Rates
Choose your experience
Hire the train by the hour or sell rides by the ticket. Low deposit, delivery included across the immediate DFW area.
Package A
Train By-the-Hour
$450 first hour
$300 each additional hour
- Mini Freight Train
- Unlimited rides
- Includes delivery within a 75-mile radius of Arlington, Texas
- Minimum 1 or 2 hours (minimum depends on season or holidays)
- Requires a $100 deposit to reserve a conductor and train
Package B
Train By-the-Ride
- $8 for one ride
- $15 for two rides
- $20 for three rides
- $5 each additional ride
- Minimum 3 hours
- Requires a performance deposit of at least $600 or $200 per hour, whichever is greater, plus delivery fee. Deposit returned based on sales.
- Great for carnivals, festivals and fairs
Birthday parties
- Free train whistles for party guests
- True Train Tales available — historical train stories told by the conductor
Other trains available
- Premium Passenger Train — Gas or electric power. Please inquire for rate and description.
- First Class Electric Train — Electric power. Please inquire for rate and description.
For schools, churches, cities & companies
- Certificate of Insurance (COI) available on request — we can name your school, church or city as additional insured.
- W-9 and itemized invoices provided for purchase orders and district or corporate accounting.
- Tax-exempt organizations: send your exemption certificate with your booking request.
- Purchase orders, checks and major credit cards accepted (4% added on credit cards).
Not sure which?
Which experience is right for you?
Choose an option above for a recommendation.
The fine print
Delivery, overtime, terms & refunds
Everything you need to know before you reserve a date.
Delivery fee
- Immediate Dallas/Fort Worth area: delivery included up to 75 miles.
- Outside a 75-mile radius of Arlington, Texas: add $1.50 per mile delivery fee to total.
- Additional per diem required for overnight stay.
- Multiple day events: by quote.
Overtime
- Pro-rated at the hourly rate in 15-minute increments.
Terms and payment
- Deposit and delivery fee due at booking to confirm reservation. Balance due 5 days in advance.
- We accept cash, check, and major credit cards (Visa, MC, Discover, Amex). 4% added to total if paid with a credit card.
- Electronic payments accepted via PayPal, Venmo, CashApp and Zelle — please inquire.
- Overtime charged in 15-minute increments and billed the next business day.
- If no deposit is made, the date can be dropped “without notice” after two weeks of first inquiry.
- Gratuity accepted on site.
Refunds
- Events cancelled within 15 to 5 days of the event date are subject to an admin fee of $100 or 20% of total, whichever is greater.
- Less than 5 days, please inquire — refunds depend on the circumstances involved.
Safety first
Operating area, weather & capacity
These requirements are not marketing — they keep the train and its passengers safe.
Operating area
- We need a flat surface (like concrete or asphalt).
- Grass may be okay if it is flat and dry with no hills.
- Hills with inclines are not acceptable or safe for our train and passengers, and may cause a surcharge of at least $100.
- City parks and some public streets may require a permit — please check with your local Parks and Recreation Dept.
Rain & weather policy
- Bad weather events will receive full credit or be rescheduled.
- Rain cancellation refunds available depending on when the cancellation is made.
- Weather cancellations can be made no sooner than 48 hours in advance of start time.
- We generally do not operate in rain. Light rain may be tolerable.
- We are not held liable for any damage to yards or wet areas that we are asked to operate on during the event.
Train capacity
- 1 gasoline-powered locomotive and 5 train cars
- Each train car holds up to 4 small children (total of 20 riders)
- Or 2 medium-size kids per car
- Or 1 adult and two children per car (up to 5 adults)
- Only one adult per car due to weight restrictions
- Unruly passengers will be asked to leave
Choo Choo Express is fully insured. Rates and policies shown here reflect our current published rates and are subject to change — please confirm when booking.
Let’s get this train rolling
A $100 deposit reserves a conductor and train for hourly bookings.