charlie russell chew choo dinner train

We did the Polar Express train and it was fantastic! They kept the kids busy so they didn't get bored. We sang Christmas carols, wrote letters to Santa, ate cookies and drank hot chocolate, the train was even "flying" and the elves read a book to the kiddos too. Then we arrive at the "North Pole" for main event and Santa comes out like a movie star! It was really fun and we will probably do it again! Worth every penny to see how excited and happy the kids were. It was kinda long,a little more than 2 hours and so if you do the 7:30 train it makes for a late bed time.

The prime rib dinner was generous and tasty. Surprisingly, everything was served hot and appealing, right down to the steaming-hot coffee with the yummy dessert. Food/beverage servers are congenial and efficient. Fun entertainment. On the downside, more bathrooms are definitely needed!

A little long but lots of scenery. The dinner is excellent and drinks are good. Hide your stash because you might get robbed by bandits. But it is a good experience.

We took the dinner train and had a great meal, great service and some fun entertainment. Good for a family experience. The high trestles are worth the trip.

For $25 per person and the remote location, the value is marginal. Fun for the kids and the crew in our car was very joyful and attentive. Their service made it fun for the kids. It was -22 degrees F outside so the trains were not as warm as hoped, but come prepared. I wouldn't do it again, but the we had a good experience.

The Chamber of Commerce run's several train trips during the year of which you will enjoy any of them you choose to take. If there are any tickets left for the Polar Express I would call now and get tickets. This is a great one to take your kids or grand-kids on before Christmas. Our grand-kids really enjoyed the trip!

It is a 30 to 40 min drive out of Lewistown to get to the destination - they gave us a map but, of course, we got lost. So the directions are not totally Bomb Proof. We did stop and ask directions from a very friendly farmer as he was entering a local watering hole who showed us where we took a wrong turn (or more accurately failed to make a turn) and we made it in plenty of time. The tickets we paid for were the VIP tickets and we were under the assumption there was a seperate car designated for VIP passengers - we were wrong. We were also suppose to get, as part of the VIP package a t-shirt and other extra items which was to include a disposable camera for each ticket holder - none of us got one. Which didn't really matter because we all brought our own cameras. THIS WAS THE ONLY COMPLAINT . Once we boarded (advanced boarding was also a perk of the VIP pkg) and settled in we were whisked away over old time wooden trestles, tunnels long (but not to long) and dark and some of the most wonderful scenery around. We witnessed a glorious sunset on the range as well as the deer and the antelope playing - ok no antelope but a whole pot load of bounding mule deer and birds of all kinds. The meal served was passable - prime rib, potatoes, roll and dessert. The staff were all absolutely fabulous and answered all questions - even the dumb ones (questions that is). The train was chased and robbed, and we watched as they battled among themselves over the loot which included several shootings and a hanging. Above all there was laughter, song by a local musician and literal dancing in the aisles by who ever was moved. It was a great time and I would definitely recommend it.

Lots of fun! The prime rib was very good. All staff and actors are very friendly and fun. In order to get there you will be traveling at least 6 miles of gravel road. Show was lots of fun.

My husband surprised me with this wonderful experience for our anniversary. I had never ridden on a train before so I was beyond myself with excitement. He paid for the VIP service which included special attentioin from the ladies of the evening and the train robbers. The robbers took all of my jewlery, my husbands watch and rings along with a few dollars and the fake money that was included in the Package.The robbers ride the horses along the railline, shooting and whooping the train stops at the town where the robbery takes place. There is an old fashioned shoot out everyone gets in on the action the ladies of the evening along with the robbers. Finally justice is served and a proper hanging ensues. After the robbery there is a signing cowboy along for the ride who seranades you back to Lewistown.You eat dinner on the way to the turn around after dinner the entertainment starts. The prime rib dinner is very good eating it on the train made it taste even better.You cross several tressles, one of the tressles you cross was used in the movie "Broken Arrow" Yes it is pricey but it is a once in a life time event that you will always remember.Oh yeah about the missing jewlery, it was all returned before we arrived back to Lewistown, the robbers came back on board and returned it all nothing was missing. We let them keep the real money as a tip well worth the amount they robbed. All in all it was a very memorable anniversary.

