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Choo Choo Express
Families watching and waving as the Choo Choo Express trackless train passes by

Rates

Choose your experience

Start with the train, then decide how you want to hire it. The numbers come at the end, once you know what you’re booking.

Start with the train

Pick the experience, then the package

Every booking starts with the consist that suits your event. The Premium Passenger Train is the one most hosts ask for — the others follow below.

The Choo Choo Express Premium Passenger Train, Engine No. 18, giving rides at a holiday event

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
The black and red First Class Electric train with bright passenger cars inside a shopping mall

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
Families riding the yellow Mini Freight train at a church event

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

Choose how you hire it

Two options, everything in one place

Compare the experience, minimum, and price for each way to run the train.

Great for parties

By the Hour

The train belongs to your event for the booking. Everyone rides as many times as they like — no tickets to sell, no line to manage, no arguing over whose turn it is. This is how most birthday parties, family reunions and block parties run.

  • •Unlimited rides for every guest there
  • •Delivery included up to 75 miles of the DFW area

Premium Passenger Train

$550 first hour

$400 each additional hour

First Class Electric Train

$650 first hour

$500 each additional hour

Mini Freight Train

$450 first hour

$300 each additional hour

Minimum 1 or 2 hours — the minimum depends on the season or the holiday.

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 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.

Requires a $100 reservation fee to reserve a conductor and train

Reserve by the hour

Great for school carnivals

By the Ride

Guests buy a ride ticket and the train keeps rolling all afternoon. It is the longest line at the carnival, an easy fundraiser for a booster club, and the right shape for a fair, festival or church night when hundreds of people pass through.

  • •Guests buy one, two or three rides at the gate
  • •The train stays moving from the first bell to the last
  • •Great for carnivals, festivals and fairs

Rider tickets

  • $8 for one rider
  • $15 for two riders
  • $20 for three riders
  • $5 each additional rider

Minimum 3 hours.

Requires a performance reservation fee of at least $600 or $200 per hour, whichever is greater, plus delivery fee. Reservation fee returned based on sales.

Reserve by the ride

Birthday parties

  • True Train Tales available — historical train stories told by the conductor

Other trains available

  • Premium Passenger — electric. Please inquire for rate and description.
  • Festival Fun — gasoline. Please inquire for rate and description.

For schools, churches, cities & companies

  • A standard Certificate of Insurance (COI) is free upon request; an Additional Insured Certificate naming your organization is $100.
  • 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).

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.

The fine print

Delivery, overtime, terms & refunds

Everything you need to know before you reserve a date.

Delivery fee

  • Delivery is included up to 75 miles of the DFW area.
  • When required, travel is $1.75 per mile one way from the DFW area.
  • Additional per diem required for overnight stay.
  • Multiple day events: by quote.

Overtime

  • Overtime is charged in 15-minute increments and billed the next business day.

Terms and payment

  • A $100 reservation fee and any travel fees are due at booking to reserve the date.
  • When required, performance reservation fees and travel fees are due at least 10 days in advance.
  • Final payment is due 5 days in advance by check, credit card or electronic payment, or may be paid in cash upon arrival.
  • Checks should be made payable to Choo Choo Express. A 4% convenience fee applies to credit-card payments.
  • We accept Venmo, PayPal, CashApp and Zelle. An invoice will be sent after your booking details are received, and the invoice serves as the contract.
  • Overtime charged in 15-minute increments and billed the next business day.
  • If no reservation fee is made, the date can be dropped “without notice” after two weeks of first inquiry.
  • Gratuity accepted on site.

Refunds

  • Refunds requested within 15 days of the event are subject to an administrative fee of $100 or 20% of the total, whichever is greater.
  • No refunds are granted within 5 days of the event date.

Payment options

  • Mail checks to Choo Choo Express, 3419 Westminster Ave. #200, Dallas, Texas 75205.
  • Venmo: @Skip-Waters (last four digits of cell: 5199)
  • PayPal: PayPal.me/skipwaters (Wilfred Waters)
  • CashApp: $wgcrush (Wilfred Waters)
  • Zelle: wgcrush@swbell.net (Wilfred Waters)
  • Credit card by phone: 214-987-2888 (4% convenience fee).

Arrival and delivery

  • 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.

Insurance certificates

  • A standard Certificate of Insurance (COI) is provided free upon request.
  • An Additional Insured Certificate naming the client or host is $100 per certificate.

Mechanical issues

  • Mechanical failures are rare, but they can happen. We will make every effort to resolve the problem and complete the event.
  • If a mechanical failure prevents service before or during the event, time not served may be refunded.
Reserve Your Train

Let’s get this train rolling

A $100 reservation fee reserves a conductor and train for hourly bookings.

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