DECATUR - The families of Norfolk Southern Corp. employees had a chance last weekend to take a journey to the North Pole in holiday style.

For the past 15 years, the railroad has sponsored a "Polar Express"-style ride to Illiopolis for employees aboard a train donated by the Monticello Railway Museum.

The 1950s diesel engine owned by museum member Brian Higgins, the last diesel built for the old Wabash Railroad, pulled passenger cars from the 1920s and 1930s. A steam generator heated some of the oldest cars.

This year, the hour-long round trip out of the old Jasper Street terminal in Decatur came complete with railway engineers and flagmen dressed in old uniforms from the 1950s and others dressed as elves and hobos who handed out bells and candy canes to children during the trip.

Norfolk Southern Terminal Superintendent Laura Hogue played the role of Mrs. Claus on the train ride's 15th anniversary.

"It's pretty neat," Hogue said. "The kids will get reindeer food to put out for Christmas Eve, and each family will get a gift set that has a copy of 'The Polar Express.' "

And of course, Santa Claus was aboard to ask boys and girls what they wanted for Christmas.

"Three years ago, we rode when our daughter was 6 months (old)," said Christina Rogers, wife of a conductor and engineer. "Now that we have our daughter and nieces, we have time to bring them and everything, and they just enjoy being on the train and seeing Santa."

Russell Long, father of twin 7-year-olds Brandon and Derek, said this was his second year aboard the train ride.

"The boys just haven't had many chances to ride on the train, and there's the excitement of seeing Santa also," Long said.

The estimated 1,700 passengers over two days weren't just focused on Christmas pageantry, either. In the spirit of the season, the families raised food in record-breaking amounts for the company's food drive. The event brought in 4,560 pounds of food for local shelters and food pantries, beating their goal by more than 1,000 pounds.

Last year, the drive collected about 2,800 pounds, said Jerry Bean, chairman of the Decatur Terminal Safety Committee and one of the event's top organizers.

"With the way the economy is today, we really need to stress to our families to help the community," Bean said. "We want to give something back to it."

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