A young rider excitedly hugs and visits with Santa at the North Pole.
in the station, which offers a scenic backdrop.
Sherry Richmond, who recently rode the train with her daughters and three grandsons, said the depot offers many attractions, such as photo opportunities, before the ride.
“ We really have been impressed with everything they’ ve added, and all the experiences they’ ve added,” Richmond said.“ Families have more to do while they’ re waiting to get on the train.”
Decorations aboard the train include colorful tinsel and lights. An engineer punches every passenger’ s golden ticket, which becomes a keepsake of the journey.
As the train arrives at North Pole Village, Santa and his elves dance joyfully to welcome guests. Recent additions, such as new buildings and a larger Christmas tree at the village, add to the magic.
“ The North Pole has really grown,” Richmond said.“ That makes the trip more exciting for the kids and more enjoyable for the adults as well.”
Riders are still gazing at the sparkling village when Santa and his elves suddenly enter each train. They visit everyone and offer every girl and boy a silver bell.
If they can hear the bell when it rings, they know that Santa’ s magic is real, just as in the classic tale.
The trip back is also entertaining, with chefs serving sugar cookies and hot cocoa and leading Christmas carols joyfully on the return trip to the Palestine depot.
Richmond enjoyed watching her grandsons dance in the aisles on the return trip.
“ After the North Pole they get to dance in the aisles, so they enjoyed that,” Richmond said.“ And of course the cookies and hot chocolate.”
THE TEXAS STATE RAILROAD: A BRIEF HISTORY
The Texas State Railroad is an excursion train on the Piney Woods Route between Palestine and Rusk. Started in 1883, the line’ s original purpose was to carry raw iron to be smelted at the Rusk Penitentiary.
The 25-mile line was leased to various railroad companies until 1969. In 1972, the state legislature turned the ownership over to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, which opened it to visitors in 1976. By 2006 the attraction was losing $ 1 million a year, so the legislature created the Texas State Railroad Authority in 2007, which leases the line to private companies.
TSR is currently operated by Jaguar Transport Holdings, a transportation company based in Joplin, Missouri. The Polar Express draws more than 50,000 visitors to Palestine each year.
One of the journey’ s most loved songs is titled“ Hot, Hot, Hot Chocolate.”
“ The ride home was just as wonderful, with cookies and‘ Hot, Hot, Hot Chocolate,’ singing and dancing with everyone,” Tara Farris said.“ All the families were smiling and laughing, and the environment was just full of true joy.”
Brianna McKinney, who worked on TSR’ s seasonal staff during high school and college, recently rode the train in matching pajamas with her infant daughter Briella.
“ Briella loves music, dancing, bright lights and attention,” McKinney said.“ So watching her have so much fun with the chef and waitress made it so much fun. They’ re so good with the kids and full of energy.”
Tens of thousands of visitors come to Palestine from around Texas and from different states to ride the Polar Express, including some who come every year.
“ I’ d highly recommend taking time to make this your own family and experiencing everything for yourself,” Farris said.“ Each year something a little new and different takes place, so it really can be an annual family tradition to experience over and over again.”
Just as in Allsburg’ s book, the trip’ s magic comes to life through the blend of seen and unseen experiences.
“ Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can’ t see,” Allsburg said in“ The Polar Express.”
Tickets for the Polar Express train ride begin at $ 30 for children and $ 50 for adults, and are available online at texasstaterailroad. net or by phone at 855-632-7729.
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