louie traub/VIEWSanta Claus listens as Sarah Ross, 6, tells him what she wants for Christmas aboard the Nevada State Railroad Museum?s Santa Train, Dec. 1.
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Well, it wasn't exactly the Polar Express, but it sure felt like it on this year's runs of the Santa Train put on by the Nevada State Railroad Museum Dec. 1, 2, 8 and 9.
Despite the blustery, winter-like weather, riders in record numbers hopped on the five-car train to see Santa and Mrs. Claus during the half-hour ride down the historic Boulder Branch line.
According to state Railroad Museum Director Greg Corbin, the Santa Train 2007 broke all previous records for ridership with a total of 6,332 passengers over both weekends.
"That was a 54 percent increase over last year when we had 3,450 riders," he said. "For all the times we ran the train, every time it was completely sold out. On Sunday of the first weekend, we had to add an extra run to the five we had planned and on the following weekend we added a sixth run on Saturday and two extra runs on Sunday and we finished in the dark and it was sold out, too."
Crowds or not, little 6-year-old Sarah Ross and her brother, 9-year-old Cody, both from Rapid City, S.D., came aboard for the first time with their grandparents Linda and George Bailey of Las Vegas.
"The kids just came in for the weekend and said they would be so tickled to see it," Linda Bailey said. "And this is the first time for George and I to be on the Santa Train. We've been married for 43 years and we haven't been on the Santa Train once."
Dec. 1 marked the second Santa Train excursion for 18-month-old Andy Sanchez who was bundled up and held by his mom, Ceci Sanchez, of Henderson.
"We just came out for the fun of it and for the holidays," she said. "The kids think it's the Polar Express."
For little Andy's brother 3-year-old Chase Sanchez it was equally enjoyable.
"A few weeks ago, we heard about the holiday ride," said Lina Streit of Henderson, who was holding Chase. "The kids just love it, and the conductors are nice and tell you all kinds of things."
The enclosed cars were decorated with wreaths, strands of Christmas lights and stockings hung by the windows with care while Christmas songs played in the background.
A full complement of conductors stood on each of the five cars, waiting to help as soon as Santa and Mrs. Claus made their grand appearance in each car ahead of their headquarters -- the caboose.
"You fell all good and the energy of the kids," conductor "Choo-Choo" Greg Tombaugh said. "I like this kind of work where we can give back to the community. I've done this four of the six years we've been doing this and it keeps getting better each year."
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