When you think about it, it's a train ride. With that in mind, we recently went with the grandkids on the Easter ride. The train itself is a bit of a step back in time. In this day of fast flights and cramped travel, it was interesting to step back to a time where travel was slower and more spacious. People travelled up stairs in comfortable seats, their luggage was downstairs. Each seat had an ashtray ... if you even know what that is. The car showed its age. They even commented that the cars don't run in the summer for fear the A/C will go out. As for the staff, they try hard to deliver but more could be done with the story line. In the end, if you temper your expectations, the experience is worth the money. Ciao read more

We've participated in the holiday Santa train ride the past two years. It's a 75 minute ride (out and back) featuring Santa, hot cocoa, cookies, letter writing and festive elves. The online ticket purchasing can be a little confusing but we always seem to figure it out eventually. Nickel Plate offers a variety of family-friendly and adults only (cocktail themed, etc.) train rides. It makes for a really nostalgic and cozy experience - the train heads north to the Morse Reservoir area with deer sightings along the way. Tip - go to the bathroom at the train station before you head out. The bathroom on the train is quite old and small (aka tough with kiddos). Parking at the train station is a breeze and the park features a train themed playscape to pass the time until your ride is ready to board. Overall, a fun experience. read more

Some friends and I participated in the Ho Ho Homicide Express train ride. We had a lot of fun dressing up in character (you can choose a non-speaking role if acting/participating is not your jam). It was more expensive if you chose not to participate. Everyone was very friendly including the server. Some notes as well: you do need to climb up a narrow staircase to get to the top level of the train. There are handrails to climb up and down the train. There is a gluten-free option for anyone who may be gluten free. I didn't take a photo, but it was zoodles while everyone else had lasagna. There is also a bathroom, but it is very small and had to ask where it was. One door was marked toilet but it was a closet. The train was decorated festive and it was nice to look out the window while the train was moving. The event was well organized and fun. The food was decent as well. We also got a little dessert treat at the end, a little chocolate something but they did not offer a gluten free option for dessert. read more

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Boring experience for an insane price. If you're looking for views of piles of trash & unkept neighborhoods then you've found the right place. No hate to the business, everyone's gotta make money but let me do you a favor & tell you to save your money. Don't expect to get waited on or any service at all. I have never been robbed until today. read more

The Western train ride was fantastic to me for my birthday. Every moment of the ride was exciting to say the lease. Thank you for a wonderful and fulfillment amazing day. read more

Did the Bourbon & Chocolate train ride. The train ride was amazing. First time riding on one. The Bourbon and chocolate was a little underwhelming. Bourbon samples were too few and too small, and there should have been a larger selection of chocolates. read more

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We had a ladies trip on the bourbon tasting train ride! It was our first time aboard nickel plate express for all of us. We ordered meatloaf and ribs to eat, the entree came with a side of cole slaw, bake beans jalapeño corn bread and bourbon bread pudding. The meatloaf was not tasty at all, but they offered us to exchange our meatloaf for the ribs. The ribs were absolutely delicious! The ribs were full of meat and flavor. The bread pudding could have used a drizzle of caramel atop to make it pretty. It was good. The staff was friendly, professional, and entertaining aboard the train. I definitely recommend going aboard the nickel plate train for an adventure. Wear warm clothes aboard the train, it is an old train, so the heating is not the best. read more

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I must be a sucker for the glory of train days because I love to take these excursions knowing there is nothing to see out the window, but the sound and feel of the rails draws me back. Signed up for the superhero express ride today. We're greeted by Spider-Man, cat woman and an unknown leather clad very cordial "superhero" at the newly upgraded Hobbs station- can you say stimulus dollars!! After getting their capes and masks and learning some superhero moves, we boarded the train for an hour ride where you received a beverage and a cake pop and a scavenger hunt list plus another visit from the superhero team. Fun time !! read more

Nickel Plate Express - De boarding farewell - Trains Near Me - Arcadia, Indiana

We did the Fall Foliage trip. So much fun! Apple cider donuts with apple cider drinks. The trip was a good length of time and the trees lining the RR tracks were beautiful! read more

