A young boy embraces his mother after telling Santa Clause what he wants for Christmas aboard the Polar Express train outside of Elbe on Thursday evening.
A young child points at the festive proceedings during a dress rehearsal production of the Polar Express presented by the Mount Rainier Railroad and Logging Museum on Thursday evening.
Crew members hold up large copies of the Polar Express children's book as families indulge in hot cocoa and sugar cookies during a dress rehearsal excursion from the Mt. Rainier Railroad and Logging Museum on Thursday evening.
The Polar Express steam train idles outside of the Mt. Rainier Railroad and Logging Museum in Elbe on Thursday evening.
ELBE — For the second year in a row, the Polar Express will be making round-trip treks from Elbe to the North Pole. Those inspired train rides based on the Polar Express children’s book and movie will be leaving numerous times per week through the end of the year.
Since the Polar Express is a magical train, it is able to make it all the way from the Mount Rainier Railroad and Logging Museum to the North Pole and back three times each night it is in operation. Each experience lasts about 90 minutes from start to finish, and the careening adventure is capped by a personal visit from Santa Claus to each child aboard the train.
Matthew Bekka, 13, of Puyallup, has been a frequent traveler on the Polar Express since it first started making treks from the Mount Rainier Railroad and Logging Museum last year. He plays the part of “Know-It-All Boy” in the production, and says he makes every trip that his school schedule will allow.
“The best part for me is hearing what everyone wants for Christmas,” said Bekka.
He explained during a recent ride that his job is to visit with every child on board the train in advance of Santa’s arrival, “so they can have an idea of what they want before Santa comes, so they won’t be so shy.”
An enthusiastic cast along with carts of hot cocoa and cookies and plenty of jinging silver bells and Christmas carols combine to ensure that each train car is humming with Christmas spirit.
Jess Martin, marketing and sales director for the Mount Rainier Railroad and Logging Museum, noted that the Polar Express consists of six cars per trip with about 400 people on each train. With three typically sold-out trips per night, the Polar Express is able to deliver about 1,200 people per night directly to Santa’s stomping grounds.
This year, the Polar Express is being pulled by the historic Polson Logging #70 steam engine, which was built in 1922 for the Polson Logging Company out of Hoquiam. The engine was eventually purchased by the Rayonier timber corporation in 1945 before being retired in 1962.
Another wrinkle in the operation this year is a new flexed pricing schedule that reflects the demand for peak travel times. Martin noted that Polar Express trips scheduled on, and around, Christmas Eve are particularly popular, and ticket prices reflect that.
“Last year we had pretty flat pricing,” said Martin, who noted that tickets range in price between $18 and $80. “It’s been doing pretty well. It’s differently encouraged people to book on off peak days.”
Martin added that there are limited spaces still available for many of the scheduled Polar Express treks to the North Pole so it’s best to purchase tickets as soon as possible. She noted that ticket sales opened up in March and by September nearly 90 percent of all first-class tickets had been purchased.
Martin, who called the Polar Express “a true all ages friendly event” also advised visitors to show up at least 30 minutes early, especially if they need to pick up tickets at will-call.
“Dress warmly because we are outside in the cold before we go on. Everyone is encouraged to wear pajamas and there are many nights where folks of all ages are wearing their pajamas,” said Martin, who pointed out that the train cars are heated.
“The brand is very strong with about 35 years of history. A lot of people are recalling memories that they first had when they heard the book as a child, and then they had that second push when the movie came out,” said Martin, explaining the sustained popularity of the event.
For first-time Polar Express riders, Bekka the “Know-It-All-Boy” offered the following advice — “Just be happy, be chill, and come here with it in your mind that you’re going to have a great time.”
Polar Express trips to the North Pole via Elbe began last Friday and will continue on an intermittent schedule through New Year’s Eve. A full schedule and ticket information is available online at www.mtrainierrailroad.com/train-excursions/polar-express/. Additional inquiries can be handled by phone at 360-569-7959.
The Mount Rainier Railroad and Logging Museum is located at 54124 Mountain Hwy E., Elbe.
