Four cars of Christmas cheer rolled out of Jasper Dec. 9, when the Santa Claus Express took families on a two-hour journey through snow-capped mountains.
And while the pristine white landscape and bedecked train cars provided a hefty dose of holiday spirit, for most kids the real magic of the ride was the chance to meet Santa himself.
Halfway through the ride, bells jingled as Santa made his much-anticipated appearance, waltzing through the train handing out bags of Christmas goodies, chortling merrily along the way.
This year, the Canadian National Railway Company donated an extra car to accommodate the tickets sold for the two trips that left the station on Tuesday.
Money raised from the event will support Santas Anonymous in its efforts to provide presents and food hampers to families in need during the holidays.
Trevor Nichols
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