saratoga and north creek railway

Take a ride on the north creek train up north .You will love the ride if you like trains. Catch the train at saratoga at the Amtrak station you pick up your tickets right in the train station once. Be sure to bring your camera you can stand between the cars it is safe film or take photographs as you go up north along the Hudson River it is a relaxing ride the train will stop at North Creek New York look around it is a old town from the logging days you could also get something to eat on the upper dome car but the price for that is a little more for the train ride so if you're at in de Saratoga area and you want to spend a day for a couple of hours this is a great way to spend some time with family and friends and the one you love

We purchased the most expensive tickets and the train broke down not half way to the North Pole. We sat for a very long time not moving, windows steamed. After 90 minutes we made it back to the station. When we got off of the train we were told by a representative we would get a full refund or we could re-book for this year. We could not find a time to re-book so we asked for a refund. We were informed that there would only be a partial refund because we left the station, ridiculous! We will never ride the train again and would never recommend it to anyone else.

The train broke down ten minutes after boarding, and then after approximately one hour of sitting there we returned to the station.Reps based in Colorado refused to give a full refund, customer Sevice was Nil and only wanted to give a fifty percent refund,very rude supervisors! Skip it not worth the money or aggravation.

I couldn't complain about one thing it was an amazing experience my family ( adults & children ) had a great time! The staff was absolutely happy & joyful, friendly & out going. We sat Diamond class- so worth it!!! It's an experience we plan on continuing to do every year! We drove 189 miles & it was worth it!! Til next time! All aboard!

what a great experience personal attention staff could not have been friendlier! Only drawback was it only lasted for one hour perhaps hour and half would be better just seemed like snap of finger and al over. Also bit pricy for what was offered. But again I will say my son loved it so did I and would probably go back again just a long drive to get there but stayed at inn at Saratoga another great experience. Another issue was the windows kept fogging up needed to wipe clean constantly which was a pain .

Me my husband and my 8 and 2 year old paid the full price for the best seating and veiwing of the "north pole" unfortunatley a noreaster hit and there was very little to be seen, the windows were wet and foggy so we got soaked trying to wipe them off so we could even see a little, we had the other aisle of people hovering over us just so they could try to catch a glimpse. I'm guessing they paid the same amount and got much less of a visual. I for one am glad the hot chocolate was not piping hot as my 2 year old spilled hers all down the front of her after the first sip, (i should have known). The workers were very happy and energetic on our car and were very helpful when my 2 year old had her accident. We also had hobo joe who was very entertaining for filling in time that was blank waiting for santa to board. Santa while friendly was barely visible under his huge fake beard. my neice and her children went the night before and they had a much better looking santa with a real beard and paid a lesser price. The car itself for the price i paid was dark and chilly, but was decorated nicely my kids complained they were cold the entire time but got through it. The car we were in was pretty empty not sure if it was because of the weather or the other factors but it was fun for a one time thing. The price in my opinion was steep, the ride itself on the train could have been cut in half. It's pitch dark out so there is nothing to be seen outside the only reason you even know the train is going anywhere is the slight rocking sensation. We did each recieve a special mug and a bell (even me and my husband) and we also got a fabric bag. The caroling was fun and the workers invited my 8 year old to dance in the aisle which she enjoyed. When all was said and done my 2 year old was crying for me to leave her on the train so i guess she had a fun time, and my 8 year old said she had fun also so mission accomplished. Would I ever do this again? Probably not.

My daughter booked this again, after a ride last year, and asked if we wanted to come along. It was so much fun for the children and we were delighted watching their excitement (although it was a second adventure for them). Reading some of the reviews, I question the reviewers: lukewarm cocoa (would you really want piping hot coffee while sitting on a train with children), a make believe village (not through the eyes of a small child), a fake Santa (not ours, the beard was authentic and he was jolly). I guess if you look at everything through the eyes of an adult, you would be skeptical of everything, but if you become like a small child, and see the wonder all around you, and sing the carols, and ring your shiny silver bell and BELIEVE, it is a magical adventure.

My grandchildren and I took the Polar Express ride on the North Creek RR in Saratoga this weekend. It was a delightful - although pricey. There was some sound issues in the beginning of the ride with the recording being played, but that was quickly straightened out. Overall I have been on this ride twice now and had the chance to compare it to another Polar Express in another state. This one is organized, and follows the story which is played over the speaker system. The whole trip is about an hour, including the time on the train, waiting for the ride to begin, and disembarking. The train moves slowly in the dark, for about 10 min, before the arrival at the North Pole, which can only be seen thru the windows, or a small illuminated village, elves waving at the passengers. After the passing of the village, the train returns back to the station. Overall, a great memory for us all

Scenic and comfortable ride to North Creek on the last day of the train's season - with a layover long enough for a fun lunch and a little exploring in the town before returning to Saratoga Springs

