the job for two. And then when getting on the train, the person seating us was yelling at us to sit down, stop taking photos, stay in our seats. Felt more like a prison transfer than a magical Santa ride. Santa was good when he came in and engaged with the kids. The entertainment was non-existent. There was a random Rudolph character walking around and sometimes did not even stop to entertain the kids, just walked through. The elf was awkward and came around just talking to the kids asking them pointed questions as if they were being interrogated. Overall it appeared that the staff was tired and annoyed by our presence. Also giving the kids random crap like a 2025 calendar from the railroad, wow so magical...We will go back to the other place in the future, it's clear why they are at a higher price point, you really do get what you pay for.

angai D.

Every weekend the department hosts a different theme for train travel, along with travelling we can enjoy the concept of the theme.

We selected an ice cream train day.
We have to book the tickets online..being a school vacation there is huge demand for tickets ..

Every trip is filled with cute children as co passengers of course with their parents..

The train runs for nearly 30 minutes to and fro through a forest where you can enjoy falls, valleys, different birds and natures beauty..

Added to this you taste yummy icecream from the Nutmug shop, choose either vanilla, strawberry or chocolate... the train travels on a mountain where we enjoy lovely sceneries
..licking icecream from one hand, eyes are busy in capturing valleys beauty , heart is busy with filling happiness ....WOW experience 💖💐💐💐😀

Being a senior citizen it was a unique train experience with my sons family, had a lot of fun and carried sweet memories for ever..

Must try the event once.

Thanks to the crew and people who are involved in this project with hospitality and ensures great memories..

Christine C.

This was, unfortunately, one of the most disappointing Christmas experiences I’ve ever had. The seating description was misleading and fell far short of expectations. The price list uses terms like “premium,” which suggest an elevated, top-tier experience. However, upon arrival, it became clear this was not the case. The “Santa’s Lounge”—which is apparently the real premium option—offers far better decorations, atmosphere, and seating arrangements. And yet, the price for this so-called “premium” Jersey Transit experience was the same, leaving us feeling completely misled.

The onboard experience was equally underwhelming. The music and stories played over the intercom were barely audible, and there was zero entertainment to engage passengers during the trip to “Santa’s Workshop.” Instead, we were treated to views of graffiti along the route—not exactly the magical scenery one would hope for. Upon arrival at “Santa’s Workshop,” the first two train cars were so far from the action that it was impossible to see much of anything.

Then there was Santa. He looked more like a young grandpa with a peppery stubble rather than the iconic figure children envision—far from the version portrayed in the railway’s advertisements. His appearance, complete with a G-Shock watch, lacked the magic and authenticity you’d expect for an event like this. The elves handed out gifts from his toy bag, but there were no offers for pictures. On the bright side, Mrs. Claus was far more in character, spending time with the children and genuinely embodying the role. She was the only highlight of the experience.

The advertised “freshly baked cookies” turned out to be prepackaged, and the “premier gift bags” for kids were underwhelming. The brass ornament—advertised as part of the ticket—was limited to one per family, which was disappointing and felt misleading, especially when you’re required to buy tickets in sets of two. As an odd numbered we were forced to pay extra, only to receive a single ornament.

Overall, this was poorly executed, severely overpriced, and utterly disappointing. The lack of attention to detail and misleading marketing left us feeling let down and frustrated. I would not recommend this experience to anyone expecting a magical holiday outing.