These operate as regular service on the days and routes listed at the links, and also have lengthier photo stops on some days and locations.
On the “L”:
*The outside of the six-car train is adorned with holiday seasonal images. Thousands of twinkling lights outline the shape of the train and windows, with even more lights running across the tops of the cars.
Interiors of the cars are decked out with thousands of multi-colored lights, red bows, garland, and red and green overhead lighting. The hand poles are wrapped to look like candy canes.
As the train pulls into each station, Santa waves to the boarding passengers from his sleigh on an open-air flatcar carrying his reindeer and decorated holiday trees.*
On the streets:
*The exterior wrap features “Ralphie the Reindeer” leading the way with his crimson nose aglow and Santa’s sleigh in tow. Strings of lights outline the bus and its windows, while Ralphie is brought to life with 3-D antlers atop the bus and a ruby light affixed to the front of the bus.
The soft glow of multi-colored lights adds a warm touch to the interior of the bus as well as holiday-themed seating, candy-cane striping, artwork created by students from Mahalia Jackson Elementary and elves on board handing out candy canes to all the good boys and girls.
In the very back of the bus is Santa’s den, which serves as the perfect setting for the scheduled photo sessions with Santa – featuring a cozy fireplace, Santa’s armchair flanked with toy soldiers, decorated trees and oversized presents.*
Was having tea with a friend Thursday when we saw the train at the brown line Armitage stop. It was quite a sight. Haven’t ridden it yet, kind of have to check the schedule and seek it out, or just get lucky.
I’ve been living in Chicago for nearly 15 years, and last year was the first time I discovered the holiday train. I spotted it after a delightful dinner with friends, during which more than a couple of bottles of wine were shared, and as we exited the restaurant, there it was on the L above the street. It was bizarrely magical, and I had such a surreal moment of wondering if I was seeing things. Looked it up online, and apparently it’s been going on since 1992!
Magical and surreal aren’t a bad way to put it. I’d realized that it might not seem so weird (So what, a Christmas decorated train?) in the context of ’ Strangest thing you ever saw in the city of Chicago’ as in the thread I’d linked to earlier but it really is.
Absolutely! I can’t even really articulate it, either, but when I saw that thread, I immediately thought of the Christmas Train too. It’s just this little piece of sparkly whimsy and wonderfulness on what’s otherwise a very gritty, industrial and, let’s face it, ugly part of our city.
And I really like that it’s not more widely known or advertised. That makes it just that much more special when you see it. Gritty city gritty city gritty city MAGICAL CHILDHOOD WONDERLAND gritty city gritty city. WTF was that?!
Ha, yeah, and we were like little kids waving at Santa, from a tea shop 1/4 block away. There was no way he could have seen us, but we waved through the window anyway. The train stopped with the Santa car perfectly positioned over the street, so when he waved in our direction, we could imagine he was waving at us dorks.
I thought the title was CIA decorated Christmas train.
IN NYC they pull out an ‘old’ train with the period ads for Holiday time. They have celling fans and wicker seats.
I mean, it is a horrible religious display, and offensive to people who are not Christian. I think it should be challenged in court, as soon as possible.:mad:
