By Shelbi LeMeilleur
This Christmas, families have the opportunity to live out one of the most magical Christmas books and movies when they hop aboard The Polar Express™ in Palestine.
The magic of The Polar Express™ has come to life for the last 12 years through the Texas State Railroad. Passengers will experience moments straight from the page and the screen during the hour-long trip to the North Pole and back.
“That whole time is the same experience as the movie,” explains Daniel Adair, general manager. “We serve hot chocolate just like the song and all the staff is dressed like the characters you would see in the movie.”
Adair strongly recommends passengers watch the movie or read the book before coming in order to enhance the experience. During the ride, chefs will serve hot chocolate and cookies, sing the songs from the movie, and recite the classic children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg.
The real magic begins when the train reaches the North Pole.
“Everyone stays on board and Santa boards the train, and as we travel back to east Texas, Santa delivers everyone a bell,” says Adair. “Once we arrive, Santa magically disappears and returns to the North Pole.”
While the overall experience is the same for every rider, there are different levels of tickets for purchase. “It varies and it fits everyone’s budget, or we try to,” says Adair. “Prices are set for a different type of car or different amenities you would receive in that car.”
A keepsake mug, hot chocolate, and cookies are available to three classes — the Dome Class in the double-decker car; limited seating in the Presidential Class; and First Class featuring chairs or booth settings. Three classes do not include the keepsake mug, but still serve hot chocolate and cookies — Deluxe Coach, which features table-top seating for four; Coach Class with Pullman-style seating for two; and the Open-Air Coach.
“We strongly, strongly encourage purchasing tickets ahead of time,” advises Adair. The most popular time is the 6:30pm run and is almost always sold out. “We always encourage people to book ahead of time especially if you want a certain car.”
Train rides begin on Saturday, Nov. 16, and continue through Saturday, Dec. 28. Saturdays and Sundays have five trains a day, Fridays run either four or five, and select weekdays run two trains. Any given train holds about 800 people, while The Polar Express™ will service about 77,000 people per season, explains Adair.
Even if you’ve ridden the train in previous years, Adair still encourages people to come out. “We are always updating and improving to make every year better than the last,” he says.
For more information and to book tickets, visit www.texasstaterailroad.net/events/polar-express/.
“The Polar Express™ ride for me is the magic of the experience — the joy you see in the children’s faces,” says Adair. “For me, as Santa enters and announces the first gift of Christmas and hands that bell to the kid he deems to get the first gift of Christmas, it’s an experience that’s just magical.”
