This was a really fun experience. Myself and my wife really enjoyed the two hour Chehalis valley railroad tour. We were in town for the weekend for other activities, and we decided to do this as a tourist activity as well. We took the last train of the day, so unfortunately we did not get to tour the museum as we were running late, but the train ride was amazing. The steam engine train is not running right now, which was a bummer, but they still run rides on a diesel engine train. We had a very funny conductor that kept us entertained. The ride was very peaceful and tranquil and on an older train so we appreciated the tranquility. There were not many people on the train with us, just two other couples. We were almost running late and the employee met us at the coach to give us our tickets, which was appreciated. The ride included pictures of the Chehalis River, scenery, wildlife, and more. The train and coach were definitely older, so we appreciated that classic vibe. I do know they also have special event dinner rides and such as well that they host several times per year. Overall, I definitely recommend the Chehalis railroad tour. It was a great experience! read more

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Very fun they served hot chocolate and cookies and Santa was there the kids loved it.....I'd definitely take the kids back to do it again..

I am filing a formal complaint against SteamTrainRide.com regarding their handling of my ticket purchase for the Polar Express Train Ride scheduled for November 15, 2025, at 2:00 PM. On October 24, 2025, I purchased a ticket for this event. Shortly after, I realized I could not add a second ticket for my husband to join me. I contacted the company immediately to request assistance--either by purchasing an additional ticket for the same time or transferring my reservation to November 16 at 2:00 PM, where I intended to buy another ticket. The company repeatedly refused my requests, citing a strict "No refunds, no transfers" policy, even though I was willing to spend more money with them. Their responses were dismissive and offered no alternative solutions. This left me with a single ticket I cannot use without incurring additional costs for a separate event. Additionally, I am requesting a refund for the ticket purchased for November 15, 2025. The booking process was unclear, and I believed I needed to purchase tickets one at a time. Only later did I discover that just one ticket was available for that date and time. I immediately asked to transfer my ticket to another day so I could purchase an additional ticket for my husband. I even offered to pay for the second ticket, which would have been to the company's advantage. Unfortunately, my request was denied. Given the circumstances and the lack of clarity in the booking process, I believe a refund is a fair resolution. I am requesting the BBB and FTC to review this matter and assist in resolving the issue. read more

First off, a big old thanks to Mary for fixing my ticket issues. I accidentally misspelled my email and did not receive my confirmation. She right away fixed everything! Last Saturday I took my wife and her parents to the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad Museum for their rendition of the Polar Express. This year they were not running the steam locomotive due to some much needed repairs. They let the public know way in the advance on both social media and on their website. The replacement locomotive was an historic US Navy shipyard switcher. Steam locomotive or not we were all excited to be on the Polar Express!!! We rode in a mildly restored passenger coach from the 1920's. The coach had bathrooms but no heat. Once again, we were old well in advance that there was no heat and to bring snuggies or blankets which we did. It was warm enough that night where we did not need them. I want to stop here and say that not everyone will enjoy the Polar Express. The "show" is much geared for little kids. All of the little kids enjoyed the show the staff members put on. They did an excellent job on recreating Tom Hanks Conductor character from the movie. We were a group of four adults and did not know what to expect. We came on board with some very light hearts. Having a light heart will let you see what this small museum put into this train ride to make it happen. If you do not sit back and enjoy everything with a light heart you will think it was a big fat nothing. The Polar Express is great for little kids and light hearted adults. If you have a kid who thinks everything is dumb or you're a grump this train is not for you. We will be looking forward to other train rides they have to offer. read more

While this experience is a little pricey, they do an excellent job. Jason was the actor for our car, 601, and he was great. He engaged the passengers, sang the songs and was funny. He even stopped to chat with my 6 year old granddaughter. Jason is a great addition to this event. The website warns that the cars aren't heated and to dress warmly which we did but we weren't cold at all. The cocoa was the perfect temperature (shaken not stirred, I'm sure) and the cookie was, drumroll please, allergy friendly!! The train ride though the farmland was slow enough for the kids to get good looks at the animals and the North Pole buildings. Santa was charming and the bells we all got are beautiful. All in all the Polar Express was the perfect kick off for the holiday season. Highly recommend! read more

