Pullen Park Train in Raleigh, North Carolina
Outdoor rail parkTrain ridesRide hours vary by season; check the City of Raleigh's Pullen Amusements page
The Pullen Park Train is a miniature C.P. Huntington style train that loops through Raleigh's Pullen Park, the fifth-oldest operating amusement park in the United States, and in 2026 it got a new electric engine.
- Fifth-oldest U.S. amusement park
- One-third-size miniature train
- New electric engine in 2026
- Holiday Express each winter
- Accessible boarding
Pullen Park Train at a glance
- Hours
- Seasonal; check the City of Raleigh's Pullen Amusements page before you go
- Admission
- Ride tickets sold through Pullen Amusements; Holiday Express 2026 tickets are $21
- Train rides
- Miniature train loop through Pullen Park; Holiday Express train ride in winter
- Seasonal events
- Holiday Express
- Plan for
- 1 to 2 hours with other park rides
- Best for
- Toddlers, preschoolers and Raleigh families
- Best ages
- Toddlers to age 8
- Accessibility
- Accessible boarding is described for the train ride.
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Pullen Park Train? Bring Rally along.
In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Raleigh.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
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See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $13.99 on Amazon.
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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
A small train in a very old park
Pullen Park is run by the City of Raleigh, which calls it the fifth-oldest operating amusement park in the United States. Its miniature train is one of the park's classic rides, along with the carousel and pedal boats, and it has carried generations of Raleigh children on a loop through the park.
The train is a one-third-size model of the C.P. Huntington locomotive. In March 2026, the city declared the old propane-powered engine, a 2015 C.P. Huntington, surplus as a new electric train got ready to take over. Each winter the ride becomes part of Holiday Express, the city's very popular holiday festival, which includes a decorated train ride through the park and sells tickets in advance.
Around the park by rail
The ride is a relaxed loop through Pullen Park on a one-third-scale train, with accessible boarding. The city does not post the route length or ride time on the pages available, so check the Pullen Amusements page for details. The carousel and pedal boats nearby make it easy to build a full morning around the train.
Don’t miss
- The new electric trainIntroduced in 2026 to replace the propane engine, it is the newest chapter for a ride families have loved for years.
- Holiday ExpressThe city's winter festival turns the train ride into a holiday trip through the park.
A first train ride for little ones
The Pullen Park Train is a gentle, family-friendly ride well suited to toddlers and preschoolers, with accessible boarding. Pair it with the carousel and pedal boats for a classic Raleigh outing. In winter, Holiday Express is one of the area's most popular family events, so buy tickets as soon as sales open.
Plan your visit: tips for Pullen Park Train
- Buy Holiday Express tickets early; 2026 sales opened October 15.
- Buy Holiday Express tickets only from the City of Raleigh, since resale is limited.
- Check the Pullen Amusements page for the day's ride hours before you go.
- Email HolidayExpress@raleighnc.gov with event-specific questions.
Holiday Express is Raleigh's annual winter festival at Pullen Park, centered on a holiday train ride through the park. Tickets for 2026 went on sale October 15 at $21, and the city warns that resale is limited, so buy only through official channels. For more holiday trains around the state, see our list of Christmas train rides in North Carolina.
A City of Raleigh tradition
The Pullen Park Train is operated by the City of Raleigh Parks and Recreation as part of Pullen Amusements. The best way to support it is simple: ride, bring the grandparents, and come back for Holiday Express. Questions about the holiday event go to the city's Holiday Express email.
Bigger trains nearby
For a longer, full-size train ride, the New Hope Valley Railway is about 20 miles away in Bonsal. Selma Historic Union Station, about 26 miles east, has rail exhibits and real Amtrak trains. Find more in our North Carolina train museum guide.
- New Hope Valley Railway / North Carolina Railway MuseumBonsal, NC · about 20 mi
- Selma Historic Union StationSelma, NC · about 26 mi
- Hamlet Depot & MuseumsHamlet, NC · about 86 mi
- North Carolina Transportation MuseumSpencer, NC · about 101 mi
- Wilmington Railroad MuseumWilmington, NC · about 113 mi
- Buckingham Branch Railroad historic excursion operationsVirginia, VA · about 123 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
A small train looping through a city park is just the right size for a first ride, and I can imagine the squeals when it rolls out from under the trees into the sun. That is how the tunnel feels in our book: a moment of dark, then a big bright light and happy cheers. My kids still cheer at that page. For more first-ride stories, see our train books for toddlers.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.
Get the free coloring pages
A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)More for train families
- Train museums in North Carolina: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in North Carolina
- Halloween train rides in North Carolina
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Pullen Park Train?
We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.
Sources
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Pullen Park Train: 20 questions Raleigh families ask
What is the Pullen Park Train?
The Pullen Park Train is a miniature train ride in Raleigh's Pullen Park, a one-third-size model of the C.P. Huntington locomotive that runs on a loop through the park. It is part of Pullen Amusements, run by the City of Raleigh, alongside the carousel and pedal boats.