Pumpkin Express - no stars My family and I experienced your Pumpkin Express train and "pumpkin patch" Sunday, October 3rd. I chose the Duke Energy car with reserved seating as I was under the impression it was to have a bar (food) as stated in the seat selection. Upon boarding, someone informed me that there was no food to be served, and we could enjoy some complimentary pretzels and candy on the way back. Here is the description of what your event was supposed to be: "Hop aboard the train in Noblesville! Take a 20-minute ride down the tracks to the Cicero pumpkin patch and enjoy fall games! Families can enjoy hayrides, straw maze, obstacle course, face painting, and more. Pumpkins are available for purchase at the patch. After spending 45 minutes at the patch, the train will take you back to Noblesville!" Fall Games: there was one cornhole set and one lawn bowling set Hayrides: This was a truck that drove in a circle around the parking lot Straw maze: was short and made for toddlers, and relatively small. Perhaps 12x12? Obstacle course: none to be found Face painting: none More: again, none Pumpkin patch: now, this was NOT a pumpkin patch. About 30 pumpkins were sitting out in a random field when you deboarded the train. A lady was applying temporary Halloween tattoos and using the same towel for everyone. We are living in a time of covid. Even if we weren't, that is just plain gross. Pumpkin Express is a total scam, catfish experience at best. People complained all around as there was nothing to do. We wanted to leave but had to endure 45 minutes of standing in a grass patch, waiting for the 45 mins to pass. I considered taking an Uber back to the original destination. I paid $130 for this train ride. I bought this experience for my daughter and friend to enjoy, and what a disappointment. I would like to request a refund. Pumpkin Express is not the experience advertised. read more

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What a great addition to northern Hamilton County! The Nickel Plate Express operates excursions on 12 miles of track in Atlanta and Arcadia, passing over Morse Reservoir. These are historic and rare 1950s Santa Fe trains, meaning they are almost like double decker buses. Guests step up onto the train with the help of a step stool and climb a set of stairs to reach the main seating areas. This is family-friendly adventure with fun upcoming excursions like the Pumpkin Express, Ghost Express and Reindeer Ride. They also have beer and wine train excursions for the adults, and hope to have a full dinner service in the dining car in 2019. It's lovely to travel down the train track and see the beauty of rural Indiana. Especially pretty in the fall! read more

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I purchased the VIP package for their Reindeer ride. It was a fun experience. The VIP car basically has tables which I did prefer. They did some caroling in our car and offered cookies from Taylor's bakery, yum! The ride was a bit anticlimatic as there was no big finish like the Polar Express ride we went on where Santa gets on the train and gives every child a bell. I also wish we got on the ride in Fishers instead of Atlanta. I would go again, I think they could step the entertainment up a bit or even just play a Christmas movie or some Christmas music in the cars. read more

Nickel Plate Express - Trains Near Me - Arcadia, Indiana

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Overall a nice trip worthy of the nostalgia of riding a 1955 train on a rainy Autumn Evening. The food was just so so, but the expectations are for a great date night out. read more

Nickel Plate Express - Nickel Plate Express Train - Trains Near Me - Arcadia, Indiana

We visited the Nickel Plate Express for the Wizard Train Ride and they did not disappoint!! The actors and staff were fantastic, they were very entertaining and kind. The butter beer was very good, only complaint would be more drink options and maybe themed decorations. The decorations were Halloween, but not really Harry Potter. Absolutely worth the money and something we want to do every year. read more

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Cute little up and back train ride. Not very long and it's clearly geared towards the smaller rail fans. Nice to see them updating their station and property. A history behind the engines and the rolling stock would of been nice to hear or read. Not a lot of information available to read about sadly. Hopefully something soon to come. read more

