Tucked into the rolling farm country of Hunterdon County, New Jersey, the Black River and Western Railroad is a living slice of American railroading. What began as a modest short line has grown into one of the Northeast’s most beloved heritage railways, blending freight service, preservation, and seasonal excursions that welcome thousands of visitors each year. At the heart of its calendar is a holiday tradition that families plan for months in advance: the Santa Express, the railroad’s signature Christmastime ride (also often marketed as the railroad’s North Pole or Holiday Express). Equal parts nostalgia and pure yuletide fun, it’s the kind of experience that turns a simple train trip into a cherished memory.
A Brief Look at the Railroad’s Roots
The Black River and Western Railroad (BR&W) dates back to the early 1960s, when rail enthusiasts and preservation-minded operators stepped in to keep alive a former section of the Pennsylvania Railroad’s Flemington Branch.
From its base around Ringoes and Flemington, BR&W stitched together a compact network that served two missions: providing practical freight connections for area businesses and offering the public a chance to ride vintage equipment through pastoral New Jersey scenery.
Over the decades, BR&W became known for carefully restored coaches and locomotives, including its celebrity steam engine, No. 60, a 2-8-0 “Consolidation” built in 1937 by the American Locomotive Company for the Great Western Railway of Colorado…