Nickel Plate Express kicks off holiday season with Reindeer Rides

Photo by Daniel Grose

Hamilton County residents will hear holiday train whistles over the next six weeks as Nickel Plate Express (NPX) kicks off the annual and incredibly popular Reindeer Rides beginning Saturday, Nov. 19.

NPX will run Reindeer Rides for a fourth, sold-out season. The unique 75-minute ride offers families a unique opportunity to share holiday cheer, with cookies, hot cocoa, holiday lights and even a visit from Santa himself.

Trains run every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through the season. NPX estimates over 10,000 passengers will ride the Reindeer Express in 2022.

New this year: an enhanced experience as riders board from the new Hobbs Station at Forest Park Depot, constructed by City of Noblesville.

“We are so excited to welcome passengers from across the state to experience our beautiful depot and the magic of the holidays on the Nickel Plate Express,” NPX Director Emily Reynolds said. “Hobbs Station – decorated for the season – is a shining beacon for our operations, and we couldn’t be more thankful for our partnership with the City of Noblesville. The station is game changing asset for our operations this year.”

Reindeer rides are sold out, there are a few remaining tickets for Holiday Cheers, the adult version of Reindeer Express – offering adults a holiday experience with cookies, hot cocoa and adult beverages.

For information about the many kinds of NPX excursions, visit nickelplateexpress.com.

About Nickel Plate Express

Nickel Plate Express is a program of the Nickel Plate Heritage Railroad, a charitable nonprofit that operates the historic Arcadia Depot and offers entertainment and educational excursions on historic train equipment out of Forest Park in Noblesville. The 12.5 miles of Nickel Plate track is owned by the Hoosier Heritage Port Authority and runs from Noblesville through Cicero and Arcadia to Atlanta in northern Hamilton County.

Photo by Daniel Grose