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The festive spirit was alive this week as Jasper families rode the 16th annual Santa Train.
Children climbed on board and took their seats ready for a magical ride through the mountains - next stop, the North Pole.
Railroading legend Harry Home donned his striped engineers’ overalls, entertained the young passengers, and waited for the opportune moment to bring out the guest of honour: Santa Claus himself.
“We go through the Geikie tunnel, slow right down, it gets dark then I bring Santa out,” said Home, with a grin.
“Suddenly, when the train comes into the light, there is Santa Claus.”
And with Santa came bags of goodies from VIA Rail and CN for everyone on board - plus candy canes and manadrin oranges from TGP and the Masonic Lodge.
Jasper Community Choir travelled on board too and sang “just about every Christmas carol” with the passengers.
The Santa Train travelled 17-and-a-half miles to Yellowhead and back on two trips, at 9:30 a.m and 3 p.m with honorary conductor Warren Waxer, honorary brakeman Rob Black, and Home as the honorary engineer.
This year is the 16th annual Santa Train, first brought to Jasper by VIA Rail’s Sue McCarthy.
McCarthy wanted to give back to the community and offer children an opportunity to connect with train travel after hearing about a similar event taking place in Prince George.
“It has been quite a process, I give full marks to Sue for this,” said Home.
“This was done in other places but this is the only one that survives and seems to flourish.
“I think because of the good will of Jasper people.”
Home railroaded for 49 years with CN, from 1949 to 1998, and still works on the railroad with his steam engine, the 6060 - “Even at my age,” he laughed.
He said this event is special to him as a longtime railroader and resident of Jasper.
“It is the Christmas spirit,” he said.
“The Christmas spirit of giving and for the children the fantasy of Santa Claus.”
And the event is a major fundraiser for Jasper’s Santas Anonymous, which supports around 70 local families with gifts and food hampers.
For those who missed their opportunity to purchase a train ticket, there are many other ways to support Santas Anonymous this season.
Cash donations are the number one way to support the program, but there are other options as well. Cash, cheque or gift card donations can be made at 627 Patricia St. weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
You can visit the Jasper Library and Cultural Centre and Jasper Activity Centre, select a mitten from the mitten line and shop for the specific request inside the mitten.
And residents can also support the program by shopping locally and buying items with a Santas Anonymous sticker or by dropping cash into collection tubes in businesses around town.