Groupon pricing now. They are trying to get folks in. And Covid is not as prevalent in Lewis County as it is in Pierce and king. We took my Bf 's mom for an outing today on Sat!! Lots of people were here with little kids too. We sat on the back covered wagon part. Then on the way back we sat inside on the way back. It was very sunny today. We saw lots of cows and blackberries and apples on the way. It was a nice outing today. We all have been deprived of human contact. read more

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My husband and I did the Murder Mystery Dinner Train. It was a fun and unique experience. The steam locomotive was out of service, so we were on a diesel powered train, but it didn't make a difference to me. Make sure you buy your tickets early! They only offer this special train once a month during the summer/fall and it sells out quickly. The station is really easy to find because of several signs posted. Once you arrive, there is a free gravel parking lot and some decent bathrooms that you can use. We boarded the train around 4:45 PM (15 minutes early). All of the seating is pre-assigned and if there are less than 4 people in your party, you will be paired with strangers. However, we really enjoyed talking to the other couple at our table. It was nice having someone new to talk to and working with them really helped us solve the murder mystery. The food was ok. They have to bring all the food on board already cooked, so it's kind of like airline food. We had raw vegetables, a small green salad with ranch dressing, bread and butter, prime rib, red potatoes, green beans, and cake. We also had plenty of water and coffee at our table. We spent the first hour eating dinner and doing the murder mystery. We were given a sheet of paper describing the situation and there were four actors walking around. You are supposed to talk to the actors (they come around to your table) and ask questions in order to solve the mystery. The winners get a prize. During the second hour, you can walk around the rest of the train. Some cars are open air, so you can sit "outside" if you'd like. The train goes in a straight line. At the halfway point, it goes back in the other direction. Overall, we had a memorable experience. It took us about 1 1/2 hours to get there from Seattle, but we also planned other activities in that area, so it made the whole trip more worthwhile. read more

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We enjoyed the trip on the Murder Mystery train! The food was good, the trip was fun, but with two handicapped people in pur party, we can't say enough good things,about the personal service we received! The train workers and the players of the group could not have been nicer to us! We will always remember how kind and professional they were! read more

Review edited: I appreciate they are all volunteer staff The museum is cool from the outside. My experience is the steamtrainride.com I got a refund but my wife, kids and mother in law went. 1st -steamtrainride.com should have a steam train. It was down for maintenance and that is false advertising. They have a little notice on the site now but I didn't see it when I prepaid in April. It should be more prominent especially with a domain name like that 2nd - It all seemed very unprofessional. I guess its more of a hobby thing but if the steam train was there it would have been cool 3rd - The seats are not padded and its 1.25 hours long With lots of seniors that may have trouble with hard seats for extended periods. I have a bad back and they looked painful but it does give the old time feel 4th - They said they do not follow state or federal guidelines and that we must wear a mask regardless of vaccination status because of the railroad. The staff doesn't strictly adhere and they have outdoor seating 5th - A train should have more than 2 cars for a good experience and emmersion effect. Though I can see an added cost it could be added opportunity. Rent out a billboard that you put on a car. Any number of ways to make it work 6th - The conductor asked everyone if they were enjoying the ride except my family (assuming because I asked for a refund) They did respond quickly and seemed to actually care. They are volunteers preserving history but my experience left lots of room for improvement. read more

Chehalis-Centralia Railroad & Museum - A train parked nearby which was more entertaining than the train ride - Museums Near Me - Chehalis, Washington

Did their dinner on March 24th. Knew the train wasn't running but was still looking forward to a fun experience on a vintage train. Highly disappointed. $66 for a small piece of cold, dry, overcooked hockey puck of a piece of chicken, mashed potatoes, veggies, salad, and roll. Couldn't cut the chicken with the plastic knife provided. Switched to the other option of Alfredo, cold lump of congealed sauce and noodles on the plate. Need a new caterer who can provide and keep food hot until it's served. Paid $9 each for 2 glasses of Riesling, what we got was NOT Riesling. The only highlight of the meal was the cupcake at the end. read more

