Next stop: the birthday
A Train for Your Birthday Party
The Choo Choo Express pulls up to the party, rings its bell, blows its horn, and every kid in the yard lines up. Booked by the hour with unlimited rides, so nobody has to wait their turn twice.
Trackless train rental for birthdays
What happens when the train pulls up
All aboard!
The train comes to you. No rails, no pit, no crew setting anything up in advance.
The conductor and train normally arrive 30 to 45 minutes before your start time to unload and get ready, so tell us if a gate needs opening. When it is time, the bell rings, the horn blows, and every kid in the yard lines up. The train circles the driveway, the cul de sac, the church lot or the school drive loop as many times as the party wants, because a by-the-hour booking means unlimited rides for everyone there. No tickets to sell, no line to manage, no arguing over whose turn it is.
Most of what we do at birthday parties is exactly this: a party train rental in a home driveway, a neighborhood park pavilion or a school yard after the last bell. You supply the crowd, we supply the bell, the horn and the line of grinning kids.
Why birthday hosts pick us
A train that turns up and keeps rolling
Three things every birthday host asks about, answered up front.
Reason 1
Unlimited rides by the hour
$450 first hour, $300 each additional hour. Unlimited rides for the whole party.
Reason 2
True Train Tales
Available on request — historical train stories told by the conductor.
Reason 3
It comes to you
Delivery is included up to 75 miles of the DFW area.
Which train fits your party
Three trains, one party
Every train runs by the hour with unlimited rides. Start with the one that suits the crowd, then check the numbers at the bottom of the card.
The Event Experience
Premium Passenger Train
Made for events where the train is part of the attraction.
This is our lead train and the one most events book. Its 5-unit consist includes a gas-powered engine and 4 riding cars. The wider cars hold more parents with children, and most have roof covers — making the train a centerpiece for festivals, fairs, corporate events and community celebrations.
- Festivals & fairs
- Large community events
- Corporate events
- School events
Capacity
20+ young passengers, or 8–10 adults with about a dozen children
First hour
$550 first hour
Each additional hour
$400 each additional hour
The Premium Experience
First Class Electric Train
Take your event to first class.
An electric train for occasions where the experience matters as much as the ride. Great for corporate warehouses and hotel ballrooms — polished, quiet to run around a crowd and easy to photograph.
- Corporate & VIP events
- Grand openings
- Special celebrations
- Premium festivals
Capacity
Contact us for the current configuration and how it suits your crowd.
First hour
$650 first hour
Each additional hour
$500 each additional hour
The Classic Experience
Mini Freight Train
The classic train experience for smaller events.
A 6-unit, gasoline-powered trackless train with an engine and 5 riding cars, built for children’s events and family celebrations. It isn’t a kiddie ride — it’s a real multi-car train — but its size makes it a natural fit for a backyard party, a church yard or a school afternoon.
- Birthday parties
- Schools & daycares
- Churches
- Neighborhood events
Capacity
20+ young passengers, or up to 6 adults with about a dozen children
First hour
$450 first hour
Each additional hour
$300 each additional hour
How hiring by the hour works
One booking, unlimited rides
This is how most birthday parties run the train. Everything that affects the price is listed here, nothing hidden.
Included in every party booking
- Unlimited rides for every guest there, for the whole booking.
- Includes delivery up to 75 miles of the DFW area.
- The conductor runs the train, rings the bell and blows the horn.
- True Train Tales on request, historical train stories told by the conductor.
The numbers
- By-the-hour bookings have a 1- or 2-hour minimum depending on the season. A 2-hour minimum applies near Easter, July 4, Halloween and the December holidays. Tell us your date and we’ll confirm the minimum before anything is charged.
- Requires a $100 reservation fee to reserve a conductor and train.
- On a tight budget? The final hour can be shortened to 30 minutes and billed at a prorated amount, such as a 1.5- or 2.5-hour booking.
- Overtime is charged in 15-minute increments and billed the next business day.
Before the big day
What we need from your space
A train ride at a birthday party works almost anywhere flat. Here is exactly what we look for.
Ground the train runs on
- We require a flat, hard surface such as concrete or asphalt.
- Grass must be flat and dry. Mud, potholes, uneven ground, hills and inclines are not acceptable and may require an additional fee.
