Ho Ho Happy Holidays…..Santa’s Coming to the Enginehouse!

This holiday season visit the Oregon Rail Heritage Center—transformed inside and out into Santa’s Enginehouse, full of holiday magic for children of all ages.

Outside, vintage rail cars and a classic diesel locomotive, the Nickel Plate 190, twinkle with colorful holiday lights, while the Center itself glows in holiday hues.

Inside, Portland’s three historic steam locomotives tower over newly built model railroad displays—one encircling the OR&N 197 engine and another literally climbing like a Polar Express holiday garland up, down and around a 9-foot-high holiday “tree.”

Portland Lego Club returns with more model trains operating in a realistic recreation of some of Portland’s iconic features, decorated in holiday splendor and made entirely of Lego blocks.

Up front and up high, Santa holds court from the cab of the legendary SP 4449 steam locomotive, welcoming “visits” by kids looking in, safely distanced, from a wooden staircase. Below, children can write personal letters to Santa, drop them in the North Pole special delivery mailbox, and in a few days receive a personal, handwritten response from Santa or his elves.

It is chilly inside Santa’s Enginehouse, with its high ceilings and generous ventilation—but you can warm up with a cup of hot cocoa (in an optional souvenir cup) and enjoy fresh baked cookies. The Enginehouse gift shop offers items for all the railroad fans on your holiday list.