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Essex Steam Train & Riverboat Essex Steam Train & Riverboat Essex Steam Train & Riverboat Essex Steam Train & Riverboat
Timeless. Beautiful. Captivating. This year, step back in time to historic 1892 Essex Station and embark on an unforgettable 2.5-hour journey into the heart of the unspoiled Connecticut River Valley. A steam locomotive pulls vintage coaches on a narrated round-trip through the quintessential New England towns of Deep River and Chester.
It's fun for everyone... with all the bells and whistles.
Essex Steam Train offers unique access to several coves and preserves, immersing passengers in an onboard eco-excursion. Don’t forget your camera. When you arrive at Deep River Landing, your steam train & riverboat excursion continues aboard the multi-deck, Becky Thatcher riverboat for a relaxing 1-1/4-hour cruise along the Connecticut River before returning to Essex Station via steam locomotive.
Essex Station is more than a family railroad attraction with a train-themed gift shop. We’re a destination for your special events, weddings, and other facility rentals with plenty of parking. Need your event catered? We do that, too. Visit our website for details.
Dates of Operation
Other amenities.
- Bus Parking
- Food/Beverage Services
- Groups welcome
- Guided Group Tours
- Meeting/Event Facilities
- Special Rentals
1 Railroad Ave. Historic Essex Station Essex , CT 06426 United States
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Railroads & Locomotives Tourist Railroad Profiles Essex Steam Train and Riverboat profile
Essex Steam Train and Riverboat profile
| Last updated on August 4, 2023
The Essex Steam Train is unusual in offering a train ride that can be combined with a connecting riverboat excursion.
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The Essex Steam Train and Riverboat offer train rides hauled by either steam locomotive 2-8-2 No. 40, which dates from 1920; 2-8-0 No. 97, built in 1926; or the far newer Chinese-built 2-8-2 No. 3025, while the Becky Thatcher , a replica of a three-deck Mississippi-style riverboat, handles the water excursion. A number of seasonal events and excursions take place, including a wildlife-viewing trip in February, as well as sunset cruises on Saturdays and a lunch train. On some weekends, a caboose is available for rides. Fall foliage steam specials now travel 4 miles north beyond the normal route as additional trackage has been returned to service on the railroad.
Trains operate from the historic 1892 Essex depot from May through late October. Special events including Day out with Thomas take place in spring, and both Santa Special (afternoons) and North Pole Express (evenings) holiday-themed trains run in both November and December. Spring and fall are fine times to visit as well, with the leaves either a new green or in brilliant autumn colors.
Good to know
Essex is a historic seaport village, with lots of white-clapboard New England charm. The Victorian Goodspeed Opera House in nearby East Haddam presents productions of classic musical comedies.
Worth doing
Nearby Gillette Castle is a whimsical faux-medieval mountaintop estate built for actor and playwright William Gillette, most famous for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes. Visit it on your own or as a train-ferry-hiking package offered by the railroad.
The diesel-hauled Essex Clipper Dinner Train operates seasonally and offers a four-course dinner on the rails. One of its dining cars is a special treat: the heavyweight Pullman parlor car Wallingford, built in 1927 for the New York, New Haven & Hartford .
Getting there
Essex is located on Route 9 just 3 miles from Interstate 95.
Location: 1 Railroad Avenue, Essex, CT Phone: 860-767-0103 or 800-377-3987 Website: essexsteamtrain.com E-mail: [email protected]
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Attractions | Restaurants and Specialty Foods
1 Railroad Avenue,Essex,06426
(800) 377-3987
http://essexsteamtrain.com
Are you an Essex business Interested in becoming a member of the Essex Board of Trade?
CONTACT US TODAY!
Essex Board of Trade, Inc., P.O. Box 322 Essex, CT 06426 or email [email protected]
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2024 North Pole Express
Board our locomotive-powered sleigh for a magical nighttime journey to the North Pole. Every coach becomes a stage for a LIVE musical performance of “The Night Before Christmas.” Celebrate the spirit of the season with Santa and Mrs. Claus, festive sing-a-longs, hot chocolate and sugar cookies.