I really wanted to love this experience...seriously. My family and I were looking for a fun, family day to go out and explore the area. Given that COVID is now a part of our new normal I expected more attention to the safety aspect of the event. Nope. Not even a little. There are markings on the floor in the gift shop/museum. Not observed. Masks seemed to be optional for attendants and guests. At the beginning of the ride, people seemed to observe a safe distance but about halfway through they were packed in our car. If people aren't able to maintain a safe distance on their own an attendant should be available to guide guests and ensure a safe environment for everyone. We did see plenty of farms, cows and horses. The best part was waving at cars during train crossings and having them honk back at the train. If you're not "icked" by standing shoulder to shoulder with people right now then this is a perfectly priced family outing (I paid $11 on Groupon) and just long enough for little ones - not long enough for adults. Special note: I had difficulty figuring out how to make reservations using our Groupon. The staff replied to my email with detailed instructions very quickly. I appreciated their speedy service. read more

First know this establishment is run all by volunteers. That being said, it's confusing due to the fact there's no instructions for first time visitors. The Conductor can't be heard because the outside music drowns out any announcement(s). The speaker system inside the train cars are so quiet you can't hear announcement (s) inside. Fusterated because when spending $69.00 per person including children party of 8, you're looking for an amazing Polar Express experience. After speaking to others that had the $16.00 per person experience they had the same complaints. The staff were amazing, getting the young people involved as actors was absolutely adorable. The planners need to make the experience understandable and have it where the speakers are attached somehow to both the indoor/indoor system. We'd be willing to give it another try if there's improvements. With all due respect I don't believe we'll be returning anytime soon. Just our groups personal opinion. read more

It's summer time, and I'm sure that families are looking for other activities to do with their little ones. I wouldn't have known about this place if I didn't buy a voucher through Groupon. The Groupon was $6 (original price $12) for a 75-Minute Coach Steam-Train Ride. And honestly, I don't think it's worth anything more than the Groupon price. Pros: -You get to ride on a steam powered train (only a few left in Washington State) -With the purchase of your train ticket you get a free entrance into the Museum -Staff in costumes (or they were really dressed up :) Cons: -1.5 hour commute from Seattle -NO organization of lines. Felt like cattle hoarding around the entrance of the train to get a good seat. People were rude, and conductors didn't make the situation any better by letting those people who cut go in first. -VERY loud and smokey (especially if your sitting right behind the main engine part of the train)--which is expected, but don't put an open seating area where kids and adults had a hard time breathing with all the smoke blowing in their faces OR at least put something that can block it. -Their website says to sit back, relax and enjoy the, "scenic upper Chehalis River valley, crossing over several wooden trestles and passing many historic farms." There was really NOTHING to enjoy. Got to see some farmland, and lots of trees that blocked something that could've been scenic. Enjoyable for kids...not so much for adults. read more

Chehalis-Centralia Railroad & Museum - Chehalis-Centrailia Railroad - Museums Near Me - Chehalis, Washington

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Absolutely amazing experience for my wife and myself! Engineer Web was phenomenal! We look forward to returning with our children! We're also anxious about volunteering for Polar Express! read more

It's not worth it. It doesn't even loop around town. Goes straight about 4 miles then reverse back same route. Not worth it.

