Travis' Trails: The Christmas Train - Visiting the Big Elf

Being associated with grandbabies is cool! Since Norm & Jules are grandparents (known as G & Amma) to Brock & Heath they get invited to some really cool events that they otherwise they might not do. Of course, since they are going, yours truly is going too! Such was the case the Saturday before Christmas when Joni called and said they were going to Waterman, (IL) to visit "the big elf" himself, Santa Claus, at the train park! Joni said that they were going out to dinner afterwards too.

Can it get any better? Really? Chillin' with Brock and Heath AND riding on trains! Awesome! Not to mention seeing my cousin Nick too.

The weather was a bit on the chilly side, but you can't expect 60 degree temps in the Chicagoland area in December.

Ok, it can get better... Hanging out with KC and Joni too.
There is a warming building that has a place to visit with Santa and get popcorn and hot chocolate too!
The fire place is really toasty after you have been riding the rails. That was some of the lingo I picked up.

This is my cousin Nick, from my mother's side. Notice the family resemblence? We don't get to see each other much. He is busy all year long.

Brock and Heath wanted to visit with him so he knew what to bring them on Christmas morning. He does that. He is really a nice guy that way.

After the boys told Santa what they would like for Christmas it was time! Brock is a huge fan of trains. The only thing better than watching them is to actually ride on them.

The folks that organize and run this are very considerate! They have two trains here so the line is really quick. Plus, because it is cold they have blankets you can borrow for the ride! Did I also mention that all of this is free?

This is the rear car of one of the trains. It was pretty cool.

But the one we REALLY liked.....

Was the train with the red caboose! Or as Brock would say, "A red boose!"

Every time he sees a train he is looking for a red caboose. Normally, since cabooses aren't used anymore, he says, "No red boose!" and is all dejected when the train passes.

So riding in the red boose is the best of the best!

It is also very entertaining watching all of the not vertically challenged people try and fold themselves into pretzels to fit inside.

Brock, Big Bill and I fit just fine!

Once we were all packed in like sardines we were off.

The ride is fairly long and circles the whole park. There are quite a few lights and displays set up, including a model railroad in a work building that doubles as a tunnel for the ride.

You can see that there is a lot more people space than inside caboose space here. If you add Norm to the total of people that fit inside that caboose it's a wonder that any of us could walk afterwards.

We immediately got back in line to ride the other train.

Seating was considerably more comfy.

Heath and Big Bill really liked this ride, although the wind was a lot worse.

After the second ride it was time to warm up a little.

Mmmmm, toasty toasty.

We met a friend of Santa's too while we were inside, Manuel Mouse. He hands out candy canes to the kids after they talk to Santa. I didn't see him when Brock and Heath were talking to Santa. He said he must have been on break.