All aboard the Holiday Train

BELLEVUE — Take a ride on this year's Holiday Train. Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum, 253 Southwest St. in Bellevue, is hosting its annual family-friendly event the next two weekends. The Holiday Train offers a 10-minute ride on one of the museum's restored cabooses, which are heated and fully operational. New this year, the museum's New York Central caboose was painted in the century green paint scheme it would have had in the 1960s. "We love the contrast with the green caboose between the two red cabooses," museum vice president Dwayne Fuehring said. "The train is dressed in Christmas colors while still being historically accurate." After the ride, passengers will make their way to the dining car for hot chocolate and cookies. Families can also visit with Santa Claus in the Monument Station at the museum. Those in the Beardsley family — consisting of parents Peter and Katie, and children James, 11; Jacob, 9; Ben, 7; Lillian, 5; and Frank, 3 — have attended the Holiday Train each Christmas season for about eight years. After Thanksgiving, when they're traveling from Defiance to their home in Chagrin Falls, the event is a convenient stop along their route. "It has just become an annual tradition of ours," Peter said. They enjoy seeing all of the trains and visiting with Santa. "It's something different," Peter said. "Of all the places to see Santa, this is the one we like." The train will run Saturday and Sunday as well as Dec. 13-14. Time slots are available between noon and 5 p.m. on those days. Each rider must have a ticket regardless of age, and tickets need to be purchased online at madrivermuseum.org/events. The online ticketing and scheduled trips eliminate wait times for passengers. Organizers strive to make it an event families with small children can enjoy at a very good value, Fuehring said. The museum is a nonprofit. "The Holiday Train is a fundraising event organized and operated by an all-volunteer staff," Fuehring said. "All proceeds garnered from the event are used to support the museum at its continued operation." Holiday cheer is shared among the volunteers, families and children. "All of the volunteers get a great deal of satisfaction watching the small children enjoy the train ride. Many of them are very excited because it's their first time," Fuehring said. "That's what drives us to continue doing this." Want to go? What: Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum's annual Holiday Train When: Time slots are available between noon and 5 p.m. on Dec. 6-7, 13-14 Where: The railroad museum at 253 Southwest St. in Bellevue Cost: Tickets must be purchased at madrivermuseum.org/events