"At The Throttle"
by Mark Bassett, Executive Director

A weekly series of columns originally published in the Saturday edition of the Ely Times 

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All Aboard the Polar Express for the North Pole
12 November 2004

 

Santa visits with passengers on the Nevada Northen Railway Museum's Polar Express.

When he begins his trip to his home, the boy discovers that he had a hole in his pocket, and he lost the bell. The next morning, though, he receives an extra present: the bell with a note from Santa. His parents are disappointed because they do not hear the sweet jingle from it, and they think that it is broken. However, the boy and his sister DO hear the clear, sweet sound because of their faith.

Many years later, the sister could no longer hear the jingle, but the boy always could. He always believed in the spirit of Christmas.

We invite everybody to join us for these twelve special trains, as we fire up Locomotive 93, hook up to passenger cars, Ely and Nevada and journey northward to the North Pole. On the trip to the North Pole we will be serving hot chocolate and cookies. Once everyone is served, we will read the story of The Polar Express as Locomotive 93 continues her journey northward. At the North Pole, Santa Claus will visit the train and its travelers. He and his elves will greet all of the passengers and give them a silver bell as a memento of their trip. After Santa leaves the train, we will head back to Ely singing Christmas carols.

I am one of those children who never grew up and I love Christmas. I invite all of our friends and supporters from White Pine County to ride the Polar Express (remember White Pine residents receive a discount). There are just 1,680 tickets available. Sounds like a lot until you realize these trains are being marketed to Las Vegas and Reno.

Now for the Grinch part: the reason for the Museum for putting on the Polar Express is to raise funds for both the museum and the community. It was the dream twenty years ago that the railroad would become an economic generator for the community once again, as it was before it closed down.

It is the goal of the Museum, in working with other community groups, to build large community events that attract visitors from all over. Due to the success of last year's trains, the Museum doubled the number of trains running this year. This of course doubles the number of tickets available. With our Haunted Ghost trains completed only two weeks ago, we already have reservations for the Polar Express Trains and the advertising has barely started. (The last two Haunted Ghost Trains sold out; if you want to go on the Polar Express trains reserve your seats ASAP.) Most of those reservations are from out-of-towners coming to Ely to ride the Polar Express. In fact, a grandmother will be bringing her grandchildren to ride the Polar Express.

That means out-of-town passengers will be filling up our motels, having meals in our restaurants, and filling up with gas at our gas stations. This will be bringing money into the community after the traditional tourist season has ended and just before Christmas when that extra money can be put to good use.

How successful will we be? Good question. Polar Express trains in the other parts of the country sell out by mid-November. Since this is our third year, we are still learning a little more on how to improve it each year. But I see the Polar Express growing more each year, especially with the Polar Express movie staring Tom Hanks that is being released.

Building on the excitement, the Convention Center is putting on a community event: The Sights, Sounds, and Smells of Christmas, of which the Polar Express is just one aspect. Other components include a Christmas Ball, Festival of Trees & Auction, Craft Bazaar. and Christmas Parade. The advertising campaign has barely started in Las Vegas and as mentioned earlier, people are already responding.

After all, how can you really celebrate Christmas without snow? And what are the chances of snow in Las Vegas? Now all we need is snow in Ely those three weekends.

N.B. Story review provided by teacher Katy Smith, Pratt Elementary School, Pratt, West Virginia.