Fillmore & Western Railway Company
Fillmore & Western Railway Company
3.5
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
About
Visit Fillmore & Western Railroad to ride the movie trains! Offering Weekend Scenic Trains, Murder Mystery Trains, Holiday Trains, Steam Train Rides, Special Events, School & Private Group Trains. Trains run all year long! Bring the family for a ride on vintage passenger & dining cars through the beautiful Heritage Valley in Ventura County.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
3.5
137 reviews
Excellent
47
Very good
31
Average
21
Poor
16
Terrible
22
Jamie M
Princeton, IN54 contributions
Dec 2019
Our family (group of 6 and ages 9-72) absolutely loved the Polar Express ride! It was actually the idea of my 16 year old nephew for us all to go and he also loved it. The train was decorated for Christmas and we were entertained throughout the ride with songs, dance, snacks, and a visit from Santa. The story and acting followed along with the famous book. The book was also read on board. Everyone received a gold ticket, hot cocoa, cookie and of course a beautiful bell.
Con: the gift shop was not open to purchase Polar Express souvenirs :(
We hope to go on the Polar Express ride again next year.
Con: the gift shop was not open to purchase Polar Express souvenirs :(
We hope to go on the Polar Express ride again next year.
Written January 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My name is Jeff
Ventura, California225 contributions
Dec 2019
SOOOO Much Fun!!!! Although expensive, the Polar Express is worth every penny. The atmosphere, the actors, the production and the snacks all make the experience a very magical ride. We have done the Polar Express every year for he last four years but the new production is fantastic. It is exactly like the movie with the actors playing the roles as if you were in the movie. The highlight is definitely the hot chocolate song and service. My two sons were wide eyed the entire train ride and had an amazing time on the Polar Express. I loved every part of the experience and will be back next year! Well done Polar Express, thanks for the memories!
Also, on select days Crhis Van Allsburg, the author of Polar Express was is on site signing copies of the Polar Express.
Also, on select days Crhis Van Allsburg, the author of Polar Express was is on site signing copies of the Polar Express.
Written November 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
r0ck34802
Thousand Oaks, CA2 contributions
Nov 2011
The train was very ,very hot and the way the seats are set up is very uncomfortable. you are facing two other people and if they are taller then three feet your legs will be smashed into each other. My six year old had to sit Indian style to be comfortable. Santa got on train after 1/2 hour trip to nowhere and gave kids broken candy canes. He spent 20 minutes in each train car. While on train they passed out milk and broken cookies and sang Christmas carols. Once we returned Santa did sit in a special train cab and take photos with the kids. They had a play section with a merry go round for $2.00 . The ladies room was filthy. No toilet paper or paper towels. The place is run down and in need of a make over. I paid $58 for 2 tickets. My son enjoyed himself.
Written November 27, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DarlinBHC
Arizona22 contributions
I took my granddaughter, son and daughter in law on the Pumpkin Liner. We visit Fillmore on a regular basis and were curious. The train ride was nice. But as has been commented on, the patch was very small, crowded and we were marooned there. Since we were not allowed to bring our own food or drinks, we were at their mercy. All they had were hot dogs (4.00) and tri tip steak sandwich (8.00). Do the math. We were captives there until the next train arrived. It was boring. I wish that I would have taken them to Lombardi Ranch instead. This train thing is a money maker. As we were waiting in line for the train back, with alot of other people, we were estimating how much they brought in a day. Gold mine. That is not even counting the money from the concessions at the patch. I would not go again.
Written January 3, 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John T
Prescott, AZ176 contributions
Jul 2011 • Couples
First of all there was never any direction on which dining car to climb aboard. No signs or personal guidance. The train left 30 minutes late. The Mystery was hokey. Vastly disappointed as the characters paraded up and down the car with a very thin plot line and nothing to provide any clues as to "who done it"- Anyone guessing the murderer at the end was by blind luck alone. The food was only fair. The ride was not scenic at all. A stop at a dump location "the loose caboose" was unnecessary. Too make matters worse- the train stopped and backed the entire distance we had just come in reverse! When we arrived back at the station- the restrooms were locked and office staff had gone home. You would think someone would have given the train staff a key? Can't really say anything good about this experience- save your $65 per person. Won't recommend this to anyone.
Written July 30, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Diane D
La Verne, CA3 contributions
Dec 2013 • Family
We were a group of 21 and I thought it was excellent. We were running a little late and they were very helpful in helping us get there in time . We had kids ranging from 6 months to 13 and they all enjoyed it. I had read some not very good reviews so I was a little nervous but was pleasantly surprised. We had been on the Polar Express in Arizona so it had a lot to live up to and it did not let us down. I thought it was every bit as good as there and it was a plus being 5 hours closer. We had excellent elves and I honestly could care less if they sang off key but I don't recall that they did because we were enjoying singing with them and each other so much. He read a story that he had pretty much memorized and I thought that was really good. The train was packed and with so many people I thought the cookies and chocolate milk were fine. Oh and the train was fine with reclining seats Santa came on the train and talked to the kids as he passed out candy canes. No complaints about him. I didn't use the restrooms so I don't know about those but the kids enjoyed themselves along with the adults and they didn't want to leave. At the end they passed out a nice size bell that the kids loved even the baby.. The kids would have loved to go on the merry go round and go sit on Santa's lap for pictures but we had a reservation at a restaurant. Overall I was very happy with our experience on the North Pole Express! Thank You...we will be back!