Interesting ride on this old train. Partly dirt road to get there from Lewistown. Lots of nice scenery on this slow ride. Dinner was very good, as was the service. Delays, especially at the turn-around back to Lewsitown. Perhaps that was because of a wedding on the train. They do a good job with the passengers. Expect some sideways rolling and a relatively slow ride, which is good for photos. Spoiler alert: Do not read further. The train robbery was very good for about 5 minutes, but in my opinion, it dragged on for another 15 minutes.

We have wanted to do this for years. Some friends were going so we did it with them & it was a great time. It's a nice three & a half hour ride with some music, a train robbery complete with shootings & a hanging. Very entertaining indeed. They also serve a good prime rib dinner, although it would have been nice to choose how you like it cooked. The flavor was good but redder would have been better. It was a nice evening & I encourage everyone to try it at least once.

We had a wonderful experience on the Polar Express or North Pole train! The "elves" were very engaged with the children and attentive to them the entire trip. In fact, the 3 year old with us admitted she kind of liked the elves as much or more than Santa! It was pretty thrilling to first, see the train itself sitting out there in the middle of nowhere but lit inside and out with Christmas lights! Then, as we slowly moved along the tracks, it was again thrilling to see the lights of the "North Pole" and Santa himself walking out of one of the buildings! He visited with each child on the train, calling them by name, and recognizing each individual. We sang songs, read books, drank hot chocolate and ate cookies- just like in the book. The joy and excitement in the children's eyes- some in pajamas and some in their best Christmas clothes- was priceless. Can't wait to do it again-

Amazing ride, it has been a long time, and the route has changed a bit. there was a flood that MOVED one of the bridges, but there is a train robbery (not real) beautiful scenery, and good food/

This is for the Polar Bear Express, which is done on the same train, during the start of the Christmas Season. We drove 40 min.,from Lewistown, some of it on dirt and gravel roads. We were asked to be there 30 min. early, before boarding. We stood in the line, with our daughters young family, this being a surprise for them, both children under 4 years old. It went downhill from here. We had to sit at two tables back to back, which were set up so the chairs were at the window posts, not good for looking out. After 20 min. The kids got brought coloring crayons and a little book that had pictures to color and a letter to get ready for Santa. We finally started moving after being there for one hour and 15 min. We went a very short distance to a light decorated set, where Santa came walking down a path and for the next 15 min. walked out side of the train waving to people on the inside, of which we could see him only a short period of that time. Then we sat for another 15 min. without the train moving, no entertainment, but the coloring book. Finally our car sees Santa and he is talking to each child and Mrs. Santa is giving out the memorabilia coin. Finally the train starts moving again as Santa works his way down the rest of the cars. We are brought a package of two cookies and a styrofoam cup of hot chocolate. We go another short distance and the train stops to reverse the engine, because we are now going to reverse our ride. It is dark, there is nothing going on inside the train to entertain the kids, they cannot move around, it is dark outside, so nothing to see there either. About 10 min. before we are done with this ordeal one of the young high school kids, who have been handing out the drinks and cookies, asks if we want to sing carols. There is a a book of carols on the table, but the young man is too insecure to start the songs, so we helped him out. So, there was no reading of Christmas Stories or any other attempt made to entertain the children, other than the short 1 min. conversation with the Santa and a sticker that they put up on a chart that said "Nice". Santa did not take the letters the kids and parents had worked on.For our $25.00 a person, hotel room(because we came from Billings to do this) this was the worst excuse for a Christmas family Fun Experience I have had in my 62 years of Christmas'.

The train ride itself was nothing muchThe food and show were goodlThe price at $90.00 was too high/