HEBER VALLEY — Blond, blue-eyed Braden Adams, a 7-year-old at SCERA Park Elementary School in Orem was excited — really excited. He had been waiting three very long months for this one night, the night he would put on his pajamas, take the train to the North Pole and meet Santa.
For the past eight years, children and adults just like Braden have bundled up in their winter coats, bedroom slippers, gloves and mittens, bathrobes and nightgowns and hopped aboard the Heber Valley Railroad's "Polar Express" for that magic Christmas ride.
Waiting on the train are Santa's elves and railroad workers, equally excited. The elves help Santa find out what passengers want for Christmas, serve Mrs. Santa's yummy chocolate chip cookies and tasty hot chocolate and entertain.
"Twinkie" (Hayley Norris, Heber) is used to wearing her green and red suit and pointed hat. "I have been doing this for four years, and I love it."
Traci Berg is a volunteer reader and hostess. She keeps things rolling and leads the crowd on the train as they all read "The Polar Express" story. Each passenger is loaned a copy of the book, and the reading is timed so the story ends just as the train pulls into the North Pole (a k a Decker Point, just prior to the Deer Creek Dam).
The weight on the train dramatically shifts as the children all rush to the window to see Santa, waving from a candy cane pole marking the North Pole village.
"It feels cool to ride the train," Adams said. His cousin, Parker Adams, agreed, "Yeah, this is pretty cool."
The two boys were there because their grandparents Don and Denae Adams heard about the Polar Express fun from a schoolteacher friend.
"We're crazy about Christmas," Denae Adams admitted. "We purchased our tickets (the Adamses brought along 22 family members) early in September."
Hundreds of families and singles, too, have taken to the Polar Express over the years. According to Bob Donahue, artistic director, nearly 13,000 people boarded the Polar Express during the Christmas 2004 season.
Tickets purchased for the event help to financially maintain the train the rest of the year as well as fund the Heber Valley Arts Council.
Berg said that while she has volunteered on the train there haven't been many mishaps, but there have been a lot of great times including two marriage proposals and lots and lots of children. "The children are part of the show," she said.
Affectionately known as the "Heber Creeper," the Heber Valley Railroad started in 1899. In the 1930s, the railroad shipped more sheep and eggs than any other rail line in the United States. History aside, it is the Polar Express that makes it all happen.
Before their one-on-one visit with Santa, Mrs. Santa walks through the car greeting everyone and making sure they all have a copy of her cookie recipe. She also teaches passengers how to gather elf giggles, reindeer winks and other unique cookie ingredients.
In the end, it is the visit with Santa that brings delight to everyone's eyes. And just like in the story, Santa leaves each child with a silver bell and a jolly "Ho, Ho, Ho!"
The unfortunate demise of two passenger cars curbed the amount of people able to ride the Polar Express this year, according to Donahue. The cars ordered to replace them were stuck in Denver and had not yet arrived when the Express started its runs so train seat space quickly sold out.
Several hundred people were put on a waiting list. However, three — not two — cars have been delivered so a limited amount of additional space is now available.
Tickets are $27 for adults, $16 children 3-12, and $24 for seniors 60 and over. Call 435-654-5601 or visit www.hebervalleyrr.org.
If you go
What: The Polar Express/North Pole Christmas Train
Where: Heber Valley Historic Railroad, 450 S. 600 West, Heber City
When: through Dec. 23
How much: $27 adults, $16 children, $24 seniors (2 and under)
Phone: 800-888-8499/435-654-5601
*The arrival of three additional passenger coaches shipped in from Pennsylvania has opened up seats on the Polar Express, but tickets are going fast.
MRS. SANTA'S MAGICAL COOKIES
1 1/2 cups white sugar,
The giggle of an elf,
2 cups of brown sugar (found high on the shelf).
1 pound of sweet butter,
A reindeer's shy wink.
3 eggs freshly chosen,
fairy dust colored pink.
1 1/2 teaspoons salt,
A wish from a child.
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda,
One griffin smile — wild.
6 cups of white flour,
1 gallon of joy.
the twinkle that's found in a small girl or boy.
2 cups nuts if you like them, if not, leave them out.
6 cups chocolate chips,
remove all signs of doubt.
2 tablespoons vanilla
a huge dash of love.
a sprinkle of peace from the wings of a dove
Cream the butter and sugar 10 minutes for sure,
Mix in giggles and winks, add the eggs and beat more. Add salt, baking soda, flour, fairy dust and the wish. Add the griffin's sweet smile and beat well — what a dish! Add the chips and vanilla, and nuts if you will. Scoop with small ice cream scooper and your cookie sheets are full. Bake 350 degrees, 7 minutes 'til done. Eat with love, joy and peace and have bundles of fun!
E-mail: pugmire@desnews.com