Each child will receive a small gift from Santa. Children are invited to wear their favorite pajamas! Make sure those PJs are warm and cozy…it’s cold up at the North Pole!
All ticket sales for the 2024 North Pole Express™ will be conducted online.
All tickets are first come, first served and all sales are final. There are NO refunds, exchanges or credits.
Please email any questions or correspondence to [email protected] and a customer care representative will respond at their earliest convenience.
Due to the volume of time sensitive calls we receive in our call center regarding our daily summer excursions and events, we cannot answer NPE questions by phone at this time. Thank you
2024 Operating Dates
Thursday – Sunday: November 14 -November 24
Friday-Sunday: November 29 – December 1
Tuesday – Sunday: December 3 – December 22
Monday: December 23
2024 Operating Times
Tuesday – Friday Dates: 4pm, 4:30pm, 5pm, 5:30pm, 6pm, 6:30pm, 7pm, 7:30pm, 8pm
Saturday & Sunday Dates: 2pm, 2:30pm, 3pm, 3:30pm, 4pm, 4:30pm, 5pm, 5:30pm, 6pm, 6:30pm, 7pm, 7:30pm, 8pm
Note: Friday November 29 & Monday December 23 follow the Saturday & Sunday schedule
(Each Departure is approximately 90 minutes round-trip)
2024 Ticket Prices
Tuesday -Thursday: $60.00 per Coach Seat / $90.00 per First Class Seat
Friday – Sunday & Monday December 23: $70.00 per Coach Seat / $100.00 per First Class Seat
Premium First Class Tickets (All dates) : $130.00 per Seat – Only available at 2:30pm, 4:30pm & 6:30pm departures in Half Car Purchase of 16 seats
(Coach is padded bench seat / First Class is individual seat with option of purchasing beverages / Premium First Class includes swivel parlor car seating in The Great Republic, upgraded bar options, charcuterie style snack box, gift for each passenger.)
NOTE: Children under the age of 1 sitting on a parent’s lap do not require a ticket.
On Sale Dates (ONLINE ONLY, NO PHONE OR IN PERSON SALES)
Tuesday September 10 @ 9am – Full / Half / Quarter Train Car Sales ONLY (INDIVIDUAL TICKETS SALES START September 11)
16 Seat Half of Premium First Class Car Available at 2:30pm, 4:30pm, 6:30pm excursion times
18 Seat Half of First Class Car Available at 2pm, 4pm, 6pm, 8pm excursion times
20 Seat Full First Class Car Available at 2pm, 4pm, 6pm, 8pm excursion times
36 Seat Full First Class Cars Available at 2pm, 3pm, 3:30pm, 4pm, 5pm, 5:30pm, 6pm, 7pm, 7:30pm, 8pm excursion times
16 Seat Quarter of Coach Class Car Available at 2:30pm, 4:30pm, 6:30 pm excursion times
64 Seat Full Coach Class Car Available at 2pm, 2:30pm, 4pm, 4:30pm, 6pm, 6:30pm, 8pm excursion times
Wednesday September 11 @ 9am – All Remaining Tickets
(ONLINE ONLY, NO PHONE OR IN PERSON SALES)
The Salem Express! Revenge of the Sanderson Sisters
Friday and saturday september 20 & 21 at 4:45 pm & 7:15 pm (check in times).
Back by popular demand! Join us aboard the Essex Steam Train on September 20 & 21 for a one of a kind, interactive experience as we welcome the Sanderson Sisters back to Essex Station!
Winifred, Sarah, and Mary Sanderson (Summer Orlando, Miranda Mugovero, and Barbra Joan Streetsand) will entertain you with tales of witches and lore direct from Salem, while bewitching you with a performance you won’t forget, kicking off the Halloween season!