We went for the Polar Express holiday ride. The train cars were decorated nicely, but the organization and making it anywhere near "authentic" was really lacking - especially at $30 a person ($20 for child). They had a couple of songs from the movie playing at the beginning, but that was about it. There wasn't any really acknowledgment that we were on the train, when it was leaving, what the agenda was for the trip, introductions of the staff, etc. It just started moving and that was that. Some lady (by yelling throughout the train car) led us in 1 Christmas song, and then hot chocolate started appearing, followed by a small, homemade cookie in a zip lock bag. They served hot chocolate dressed in white chef's coat which was the only part of the 1.5 hour ride that resembled the movie. They didn't even play the "hot, hot, hot chocolate" song while serving! After that, we sang one more song. A young girl attempted to read the Polar Express story, however, she was definitely not a story teller and it almost sounded like she hadn't even read the story before. No excitement or emotion in her voice. She fumbled with the microphone for most of the reading and was constantly pausing because she felt it important to work out cookie issues amongst the children and to allow them to take turns sitting on her lap. It really disrupted the flow of the story and really even the ability to follow what the story was. Upon arriving at the "North Pole", my son and I were pushed away from the window because one of the staff just had to see what was going on with her dog (dog was being attended to and fine and showed no reasons for anyone to be worried, by the way). Just added to my frustrations because we were having fun looking at the decorations and trying to find Santa. The North Pole was decorated nice enough, but could definitely used some excitement from the staff on board when we got there. At the North Pole, Santa did get on board, but spent little time with each child - website and pictures portray a different story. He was nice enough, but didn't really say much and just handed out the silver bell. Couldn't really even get a picture of my son and Santa or and was no interaction with my son when my he he was trying to tell Santa he wanted for Christmas. After Santa, what little organization there was seemed to have ended and we were left on our own for the remainder of the ride. You could tell most of the kids, mine included, quickly grew bored during the 45 minute trip back to the station. Somewhere in the beginning of the ride they handed out song books and my family decided to sing carols to ourselves for the rest of the ride. No one really joined in and, in mid-song, we had to give the books back. The seats in the train cars are wooden park bench type seats. Also not the most conformable for a 1.5 hour ride. It was dark during the ride, so couldn't even look for things out the windows, as entertainment. I debated about giving 2 stars, but in the end realized I am very disappointed and wish we had never spent the money, so didn't find any reason to give it any. Would not recommend to anyone. read more

WOO WOO! The train is a really great trip to take kids on. It isn't too long, there was a surprising amount of scenery that they were interested in and it was a nice relaxing tour in the sun! The best part is that they park at the end of the ride and let you take pictures, climb up and see the controls and even walk up to the steam generators/tanks. The ride was loud and smokey, so it was authentic and awesome. The engineer ran the engine hot for one short burst picking up some speed, but overall it is a lazy trek through some farmland. We saw horses, cows, chickens, rivers, lakes, donkeys hawks and lots of flowers blooming. Other than a few irritating teens trying to grab leaves off passing trees it was an enjoyable trip for the fam. The museum is small yet has a few fun things in it to look at. Make sure to bring a picnic lunch/drinks/small cooler on the train! This is a MUCH better deal than your kids wanting to ride around the inside of a mall on a "train"! read more

I have a 2-1/2 year old toddler that loves trains, so we are always on the lookout for little rides that we can take. This is an excellent little train and historical site, about 1-1/2 hours south of Seattle. The train depot is staffed by really excited and friendly volunteers, many of them in costume, and the steam engine is really really neat. There are a few different rides you can take, and they also offer dinner trains and murder mystery events. We did the little Sunday afternoon ride, and I believe ours was short because they were repairing track after the big Chehalis flooding (this was in summer 2008). After the ride is over, you can climb up into the drivers cockpit (whatever you call it) and see the actual burning fire box and touch the controls - actually I was a little excited they let us do this, I think my son was just about 2 and I was pregnant, and it seemed like an accident waiting to happen :) Anyway, it was very cool. There is a little gift shop on site which sells train whistles of many sizes. Be prepared to ride the train with a lot of little boys blowing their new train whistles. (A sound only a mother can love). I cannot stress how cool this steam engine is compared to any other we've ridden, and the staff is absolutely friendly. I highly recommend it for anyone who loves trains, is interested in the history of the Chehalis Valley, or if you're stuck in traffic back from Portland on a Sunday afternoon and just want to take a break! read more

Never again. I'm not even sure where to start? The train is cool, yes. But the novelty wears off quickly when there's not much going on and it's dark outside the windows. They serve cocoa and a cookie in a ziplock bag. They sing a few songs and read the story. But it really didn't feel cozy. As soon as we came in, a young woman introduced herself as an "elf" and wouldn't leave us alone the entire trip. She's nice, but can't take a hint, and interrupted our conversations repeatedly to try making small talk. When we got to "the North Pole" she just kept yelling at us to look at her dog "Euba" the whole time. No one was there to see her dog! Santa did an ok job. It's loud, lame and expensive!!! The kids were bored and got wild and crazy. read more

