Tucked into the Shuttle Passage at Grand Central Terminal, the New York Transit Museum’s Gallery & Store hosts a free Holiday Train Show every winter. O-gauge model trains, including subway cars and Metro-North and LIRR trains, run around a miniature cityscape. It’s small, free and perfect for a quick stop with kids.
The 2026–27 show runs November 13, 2026 to February 21, 2027.
Quick Facts
| Dates | November 13, 2026 – February 21, 2027 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Mon–Fri 10 a.m.–7:30 p.m.; Sat–Sun 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; closed some holidays |
| Cost | Free |
| Where | New York Transit Museum Gallery & Store, Shuttle Passage, Grand Central Terminal, 89 E 42nd St |
| Subway | 4/5/6/7/S to Grand Central–42 St |
What to Expect
The display is compact, so plan for 15 to 30 minutes. Kids love spotting the real-life train models they’ve ridden, and there’s a step stool so little ones can see. Lines form on weekends and holiday weeks; weekday mornings are calmest.
Holidays at Grand Central
While you’re here, look up at the Main Concourse ceiling, check out the Grand Central Holiday Fair (see our NYC Christmas markets guide) and watch the light show projected in the concourse if it returns this year. For a bigger train show, head to the NYBG Holiday Train Show in the Bronx.
About the New York Transit Museum
The New York Transit Museum is housed in a decommissioned 1936 subway station in Brooklyn Heights, where you can walk through vintage subway cars dating back a century. Its Gallery & Store in Grand Central hosts small exhibitions and sells transit-themed gifts, from subway-map ornaments to model trains, which make great presents.
Tips
- Weekday mornings are calmest; lines form on weekends and school holidays.
- Lift small children so they can see the layout.
- Pick up a transit-themed gift at the shop afterward.
Explore Grand Central
While you’re here, see the Grand Central Holiday Fair, look up at the celestial ceiling and try the Whispering Gallery near the Oyster Bar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Grand Central Holiday Train Show free?
Yes, it is free to visit.
When is the Grand Central train show 2026?
November 13, 2026 through February 21, 2027.
Where exactly is it?
In the New York Transit Museum Gallery & Store in the Shuttle Passage, off the Main Concourse of Grand Central Terminal.
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