Santa Train ready to roll again in Lisle
The Lisle Santa Train will make two trips from Lisle to the North Pole (Chicago) Sunday, Dec. 6.
The first train leaves at 9:45 a.m. and the second at 1:45 p.m. from the Lisle Metra Station, 1000 Front St.
Tickets are $16 for children and adults and may be purchased in Lisle at The Nook on Main Street, at Lisle Savings Bank on Maple Avenue and at the 7-Eleven, Main Street and Ogden Avenue. Parking is free in the Lisle Metra Train Station parking lots.
Tickets also may be ordered by mail by sending a check, made payable to The Lisle Santa Train, P.O. Box 4327, Lisle, IL 60532. Enclosing a self-addressed, stamped envelope will expedite the return of the tickets.
For more information, contact the Lisle Convention and Visitors Bureau at (630) 769-1000 or (800) 733-9811, or visit The Lisle Santa Train Facebook page.
"This is our 22nd year operating The Lisle Santa Train," said Wayne Dunham, the train's engineer. "With 11 cars and seating for 1,000 passengers, it's the largest Christmas train in the area. Last year, children and adults from more than 65 cities and five states rode The Lisle Santa Train.
"To guarantee that each child has quality time with Santa, five Santas will be on this year's trains," Dunham said. "Mrs. Claus also will be on the train, along with Belle, Cinderella, Scrooge and several other costumed characters. The conductor and the engineer will punch each rider's ticket and give them back to the children as a souvenir of the trip."
Along with the costumed characters, elves will be in each car to lead the singing of Christmas carols, pass out activity booklets and, of course, a bell from the harness of Santa's reindeer with a message from Mr. C. attached. Live candy canes will pass through the train giving each child their own candy cane.
"The entire trip to and from the North Pole will take about 75 minutes," Jack Kelly, the conductor, said. "The Lisle Santa Train will travel to the North Pole and immediately return to Lisle. No one will be able to get off. And please remember, The Lisle Santa Train always leaves exactly on time."