I was excited to go on the 90 minute Nickle Plate Ales and Rails Express: Field Brewing sponsored excursion for those over 21. Boarding is located at Dolles Park in Atlanta, Indiana across from the playground (105 E. Main Street). Parking is plentiful across from the tracks or on the street. Use the restrooms by the playground before boarding as the train doesn't have restrooms. Nickle Plate Express began offering excursions in September '18. They are currently offering wine, beer and holiday excursions. They are excited to offer new excursions in 2019 and currently finalizing the details. The 12 miles of track departs Atlanta and travels to Cicero then returns. The scenery is rural and you'll cross the Morse Reservoir. We weren't looking for excitement or scenery but relaxation which is exactly what we found. The vintage trains have regular seat cars and dining cars. You need to use the portable step to enter the bi-level rail car and then climb a small, narrow, steep flight of stairs to get inside the club cars. We purchased tickets for the dining car and would go that way again. It was nice having a table for our beverages and popcorn but especially with the light amount of rocking motion. Live music was playing in another car but we couldn't hear it. The performer said they are currently researching piping the audio throughout the train. I was just as happy not hearing loud music during our trip. The Nickle Plate staff was welcoming and extremely friendly on and off the train. They went out of their way to accommodate everyone's needs, questions and requests. Excellent customer service from beginning to end. Soda was available and complimentary Just Pop In cheese/caramel popcorn and water was distributed to all. Field Brewery, located on US 31, or Main Street, in Westfield, was the beer vendor/sponsor. Included in the ticket price were 3 IPA beer samples of Second Shift, Lollygagger and Centerfield. The owner of Field Brewery gave us an informative overview of his brewpub and the three beers offered on the excursion. After the samples you could purchase a pint of your choice for $7. (Cash or card accepted). Centerfield was my husband's favorite. His team was knowledgeable, personable and friendly. My husband loves trains and the slow moving, calming ale excursion was perfect after the busy holiday schedule. I look forward to seeing the new 2019 schedule. read more

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Horrible experience! unpleasant in almost every way. Pretentious at best and not worth the price of admission. Food was inedible and disgusting, service was worse. Do yourself a favor and catch a better train to something more palatable. There are amazing train rides out there and this is not one. read more

Roaring 20's Murder Mystery Train was the perfect unique B-Day gift for my sister. The full train dressed the part & the cast had our attention from the ticket collection desk, to the printed newspaper, period drinks & spot on music. The interactive dancing & celebration time helped everyone feel included & special! Appreciate all those (including weather forecaster Paul) who helped keep this piece of magical history alive! read more

Since it doesn't go south to Fishers anymore, it really isn't the same and it feels like a shell of what it once was

Went to the Ghost Express that is set up for Halloween. We paid a lot of money to go with another couple on this train ride. They put you on an old passenger train that has some fake spider webs stretched over the windows and some high school kids dressed in robes to walk up and down the aisles. They take you, I'm guessing approx ten miles south riding in the dark. At the furthest point they stop the train and some woman poorly attempts to tell a ghost story that is so complex people were laughing at her getting so tongue tied and her poor story telling ability. When that 15 minutes was done they let you ride backwards back to the Atlanta station as the high school kids passed out Halloween candy to everyone. I'm sorry but it was just awful for the money charged and not to mention the distance we drove to get there. We have never used it as a commuter train as some do as the Nickel Plate Express and I'm sure that's fine. But as a so called "ghost train" it could have been so much better so please don't waste your money. read more

Disappointed in our experience last night on the Reindeer Ride. We paid quite a bit extra for 4 "VIP" tickets, only to arrive and realize the seating was more comfortable in the regular priced train car, not to mention all of the "VIP" perks were offered to the other guests for purchase (ours was "complementary") but it still would have been more cost effective to buy a regular seat and purchase beverages vs the "VIP" section. The other train cars had carolers singing and music playing while we did not. We were able to sit with Santa prior to our train ride which was nice, but the caboose he is in is dimly lit which made pictures difficult. The ride is lackluster, not much to see. Also, an evening ride is tough as all of the other "attractions" are closed in the area. Next year we'll head back to the transportation museum's train in Kokomo. read more