Join the magical coven before the train ride for a meet and greet, colorful photo opportunities, and maybe even some special witches brew on the patio.
Featuring Summer Orlando: New England’s #1 live singing Winifred Sanderson impersonator, as seen in Disney’s “Hocus Pocus 2!” In town for 2 days only!
Dress as your favorite character from the movie or dress to impress in your Halloween best!
This show is a parody performance by professional impersonators and not endorsed or affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.
IMAGES
COMMENTS
Steam Train & Riverboat Combination First Class Seating. $65.00. Steam Train & Riverboat Combination Caboose Seating (1st Saturday and Sunday of May - October only) $54.00. Steam Train Only Coach Seating. $29.00. Steam Train Only Caboose Seating (1st Saturday and Sunday of May - October only) $34.00. Reservations are non-refundable, but ...
The Valley Railroad Company. The Valley Railroad Company - operating the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat - has been serving the lower Connecticut River Valley since 1971. Our company's mission is to keep alive the rich mechanical, industrial, and transportation heritage of our state through the continual operation of our vintage steam and ...
About the Train. Essex Steam Train & Riverboat's 2 1/2-hour train and riverboat or 1 hour train only journeys begins at the historic 1892 Essex Station for a 12-mile, narrated round-trip into the heart of the unspoiled Connecticut River Valley. The steam locomotive pulls vintage coaches through the quintessential New England towns of Deep ...
Contact. (860) 767-0103, (800) 377-3987. email. visit website. Timeless. Beautiful. Captivating. This year, step back in time to historic 1892 Essex Station and embark on an unforgettable 2.5-hour journey into the heart of the unspoiled Connecticut River Valley. A steam locomotive pulls vintage coaches on a narrated round-trip through the ...
The Essex Steam Train and Riverboat offer train rides hauled by either steam locomotive 2-8-2 No. 40, which dates from 1920; 2-8-0 No. 97, built in 1926; or the far newer Chinese-built 2-8-2 No. 3025, while the Becky Thatcher, a replica of a three-deck Mississippi-style riverboat, handles the water excursion. A number of seasonal events and ...
Essex Steam Train & Riverboat adventure is perfect for large groups - a beautiful train ride to the docks of the Becky Thatcher riverboat to a relaxing cruise on the Connecticut River and a return train ride back to Essex Station (2.5 hours total time). 2023 Schedule. May 13 - June 18: Saturday & Sundays AND Monday May 29
Our season begins with everyone's favorite tank engine at A Day Out with Thomas™ in late April and early May, and wraps up with the popular North Pole Express trains in November and December. For more information on these and other offerings, visit essexsteamtrain.com or call 800-377-3987. Attractions | Restaurants and Specialty Foods.
Jul 2019. The ride on the Essex Steam train and Becky Thatcher Riverboat is something that you will look back on for the rest of time. The whole trip takes about 2.5 hours in total. From the departure at the train station, the transfer to and from the riverboat and the arrival at the train station. The steam train offers a variety of tickets ...
2023 Special Excursions. Sort by. Sold Out. New Year's Eve Murder Mystery Dinner, Sunday December 31, 2023 @ 6:30 pm -12:30 am. 28900. Quick Links. essexsteamtrain.com. Get In Touch. The Valley Railroad Company One Railroad Avenue P.O. Box 452 Essex, CT 06426 Phone: (860) 767-0103 | (800) 377-3987 FAX: (860) 767-0104 Email: info ...
By train and by river. Sep 2020 • Family. Essex offers the best of both worlds a train ride along and boat ride on the Connecticut River. We started with a fun ride on the train with a live narration of the trains history and then we climbed aboard the riverboat that was also narrated whimsically with history.