If you love train rides and can spend hours looking at beautiful scenery this is for you. If you get bored with scenery, you might want to reconsider. The trip starts out running through woodsy areas in the Saratoga/Corinth area and eventually runs into the Hudson river with the highlight view-wise when it crosses high above the Hudson, with everyone oohing and ahhing (even my mom who is NOT a scenery lover). We started out in the regular car but upgraded to the Dome Car partly because it was warmer and also for the views. The Dome Cars get food service before the other cars, but the offerings were nothing to write home about and I strongly recommend bringing your own, which many people did. North Creek is very cute, not a lot going on but one really amazing store with all kinds of adirondack goods from clothing to furniture, pet accessories, all kinds of gifts. Ate at Trappers which was average bar food but nice atmosphere. Many people eat there, so be prepared to wait or consider getting the shuttle somewhere else and shopping afterward (you have about 3 hours). The trip back was long because we were moved to the back of the dome and there was a large group of rowdy and somewhat intoxicated individuals who were seemingly unaware of how unpleasant they were making it for the rest of us. I think that was just dumb luck though, the waitress said the other dome car was very quiet. Waitress and conductors extremely nice and worked hard to make sure everything went well and people were taken care of. Hope you find this helpful!

Pull out of Saratoga. Only to go back a few minutes later. No communication to tell us what was going on. Departed Saratoga again. Speculation ranged from couldn't get enough traction on the leaf covered tracks to the brakes were locking up. With the amount of climbing under the train we saw, I am banking on mechanical issues being at least part of the reason. SNCRR apologizes for the delays caused by rain and leaves. If that truly is the reason for the delay, it sounds to me like it wasn't safe to have us on those tracks period! I would love to know why we were brought back to Saratoga and then departed again. Toilets not working on the train or at North Creek Station. Were those problems also caused by rain and leaves? Rude and unhelpful employees...also caused by rain and leaves? No climate control on the train...also caused by rain and leaves? If the rain and leaves really were that much of an issue, I hate to see what snow and ice do. It looks to me like when you ride this train, you either have a spectacular time or wish you had spent your money elsewhere. Reviews going way back complain of the same things. That indicates to me a company unwilling and/or unable to get it together. Not worth the risk to me. I can't afford another $120 donation to this company.

Took train today to North Creek. It had been raining, and track was very slippery, causing train to travel extremely slow, and having to return to station. This put the train 2 hours late to arrive in North Creek. Only had an hour and 15 min. to eat something, look around town. Were told to be back at station by 3:15 pm, to try to leave as scheduled at 3:45. What a joke that was, the passengers had to stand around for over an hour and thirty minutes, that could have been spent looking at stores in town. Very poor planning, and execution of the whole day. Arrived back in Saratoga an hour behind schedule, very disappointed with the whole trip,. Would not recommend it at all. Sorry...

Took 4 hrs and 20 min to get there. Once we were there we were told 90 minutes to do all the activities, see north creek, shop, buffet lunch. (Yeah that wasn't enough time and my kids got the short end of the stick).Save your money we got ripped off. Very disappointed.

Outstanding ride, great service and the outstanding meals on board are easy on the budget. A super trip back to the days of train travel. Views along the Hudson were wonderful. Suggest the dome car for a better ride and viewing. Train crew were all super friendly and eager to discuss the SNC story. R. PutnamAdams, MA

The Northeast is known for breathtaking foliage and striking color changes as the season transitions to fall. We had heard about the heritage Saratoga and North Creek Railway and thought it would be a unique way to enjoy the scenery of the upper Hudson River region of the Adirondacks. The train leaves from the Saratoga Springs train station daily at 10:00 am taking approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes to arrive in North Creek. Tickets for the upper dome cars are a little more expensive but we enjoyed the unobstructed views (request seats on the east side of the train car) of the mighty Hudson all along the ride north. The table service was courteous and attentive and the menu was very reasonable with unlimited refills of coffee and/or soft drinks. We had breakfast on the ride up and dinner on our return. We had three hours to spend in North Creek before boarding the train for the return trip. It's a small town with some charming shops and local eateries. There is also the interesting North Creek Depot Museum, designated as the Theodore Roosevelt Historic Site. We learned that North Creek station is where Theodore Roosevelt learned he was to become president of the United States of America after President William McKinley was assassinated in 1901. The railroad mainly served the garnet mining and tanning industries in North Creek as well as bringing summer visitors to the mountains. In winters, ski trains ran to the station from 1934 until the outbreak of World War II. In fact, North Creek survived the Great Depression due in part to the ski trains that ran from Schenectady and New York City. Skiers flocked to North Creek and to the first downhill ski center in New York State, which was constructed at the Ski Bowl on the slopes of Gore Mountain. The 1940′s brought the outbreak of World War II and the end of the short-lived ski trains. Interesting local history is well documented in the museum.There is a free shuttle that takes people to Gore Mountain from North Creek. One can ride the gondola up for some amazing views of the colorful fall foliage.