Written December 24, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
maximo87
Los Angeles, California3 contributions
AVOID THIS TOTAL RIP-OFF!!
Outrageously priced train ride to a tiny pumpkin patch along side a freeway (noisy & hot) where they blast rap music and hustle a buck for EVERYTHING.
Worst of all, they MAROON you at the patch for over 2 hours until the next train arrives. There is no escape.
When the train arrived it REEKED from the filthy toilets
.
The pumkin patch was so unpleasant, people were lined up for the outbound train 1/2 early.
Unless you like to suffer...AVOID the Filmore & Western Train Robbery.
Outrageously priced train ride to a tiny pumpkin patch along side a freeway (noisy & hot) where they blast rap music and hustle a buck for EVERYTHING.
Worst of all, they MAROON you at the patch for over 2 hours until the next train arrives. There is no escape.
When the train arrived it REEKED from the filthy toilets
.
The pumkin patch was so unpleasant, people were lined up for the outbound train 1/2 early.
Unless you like to suffer...AVOID the Filmore & Western Train Robbery.
Written November 23, 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RyanMack
1 contribution
Sep 2014
Don't waste your time on this nasty dirty smelly poor excuse of a business the whole train smelled like a sewer and it was disgustingly dirty, in one car they had Halloween decorations up that looked like they had been there since last year, what little staff they have is over worked waited 20 minutes to get a $2.00 coke in a can not even on ice and it was hot( had my meal before I ever received my drink), the mean lady walking around taking pictures was so very rude and disrespectful asked where the restroom was and was told that there was only 2 men's restrooms on the whole train one of them was clear at the end of the train in the opposite direction, she could not tell me where the closest one was,
all she did was walk around taking pictures and playing on her phone, and the food was of poor quality and it was cold the plates that the lunch was served on was chipped you would think for 60+ dollars for a ticket on this train they could make some sort of effort, and the murder mystery show was a joke you can not hear them when they are at the other end of the car, they do not have microphones, we asked one actor why they didn't have microphone and was told the owners would not buy them for the shows since they are not employed by the railroad, so our table of 4 had no clue as to what was going on in the show, had we been able to hear them in a packed train car we might have had a decent time, the stop was a place called the loose caboose asked the lady working here what kind of place this was and she said fruit stand,garden emporium, gift store, and antiques( in fact it's a JUNK STORE) she also told us that this store was owned by Fillmore and western not only are they getting our money for the train ride they are getting your money by stopping at their own store. The best part of the trip was getting off the train. If you want a real train ride go to Napa valley where they take pride in the product they are selling
all she did was walk around taking pictures and playing on her phone, and the food was of poor quality and it was cold the plates that the lunch was served on was chipped you would think for 60+ dollars for a ticket on this train they could make some sort of effort, and the murder mystery show was a joke you can not hear them when they are at the other end of the car, they do not have microphones, we asked one actor why they didn't have microphone and was told the owners would not buy them for the shows since they are not employed by the railroad, so our table of 4 had no clue as to what was going on in the show, had we been able to hear them in a packed train car we might have had a decent time, the stop was a place called the loose caboose asked the lady working here what kind of place this was and she said fruit stand,garden emporium, gift store, and antiques( in fact it's a JUNK STORE) she also told us that this store was owned by Fillmore and western not only are they getting our money for the train ride they are getting your money by stopping at their own store. The best part of the trip was getting off the train. If you want a real train ride go to Napa valley where they take pride in the product they are selling
Written September 30, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shanaia J
Dana Point3 contributions
Dec 2014
This train trip was not worth it at all. My kids didnt even enjoy it, our personal home was more decorated then there supposed North pole. When we arrived to a dump of a north pole it smelled like the reindeer had died I and other adults and kids had almost thou up. Its not worth the 2 hour drive from orange county
Written December 20, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hd91364
L.A., CA64 contributions
Took the Christmas Tree Train to supposedly go to a Christmas tree farm to cut down a tree. Was misled into thinking it'd be a steam locomotive and it was not. When we reached the tree farm the trees available for cutting were the most exorbitantly priced, pathetic looking long-needled pines that we'd ever seen. They even charged $5 to shake and net the tree once you'd cut one, if you were dumb enough to. They did have a few imported noble firs for sale, but these, too were ridiculously priced and triple the amount they were selling for elsewhere. There was a rip-off petting zoo and camel rides at $8 per kid. This was a total gip and waste of time.
Written December 5, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Request the side facing North Pole- doesn’t matter which car.
Written December 28, 2019
could you please tell me how long the ride is? trying to see if we can make it home on time for dinner or if i should bring dinner for my son with us, Thank you!
Written December 20, 2019
could you please tell me how long was the ride in total? trying to figure out where we should have dinner....
Written December 20, 2019
I am disabled and was able to board the train with ease and able to sit at the table (chairs, not benches) for meals.
Just let them know you are handicapped/disabled when making your reservations.
Have a great time! :)
Written May 17, 2015
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