How much are Pullen Park Train tickets?
The City of Raleigh sells amusement ride tickets through its Pullen Park Amusements page, but current per-ride prices are not listed in what the city posts on that page summary. Check the Pullen Amusements page for today's price before you go. Holiday Express tickets for 2026 are $21.
Is Pullen Park free?
Rides at Pullen Park, including the train, require amusement tickets sold through the City of Raleigh. The city does not post a separate charge for simply visiting the park grounds on the page summary available, so check the Pullen Park Amusements page for current details before you visit.
What are the Pullen Park Train hours?
Ride hours vary by season and the city does not post a fixed schedule in its page summary. Check the City of Raleigh's Pullen Park Amusements page on the day you plan to go for current operating hours and closing time, since weather and season can change them.
Is the Pullen Park Train running today?
The best way to find out is to check the City of Raleigh's Pullen Park Amusements page the morning of your visit, since rides can close for weather, maintenance or seasonal schedules. During Holiday Express, the train runs for ticketed festival guests.
When does the Pullen Park Train open for the season?
The city does not post the season opening date in the page summary available. Opening dates and hours appear on the Pullen Park Amusements page, so check there in early spring, or watch City of Raleigh announcements.
How long is the Pullen Park Train ride?
The train makes a loop through Pullen Park, but the city does not post the exact ride length or duration in its page summary. Riders describe it as a relaxed, family-friendly ride. Check the Pullen Amusements page or ask at the ticket booth for the current ride time.
What is Holiday Express at Pullen Park?
Holiday Express is Raleigh's popular annual winter festival at Pullen Park, centered on a holiday train ride. For 2026, tickets went on sale October 15 at $21. The city limits resale, so buy only through official City of Raleigh channels and be cautious of third-party sellers.
How do I get Pullen Park Christmas train tickets?
Buy Holiday Express tickets through the City of Raleigh. For 2026, sales opened October 15 and tickets cost $21. Because demand is high and resale is limited by state certification, avoid third-party sellers. Send event questions to HolidayExpress@raleighnc.gov.
How long is the Pullen Park Holiday Express train ride?
The city does not post the length of the Holiday Express train ride in the summary available. The festival includes the train ride plus holiday activities at Pullen Park. Email HolidayExpress@raleighnc.gov or check the Holiday Express page for timing details.
Did Pullen Park get a new train?
Yes. A new electric train was ready to run at Pullen Park in 2026. At its March 17, 2026 meeting, the City of Raleigh declared the old propane-powered engine, a 2015 C.P. Huntington, surplus. The new train continues the park's miniature railroad tradition.
How old is Pullen Park?
The City of Raleigh describes Pullen Park as the fifth-oldest operating amusement park in the United States. Its classic rides, including the train, carousel and pedal boats, have entertained Raleigh families for generations. Riding the train there connects kids to a long local tradition.
Is the Pullen Park Train good for toddlers?
Yes. It is a gentle, relaxed ride on a small-scale train, which makes it a good first train ride for toddlers and preschoolers. Combine it with the carousel and pedal boats for a short outing that fits little attention spans.
Is the Pullen Park Train wheelchair accessible?
The train ride is described as having accessible boarding. For details on specific needs, contact City of Raleigh Parks and Recreation through the Pullen Park Amusements page before your visit. If you need extra help getting on or off, ask the ride operator when you arrive.
Is there parking at Pullen Park?
The city's Pullen Park pages include a campus map, which is the best guide to parking areas. Parking can fill on busy weekends and during Holiday Express, so arrive early and check the map before you go.
What is there to do at Pullen Park besides the train?
Pullen Amusements includes several classic rides, including a historic carousel and pedal boats, along with the miniature train. The city's Pullen campus map shows where rides and facilities are, so you can plan a full morning or afternoon.
Is Pullen Park open or closed today?
Check the City of Raleigh's Pullen Park Amusements page for current status, since rides can close for weather or seasonal schedules. For Holiday Express nights, check the Holiday Express page. Rides may close even when the park grounds stay open, so confirm the train specifically.
Can you have a birthday party at Pullen Park?
The page summary available does not describe party packages. Contact City of Raleigh Parks and Recreation through the Pullen Park Amusements page to ask about group visits, shelters or party options near the train. Weekend dates tend to be the busiest.
Who runs the Pullen Park Train?
The train is run by the City of Raleigh Parks and Recreation as part of Pullen Amusements. Holiday Express questions go to HolidayExpress@raleighnc.gov, and general questions can be directed through the city's Pullen Park Amusements page.
What train rides are near the Pullen Park Train?
The New Hope Valley Railway in Bonsal, about 20 miles away, offers hour-long, full-size train rides on scheduled days. Selma Historic Union Station is about 26 miles away, and Hamlet Depot and Museums about 86 miles.
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