It was okay. I went with the fam, including my 2-year old, because of the Groupon special. Other than knowing in your head that this was some sort of special train ride because of the steam engine aspect, there was nothing exciting about the scenery or the ride itself. The seats were not particularly comfortable. My son had a great time because it was his first real train ride and well, because he's 2 and it's just exciting for a 2-year old. Being from Seattle, it was a hike to get out to. In the end, I don't regret going, but I would have rather spent that time doing something more exciting. read more

So sad. They should bring in another Steam Engine to replace the broken one. YOU CANNOT RUN A POLAR EXPRESS TRAIN without one. It will not be the same . We will be skipping this years run and I hope you do too as the kids will be disappointed . They should cut the fare in half. read more

I would have given 5 stars but the woman who sells the tickets was extreme rude. The rest of the staff was great. Friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. The price for a 2 hour train ride was very reasonable and the ride was very scenic. Highly recommend taking the train ride. They also have a dinner ride but sells out fast read more

This was by far the best experience my family and I have had! The staff here is incredible!! Words cannot express how great they all are! Defiantly recommend this experience to anyone and everyone!! Perfect polar express night! Santa was very friendly and greeted the kids with a Christmas bell and candy canes and took pictures with them! They sang songs with the kids, served them hot coco and cookies. Read polar express and the kids loved it!! read more

An overwhelmingly beautiful and relaxing journey through some of the most scenic countryside I have ever encountered. I have been to 40 states and over 100 national parks, including Arches, Yellowstone, and Wimea Canyon in Hawaii, and I still have yet to see a landscape that rivals the idyllic scenes presented for you here. Some might complain that the ride is boring or lasts too long, but they miss the point. You are supposed to be transported away into a land of beauty, carried through the equivalent of a work of art that really should have been immortalized in the Louvre. What makes it all the more ironic and magical is the fact that, unlike most tourist railroads, the locomotive in use, the storied and beautiful #15, pulls your train along not even two miles from where it started its life over 100 years ago. It is truly worth a trip, if not for the beauty, if not for the history, if not for the trains then just for the opportunity to relax with the ones you love, to feel the wind in your hair, and to take in the utter tranquility presented in front of you. read more

Polar Express train review only... We went for the Polar Express train ride this evening and were extremely disappointed. It was absolutely not worth over $100 for two adults and a child. We went on another Santa train last year and decided to try this one due to good reviews. We would never return to this train again. The "North Pole" was a complete joke and nothing more than a few light-up signs in a field where Santa emerged. The other Santa train takes you up to another station where there is a big display and pictures with Santa and lots of activities for the kids. Santa seemed grumpy with the kids and didn't talk much with them. He didn't say a word to my daughter, just handed her a bell. We left with my daughter saying "Santa didn't see me". I, on the other hand, feared he would talk to her. He pulled his beard up so many times, I was afraid she'd notice and it would scar my 3 year old. We were extremely hopeful when we saw the nice station and parking lot, which was much nicer than to other train. The actual train was nicer than the other one, and the cars stayed much warmer. We also liked that they gave assigned seats so there was no rush to find the "perfect" seat. The ease of getting an assigned seat isn't nearly worth compromising a child's experience. It's not the seat choice they remember. Extremely disappointed read more

This review is for the Polar Express train only. We took our 2 1/2 and almost 6 year old and we had a great time. I would recommend it to others, with the caveat that it has a homey vibe to it and is probably more fun for younger kids than older kids. I suspect a lot of the bad reviews may have been from families with older kids. Seats are assigned for you, so you don't have to worry about arriving early to get seats together. The train is not heated. We went on a really cold day and we were fine with our warm PJs and coats. The train departed right on time. We had a hiccup where the lights went out and we had to return to the depot. The crew tried to keep us entertained with singing Christmas carols, but they were a bit disorganized. We received homemade cookies and hot chocolate. The crew did a reading of the book. We stopped at the North Pole and Santa boarded the train to pass out bells (like in the book) to all the kids. It was really loud in our car with all the little kids, including mine, being extra vocal. It only got worse when they passed out the bells! The crew doesn't seem very organized. I believe they are volunteers. It's not the fanciest train ride, but my kids had a great time and that's what matters to me. read more

