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Sounds like you hadf a GREAT DAY. Thanks for sharing your story with us.
Glad you did! That's a great story!
When we run the Polar Express trains on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, the "North Pole" is Peninsula, OH. We run two trains a night, one from each direction. In order to enter the North Pole, we have to call the Yardmaster at the North Pole for permission in.
We also add another little touch. The railroad crosses the Cuyahoga River both north and south of Peninsula. When we approach the bridge, we engineers get on the radio and call the conductor. When he answers, we say, "We are about to cross the Arctic Lake. The ice looks solid, so I'm gonna take her across." That is the cue to the trainmen to turn out all the lights on the train. Each totally dark train then enters the North Pole, which is ablaze with thousands of lights and, on some nights, as many as 188 elves!
The kids absolutely love it, and it's a special treat for us on the crews as well.
Such great stories from both of you...you touch a lot of young lives and give them a memory they will never forget. 
Our RR club is in the midst of running our Christmas open houses and the excitement of the children always gives me great pleasure, but that pales in comparison to listen to you guys and the real deal. Keep up the good work!
Rich, with 62 degree weather here at Peninsula instead of talking about "the ice looks solid and crossing the Arctic Lake" you better sing on the radio "If It Doesn't Snow On Christmas How Will Santa Get Around To Us" .
John
Originally Posted by Swipesy:
Rich, with 62 degree weather here at Peninsula instead of talking about "the ice looks solid and crossing the Arctic Lake" you better sing on the radio "If It Doesn't Snow On Christmas How Will Santa Get Around To Us" .
Good point, John. Unfortunately the CVSR had to cancel last nights trains due to flooding. That line has always been susceptible to flooding. I don't know how bad it is, but I got the email last night regarding the cancellation of the trains.
At least the river is not on fire. 
Originally Posted by Farmer_Bill:
At least the river is not on fire.
That happened a LOT farther downstream (north) than where this railroad is. It was up near the lake shore where the steel mills used to be.
Get the kids to flap their arms like a bird's wing to lighten the load over the bridge. Not in the dark though.
