One very popular excursion. Just 4 minutes after departure from Essex Depot, the Valley Railroad's 2:30 PM Santa Special has cleared the yard limit and begins to accelerate to track speed on her run to North Chester. In this view, her Engineer whistles for the unguarded crossing at Old Deep River Road in the borough of Centerbrook, Connecticut.
In addition to its popular, nighttime North Pole Express Trains, the Valley Railroad also offers a more modestly priced daytime excursion on the weekends, with a somewhat shorter run and less elaborate on-board entertainment. These trains still provide the younger patrons with an opportunity to visit with Santa Claus and have become very popular. What started a few years ago as just two daily departures has expanded to three, and in 2016, a total of five, to accommodate the strong demand. Both trainsets now participate in the daytime operations as well as the night runs. The Christmas Train phenomenon hardly appears to be a flash in the pan for the Valley Railroad. Rather, it appears as if families from as far away as Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York are making an annual visit to Essex a family tradition.
