A Birthday Train Tradition At
Kennywood Holiday Lights
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Being an avid train buff since I was a kid, I've always wanted to be able to go somewhere to ride a train on my birthday. There was only one problem: having a December birthday. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania can have some cold and snowy winter evenings which aren't ideal for a winter train ride... In 2011, this all changed when Kennywood Amusement Park began opening in November and December for Kennywood Holiday Lights!
Kennywood Holiday Lights celebrated their 10th Anniversary in 2021.
Kennywood Holiday Lights is an annual night event where the park is transformed to a winter wonderland with thousands of lights and decorations all around the park. Hot chocolate and hot apple cider are served in souvenir mugs along with the famous Potato Patch Fries and other holiday treats. Another major highlight is the selection of rides that are open at night for the event! One of the main attractions, the train, is of course included!
One of the Olde Kennywood Railroad locomotives pulling into the station during one of the first Holiday Lights seasons.
From 2011-2017, the Olde Kennywood Railroad was transformed into the Gingerbread Express during the winter months! Occasionally the engines on the trains were adorned with holiday lights. The headlight on the engines glistened through the night as it passed by displays of gingerbread towns while the passengers listened to classic holiday tunes such as "Suzy Snowflake" by Rosemary Clooney.
The Gingerbread Express featured large displays of gingerbread people and houses.
The classic old-fashioned engines on the Kennywood Railroad actually operated at the New York's World Fair in 1938 and were known as the Gimbels Flyer. These trains are gasoline powered replicas of the famous full-size streamliner locomotives. After operating at the New York World's Fair, the trains were placed in storage until they began operating at Kennywood in 1946.
An original postcard from the World's Fair highlights the Gimbels Flyer train ride.
Kennywood originally owned three Gimbels Flyer locomotives. A diesel-engine (versus gasoline) was sold in the early 2000's after it hadn't been used in over 20 years.
The 3rd Gimbels Flyer locomotive before it was sold.
During the summer months, only one train operated at a time. What is unique about Kennywood Holiday Lights is that two trains are operated at the same time. One train waits in the station while passengers board while the other train journeys around the tracks. When the second train approaches the back of the Auto Race ride, the train in the station chugs out of the station.
One of the Gimbels Flyer trains returning to the station.
In 2018, Kennywood had the grand opening of Thomas Town. The Olde Kennywood Railroad was transformed to become the Journey With Thomas train ride. One of the original Gimbels Flyer locomotives was transformed to become the famous Thomas The Tank Engine. Underneath the Thomas shell, a modified chassis of the original Gimbels Flyer locomotive remains.
Thomas The Tank Engine at the new Thomas Town Station during Kennywood Holiday Lights.
Thomas Town became a new highlight of Kennywood Holiday Lights that year! Guests enter Thomas Town and cross the tracks to Tidmouth Sheds where Percy, James, Emily, and Gordon rest while Thomas takes visitors around the tracks on a brisk journey!
In 2018, only Thomas pulled trains for holiday lights while the second Gimbels Flyer train underwent repairs. Originally, it was rumored that the second Gimbels Flyer train would be transformed to another friend of Thomas's for the 2019 season.
Thomas returning to the station.
Luckily, the second Gimbels Flyer train still remains in it's original style. It usually sits on a side track behind Kiddieland and operates when Thomas needs a break. During Kennywood Holiday Lights each year, train enthusiasts and Thomas fans alike a treated to a two-train operation again! Thomas The Tank Engine and the Gimbels Flyer chug around the tracks for the holiday season!
Thomas pulls his favorite passenger cars, including Annie and Clarabel, around the tracks.
Even though the Gingerbread Express decorations have been relocated to another part of the park, the train tracks still feature festive holiday lights surrounded by scenes from Thomas's journeys around the world!
The Gimbels Flyer chugging into the station during the 2022 Kennywood Holiday Lights.
Since Kennywood Holiday Lights began, I've ventured to Kennywood during December for a birthday train ride with close friends and family! Thanks to Kennywood Holiday Lights, a new tradition was born and the kid inside can come alive while creating new memories and laughs every year while riding on a historic train right in my hometown!
Annual Birthday Pictures with the Gimbels Flyer and Thomas!
The trains of Kennywood have a rich history and have underwent many changes over the years. For a detailed history of the Kennywood trains, you can read about them in the Fall 2018 National Amusement Park Historical Association's Chronicle magazine. Back issues of the NAPHA Chronicle can be ordered by completing the NAPHA Chronicle Back Order Form, while supplies last.
If you haven't been to Kennywood Holiday Lights yet, it's definitely worth a visit. Don't forget to get some hot cocoa and go on a Journey With Thomas (or the original Gimbels Flyer)!