SPOILER ALERT: This post is a very detailed description of the Polar Express experience at The Texas State Railroad, if you’re going and want to be surprised, please stop here. ❤️
All Aboard! It's the Polar Express!! A Journey Beyond Your Imagination!
We were camping at the Texas State Railroad Campground with KD & The Vowels the weekend before Christmas and coordinated a ride to the North Pole on board the Polar Express! We managed to keep the adventure secret from the kids until we were literally in the parking lot! Not even camping in a campground with train tracks, or watching the Polar Express the night before gave it away!
I highly recommend that you plan your trip and book your tickets as far in advance as you can - because this experience will sell out. We bought tickets for Presidential Car #42 - perfectly set up with couches on one side and pairs of chairs on the other... but I'm getting ahead of myself! You'll see that soon enough!
The grounds of the Palestine station are all lit up and festive; you'll pick up your tickets (both the ones you paid for, and the theatrical ones) in the will call tent where they also have plenty of Polar Express branded merchandise for souvenirs. There may have been a few fleece blankets and a miniature crystal lantern purchased by our troop.
Much like the book, our adventure began with the Conductor and the Hero Boy in a short skit, with the invitation to all of us to join them onboard. Where would we go? To the North Pole, of course! This is the Polar Express!
We boarded our car towards the western end of the train, the excitement in the air was palpable! Everyone was in high spirits as the attendant checked our tickets (the real ones) and showed us to our seats (rows 1-3). It's assigned seating, and requires evens - so it was perfect for the eight of us.
The couches were perfectly big enough for the family to all sit together with RDB and I on the other side of the aisle. I felt like we lucked out with the assignments, as we were at the far end of the car and, well, I won't spoil the surprise that was in store for us!
The train pulled out of the station right on time (there is a schedule to keep, of course!) And very quickly the real show began! "Who's ready for refreshments?!" Joyce, our Presidential attendant, merrily asked. We all excitedly raised our hands and the singing and dancing commenced!
You could just sense that our Cocoa Chef and Joyce were smiling behind their masks (Covid protocols still in place this Christmas). And soon enough, delicious, rich hot chocolate and fresh chocolate chip cookies were placed in our hands to enjoy as we traveled down the track towards our destination. "O" said the cocoa and the cookies were her favorite part of the Polar Express.
Since we had purchased the upgraded Presidential Class tickets, we had commemorative mugs to take home with us as well. (All packaged and ready to travel home with us in reusable bags).
As we settled in with our hot chocolate and cookies, our Cocoa Chef and Joyce brought out the (absolute largest I've ever seen) books of the story of the Polar Express. Turning the pages as the narrator walked us thru the story page by page, all the way to the North Pole and Santa, with his first gift of Christmas.
Shortly after the story ended, we had the startling surprise of the Conductor coming thru, "Tickets! Tickets, please!" He was all business, punching our theatrical tickets with fervor.
The train began to slow, and the lights dimmed, and sure enough - we were there! The North Pole! With dancing elves and Santa hard at work!
As we waved goodbye to Santa's workshop, Joyce encouraged us to wish, really wish, and maybe Santa would be able to join us on the train for our ride back to the station.
"E" wished hard enough for the all of us, and.....
The real Santa! Right here on our train car! It was so magical - we wished and there he was! Just like the story, he was looking for someone special to give the first gift of Christmas to. Who would it be?
"O"! He chose our little "O" to receive the first gift of Christmas - one of the beautiful silver bells from the harness of his reindeer!
It was such an incredible treat, to have the seats we did, and be able to have the honor of being the family that received the first gift of Christmas. Honestly, though? The gift of seeing these girls with all the love and joy on their faces was the first, and best, gift to us.
Santa made his way thru the train car, giving silver bells to everyone, and the beautiful sound of laughter and chiming of bells rang thru the air. After he said his goodbyes, wishing us all a very merry Christmas, the party continued on with a sing-a-long on our way back to the station. "I" really liked the dancing and singing with Joyce and the Cocoa Chef.
One final surprise, the Hero Boy and Girl from the story made their way thru the train car, greeting each family and sharing in the adventure. "A" said the performances by the cast, especially the way they introduced the story before we got on the train, was a big part of what made the trip so special. For a teenager to say, and I quote: "This was badass" is a pretty big compliment!
We pulled back into the station, bellies full of hot cocoa and cookies, the sweet sound of bells ringing thru the air, with smiles on our faces and joy in our hearts.
It really was a journey beyond your imagination!
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This really was such a treat, to be able to share this time with KD & The Vowels, and see the Christmas spirit really come alive thru their eyes! A HUGE kudos to Joyce, our attendant, as you could tell that she not only loved the role that she played, but that she really loved the kids (and us big kids) who were on her train. And yes, it's her train - as I hugged her goodbye and said how much I appreciated her, she said she was 78 years old and had been doing this for 11 years! I'm pretty sure she was our train attendant on one of our other trips on the Texas State Railroad.
If you're wavering on this experience because of the price, and it is pricey for just an hour long ride, know that its 100% worth it. The atmosphere they create, from the moment you drive onto the park property, all the way thru to the 'give-a-ways' - its all high quality and worth it. I'm still so impressed with the craftsmanship of the bells - I know, this will sound, well, unbelievable, but I've never heard a bell so sweet and so bright as the one that Santa gave me on this trip.
The bell still rings for me. As it does for all who truly believe.
For more pictures of the Polar Express, and our camping trip, go here.
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