- The operator has final say. If the planned route is unsafe, we will suggest an alternative; if none is suitable, service will end without a refund.
- Please tell us about questionable conditions in advance. We are happy to make a site visit to approve the route.
- City parks and some public streets may require a permit — please check with your local Parks and Recreation Dept.
Delivery, paperwork and weather
- The conductor and train normally arrive 30–45 minutes before the start time to unload and prepare.
- During peak periods, the trailer and train may be dropped at the event location up to 24 hours early. The conductor will still arrive 30–45 minutes before service, and the equipment may be collected later.
- Please tell us in advance if gates or event areas must be opened for delivery or pickup.
- A standard Certificate of Insurance (COI) is provided free upon request.
- An Additional Insured Certificate naming the client or host is $100 per certificate.
- If bad weather threatens, we will call about 3 hours before the event so you can choose whether to cancel or continue.
- If you cancel for bad weather, you may reschedule or receive full credit toward your next event.
- If you ask us to proceed, the full amount is due and no credit is offered after we arrive. We will do our best to give rides under the circumstances.
Questions
Birthday party train FAQs
The things birthday hosts ask us on the phone, answered here first.
- How much does it cost to rent a train for a birthday party?
- By the hour, with unlimited rides for every guest there: $450 first hour and $300 each additional hour on the Mini Freight Train, $550 first hour and $400 each additional hour on the Premium Passenger Train, $650 first hour and $500 each additional hour on the First Class Electric Train. A $100 reservation fee holds your conductor and train, and delivery is included up to 75 miles of the DFW area.
- How many kids can ride at once?
- The Mini Freight Train runs on gasoline and has 5 riding cars. It holds 20+ young passengers, or up to 6 adults with about a dozen children.
- Can parents ride too?
- Yes. One adult may ride in each car due to weight restrictions, except the tender car, which can hold 2 adults. The Mini Freight can carry up to 6 adults with about a dozen children.
- How long should we book the train for?
- Most birthday parties run 1 to 2 hours. By-the-hour bookings have a 1- or 2-hour minimum depending on the season. A 2-hour minimum applies near Easter, July 4, Halloween and the December holidays. Tell us your date and we’ll confirm the minimum before anything is charged. On a tight schedule the final hour can be shortened to 30 minutes and billed at a prorated amount.
- Do you need a track or rails in the yard?
- No. The train is completely trackless. It drives on your driveway, parking lot, drive loop or flat dry grass. There is nothing to install and no pit to dig.
- What kind of ground does the train need?
- A flat, hard surface such as concrete or asphalt is best. Grass must be flat and dry; mud, potholes, uneven ground, hills and inclines are not acceptable. Tell us about questionable conditions in advance and we are happy to make a site visit to approve the route.
- Can the train run at a city park?
- City parks and some public streets may require a permit from the local Parks and Recreation department. Private property, church lots and school campuses generally do not. Choo Choo Express is fully insured, and a standard Certificate of Insurance is free on request.
- What if it rains on the party day?
- We will call about 3 hours before the event. If you cancel for bad weather, you may reschedule or receive full credit toward a future event. If you ask us to proceed, the full amount is due and no credit is offered after arrival.
- What if the party runs long?
- Overtime is charged in 15 minute increments and billed the next business day, so the train can keep rolling while the cake is cut.
Plan ahead
Most dates book 3–6 months out
Spring festivals, fall carnivals and December holiday weekends fill first. A $100 reservation fee holds your date — and if no reservation fee is made, the date can be released two weeks after your first inquiry.
Reserve your trainHosts who did it
What birthday hosts say
Rated 5.0 on Google by families, schools and event planners across DFW.
“The train showed up right on time and the kids lost their minds. Our conductor was so patient with the little ones — best money we spent on the whole party.”
“Parents were riding it too. The bell and the horn had the entire street lined up for another turn. Booking was easy and delivery was included.”
“Longest line at the carnival all afternoon. Setup was quick, everything was clean and safe, and the crew clearly loves trains. We are booking again next year.”
Keep looking
Still deciding? Compare the trains, check the full rates, or find a page for your city. Every one of these keeps the same promise: the train comes to you.
Next stop, the birthday
Tell us the date, the address and the ages of the riders. A $100 reservation fee holds your conductor and train.