Lisle gearing up for annual Polar Express trips
Wayne Dunham had the kind of idea that makes a light bulb pop up over your head in cartoons.
This was 15 years ago, and Dunham got to thinking about how cool it would be to create a real-life Polar Express train ride that would take eager children and their parents from Lisle to the North Pole and back.
When he closed his eyes he could see passengers on that train reliving the magical tale in Chris Van Allsburg's book, and even telling Santa whether they've been naughty or nice.
Might work, he thought.
Fast forward to today and passengers are experiencing that same magic, along with carol singing, candy-cane eating, and animal-balloon making, on two wild train rides that pull out of the downtown Lisle depot Sunday, Dec. 5.
The Polar Express will take two 75-minute trips to the North Pole, which bears an uncanny resemblance to Chicago, beginning at 9:45 a.m. and 1 p.m. The $15 tickets are sold in advance at the Nook on Main Street, Lisle Savings Bank on Maple Avenue and the 7-Eleven on Main Street and Ogden Avenue.
The enchantment begins when the festively decorated train pulls into the station and passengers hear Conductor Jack Kelly shout “all aboard.” Wearing a complete conductor's costume, Kelly collects the tickets for the ride.
He didn't always have such a notable part on the trip, though. It wasn't until 2004 when the film came out with Tom Hanks playing the conductor that Kelly's role began to take on more significance.
Once on the train, passengers are greeted by 30 to 40 Girl Scouts, who serve as elves for the ride.
“Our motto is to get this train rocking,” troop leader Karen Bickel said. “We encourage them to dress as wild and wacky and as colorful as possible, and so far they have not let us down.”
The Scouts lead the riders in carols and later read Allsburg's award-winning children's book out loud when the train reaches the North Pole.
Besides helping entertain riders, the Girl Scouts also play an instrumental role in assembling all 2,000 bells that are given to passengers at the end of the trip, Dunham said. Just like in the book, everyone receives a bell from Santa's sleigh with a note saying, “Found this on the seat of my sleigh. Fix that hole in your pocket. Signed, Mr. C.”
After reading the book, people are welcome to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what's on their Christmas list. Other characters, such as Scrooge, princesses and clowns, roam among the cars as well.
“What we discovered was that when we create chaos, it works well,” Dunham added.
But the magic this year isn't confined to the train cars. For the first time, all passengers will be able to meet Santa's reindeer from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday outside the train station, Dunham said.
Riders are also encouraged to stop by the Museums of Lisle Station Park, located by the train station, to eat cookies baked in a brick oven, look at Christmas Trees from Around the World and view a working blacksmith shop.
Although the trip has expanded to unimaginable proportions over the years, Dunham said he's still having a very merry time.
“It's the warmest, fuzziest day of the year,” he said.
For more information, visit StayInLisle.com.
If you go
<p><b>What:</b> Lisle's Polar Express</p>
<p><b>When: </b> 9:45 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5</p>
<p><b>Where: </b>Trains leave downtown Lisle station</p>
<p><b>Tickets: </b>$15 in advance</p>
<p><b>Info:</b> StayInLisle.com</p>