My wife and I booked two seats on a Saturday night dinner train a few weeks back. It was a very pleasant experience from boarding to departure. The train crew was courteous and helpful and loved to talk about their train. Unfortunately the steam engine is not running because of what was explained as "major boiler problems". The dining car was recently renovated and very pleasing to be in. The wait staff was friendly and good at what they do. The food was tasty. I had the chicken and my wife had the salmon. Portion sizes were generous and well prepared. The open coaches were available to us after the meal to enjoy the ride through the countryside. At the end of the run we stopped on a bridge over the Chehalis river. Behind us high up in a fir tree was an eagles' nest with one of the magnificent birds quietly sitting there looking down on us. The trip is about 2.5 hours and leaves at 5:PM. If you have the time I would recommend you take the trip. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did. read more

Took a 2 year old and a 5 year old on this fun trip for Memorial Day. Everyone is so friendly, the weather actually cleared up just in time for the trip too. They also offer some Brunch and dinner rides, check their web site for the dates. read more

We went for the Mother's Day dinner train. My son had flown in from out of town to spend the day with me so I wanted to do something fun and special. I thought this would be it but boy was I ever WRONG. The lady checking us in was rude which should have been a forewarning of things to come. Don't rush to get there because they disregard the times stated on their website. They were 30-45min late leaving. The train is in bad shape. Dirty carpet, paint peeling off the walls/ceiling and a poor attempt at covering the windows with a single curtain. Only wine (extra charge) or water is available for beverages. Drink the wine, your going to need it. The salad is already on your table when you board the train. How long has that been sitting there? Even the carrots were dried out. WTF ? Salmon and prime rib extremely dry and unseasoned.Green beans cooked to mush and potatoes like rubber. Obviously cooked hours before and reheated in the microwave. Dessert was a joke of a 1/4" slice of (FROZEN in the middle) Pepperidge Farm strawberry cake. Only one waitress for 15 tables. The "views" are only of people's back yards (going and coming back). The people who own this business should be ashamed of the prices they are charging for this pitiful, pathetic, lame excursion. They could have tried harder for Mother's Day. They wouldn't bring their mother here I bet. I was so very disappointed. We had to stop and get dinner at another restaurant on the way home, that's just how bad the food was. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!!! read more

When you buy your dinner tickets beware that you might be sitting at a very small table with another couple who u dont know. My boyfriend bought us dinner tickets and we were excited to have a little romantic night when we got stuck sitting with another couple its very akward and uncomfortable. They do not tell you this can happen until you get there. For the amount of dinner and the ride they shouldnt be making you share a table with someone. read more

We did the Murder Mystery Dinner Train and had a blast! It was well worth the 2-hour drive from Seattle (yay Tacoma traffic) and we'll definitely be back again. The tables each seat four so if you are a pair, be ready to sit with strangers. But the couple we sat with was amazing and having them to solve the mystery with made it more fun and engaging. The view is wonderful. If you're looking to see something like the Grand Canyon or something you won't see on another ride, this isn't it. And it's not supposed to be. It's just wonderfully beautiful countryside, quite idyllic and relaxing. We weren't sure what to expect from the murder mystery so we showed up prepared to just "go with it." I'd recommend the same. You start out with a piece of paper at each table giving you some background information, and there are actors playing parts and interacting with the guests. I think the goal is to ask them a lot of questions to try and sleuth your way to the bottom of the story. To be honest, we got along so well with the random people were we seated with we were probably not as engaged as others, but we did manage to figure it out. The mystery is solved before the ride is over, so there is time after dinner to move around, go outside, and enjoy the air. The food was great. At that price point for a ride + food + entertainment we were concerned it would be something like airline food, but it was actually really delicious, and the portions were great. The chicken cordon bleu and prime rib were both juicy and cooked to perfection. The sides were good as well. They actually made green beans my husband was willing to eat! It's a miracle! Staff were all very friendly, from the woman who took our order for the tickets over the phone to the conductor. Really, the experience is well worth the money. read more