Oct 2023 • Couples. Beautiful day - unseasonably warm. Thoroughly enjoyed the train and river tour. ... Appreciated a nice day aboard the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat - Saturday before July 4th weekend. Wonderful customer service from the staff. There is a gift shop (pricy) and picnic table at Essex Station if you want to bring a lunch or ...
Review of Essex Steam Train & Riverboat. Reviewed October 26, 2023 via mobile. Beautiful day - unseasonably warm. Thoroughly enjoyed the train and river tour. The narrators were informative and amusing. Full trip but did not feel crowded. The non-first class option was comfortable and you could see fine.
Essex Steam Train & Riverboat's 2 1/2-hour journey begins at the historic 1892 Essex Station for a 12-mile, narrated round-trip into the heart of the unspoiled Connecticut River Valley. The steam locomotive pulls vintage coaches through the quintessential New England towns of Deep River and Chester. $29.00 - $65.00. Sat 31. August 31 @ 7:00 ...
Essex Steam Train & Riverboat. Take one or both tours in combination for a delightful sightseeing excursion through some of the most scenic areas of Connecticut: scenic train ride in restored railroad cars pulled by a coal-fired locomotive and a ride up the Connecticut River by riverboat. Suggest edits to improve what we show.
The Valley Railroad Company One Railroad Avenue P.O. Box 452 Essex, CT 06426 Phone: (860) 767-0103 | (800) 377-3987 FAX: (860) 767-0104 Email: [email protected] Twitter Facebook
Specialties: The Essex Steam Train & Riverboat is a nostalgic and exciting tourist destination operating live steam trains in the Connecticut River Valley since 1971. Our regular operating season is May through October. In addition to our venerable Steam Train & Riverboat excursion, we operate a Dinner Train (weekends), and special events such as Day Out with Thomas, Your Hand on the Throttle ...
2024 Ticket Prices. Tuesday -Thursday: $60.00 per Coach Seat / $90.00 per First Class Seat. Friday - Sunday & Monday December 23: $70.00 per Coach Seat / $100.00 per First Class Seat. Premium First Class Tickets (All dates): $130.00 per Seat - Only available at 2:30pm, 4:30pm & 6:30pm departures in Half Car Purchase of 16 seats.
Welcome back to the new normal at the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat #safesummerfun #essexsteamtrain #steamengine #riverboat #ctvisit...
The Salem Express Revenge of the Sanderson Sisters! September 20 & 21, 2024. Back by popular demand! Join us aboard the Essex Steam Train on September 20 & 21 for a one of a kind, interactive experience as we welcome the Sanderson Sisters back to Essex Station!Winifred, Sarah, and Mary Sanderson (Summer Orlando, Miranda Mugovero, and Barbra Joan Streetsand) will entertain you with tales of ...
The Essex Steam Train & Riverboat made tickets available for the festive holiday excursion at 9 a.m., with only tickets for full, half and quarter cars available for purchase. Individual tickets ...
The Valley Railroad Company The Valley Railroad Company - operating the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat - has been serving the lower Connecticut River Valley since 1971. Our company's mission is to keep alive the rich mechanical, industrial, and transportation heritage of our state through the continual operation of our vintage steam and diesel locomotives and passenger coaches,
North Pole Express 2019 On Sale Dates: Tuesday September 10 Full Car Sales by PHONE ONLY 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. First Class has 20/32/36 seat cars available Coach Class has 64 seats per car Wednesday September 11 Remaining First Class Individual Tickets Online Only beginning at
Welcome to Essex Steam Train. 2024 Operating Dates. Thursday - Sunday: November 14 -November 24 Friday-Sunday: November 29 - December 1 Tuesday - Sunday: December 3 - December 22 Monday: December 23 2024 Operating Times
The Salem Express! Revenge of the Sanderson Sisters Friday and Saturday September 20 & 21 at 4:45 pm & 7:15 pm (Check in Times) Back by popular demand! Join us aboard the Essex Steam Train on September 20 & 21 for a one of a kind, interactive experience as we welcome the Sanderson