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Show ees: S- SE es ie ane ae ELE ae+ AO TEETER LE II A ern] - Lei ure WASATCH COUNTY COURIER DECEMBER 13, 2000 (ORTH POLE 4 STORY AND PHOTOS BY KIRSTEN SHAW COURIER STAFF over my pajama bottoms in anticipation. The engineer, complete with denim overalls, striped . hat and red bandana, rushed past me. I-sat aida - eo All aboard the Polar Express” ue down and stared at the greenery adorning the vintage coach, the brilliance of the Christmas lights catching my eye. _ The Polar Express is fairly new to Heber, but it’s attracting jubilant children from all over: Salt Lake, Park City, Provo and Ogden. It departs for the North Pole Fridays and Saturdays at 5 and 7:30 p.m., and daily from Dec. 18 to 23. Heber Valley Railroad runs the sold-out tour. Outside, the lights of towns and villages flickered in the distance as the Polar Express raced northward. The elves, Jingle. Jingle and Mistletoe, handed us gooey cookies and hot cocoa richer than chocolate. A grown-up began singing Christmas carols, insisting we sing along since she wasn’t a songstress. Music plays in the background while everyone sings. The woman entices us by promising Santa will show if we all Sing, so we sing about Rudolph, and kids chime | , ge “like a light bulb!” An elf whispered in my ear as we lumber = along, “look out the window. Santa-will be waiting.” Decked in colorful pajamas, bells in hand, —— wry | it was wrapped’ nm an apron of steam. =. Snowflakes: fell lightly around it. A conductor stood at the open door of one ¢ of the cars. He took a large pocket from his vest, then looked up at my window. — The train sat in the ae ‘a black engine coughing soot, a black ‘cloud enveloping the - majestic Wasatch Mountains ‘as the sky threat.ens' to. snow. I climbed aboard the century-old “ Sitau train, “the Polar Express, nearly tripping ees, | Lucas and Alex talk about the presents they a Sata fisKe The children range from two months to 20 years, but there is no fussing or complaining, ‘for we’re going to see Santa. The elves begin , ? wrneny i ~ rr | POLAR EXPRESS continued on B/ eee | Little Gus gently adds he just wants a bell. Tenn men oa | would like: a robot dog, a. giant Mickey Mouse. The matronly Mrs. Claus never disappoints. Santa elicits.a charming expression. |