I was once asked how I celebrate the Christmas holidays.
Well, for me, Christmas is a gigantic diesel engine with over a dozen boxcars and rolling stock, and it travels throughout North America and it brings joy and excitement wherever it goes. And at certain locations, it provides a little holiday concert. And every stop helps raise food and money for the local pantries and relief organizations.
Yep. The CPKC Holiday Train is back on the tracks. Here’s the 2026 link.
I’ve photographed the Holiday Train several times, whether it’s been through long chases or from short runs. It’s a thrill and an excitement that is everything I imagine a holiday could be. Joy and giving, happiness and anticipation.
This is where I get my cameras and we go on the best train chase journey. This is where I freeze in subzero weather and sing along to Christmas carols with hundreds of other people.
This is where I block out an entire week of my life. The time when I can channel all my energy into a breathtaking photo chase to capture the best possible image of this brilliant behemoth.
Yes. Yes, yes, yes.
So I’m looking at the schedule. There are two CPKC Holiday Trains that traverse North America; a Canadian train and a U.S. train. Well, both trains kinda cross each other through New York and Quebec, so I have an opportunity to see both illuminated beauties up close and personal.
All right. Now I need to check the schedules. The best way to set up a train chase is to make sure I can get from Point A to Point B without getting tangled up at Point C.
The first show will take place on November 19 at 7:00 p.m. in Montreal-West, followed by a show at 8:30 in Beaconsfield, Quebec. I did Montreal-West in 2024, Becaonsfield might be a nice tasty try.
Plus, the performers at that show will be the group Magic! –
Joining Magic! will be pop singer Maris.
Meanwhile, the other train will arrive in Sherbrooke, Quebec on November 23, with a 4:45 p.m. performance by American Authors …
And joining them will be one of the talents from the Canadian version of The Voice, Rafaëlle Roy.
That train will cascade down to New York, with shows on November 25 in Menands (5:15 p.m.) and Mechanicville (7:00 p.m.), then it goes north on Thanksgiving day with stops in Fort Edward (2:45 p.m.), Port Henry (5:40 p.m.), Plattsburgh (7:50 p.m.) and Rouses Point (9:30 p.m.).
Now that I know the schedule … it’s time to block out my travel and plan my route. And get those incredible photos that previously only existed in my imagination. And get that holiday energy that will boost my soul in the cold nights.
Yep. Chuck is on the Holiday Train schedule.
For sure.
