Holiday Train!

Every year, CTA has one train, the Holiday Train, that is decorated inside and out, and travels all over each line.  A schedule is posted for which lines and areas will have service by the holiday train.  Evanston's day, the purple line, was today.  There were very specific times to catch the train on the purple line, and it did not look like Art was going to make it home in time.  I debated going by myself w/ the boys, knowing Art would be sad to miss out.  We finally figured out the thing to do was to have me take the boys and get on at the South Blvd stop and meet Art at the Noyes stop.  OF COURSE Art had no cash, so the "plan" was for us to jump off at Noyes, swipe Art in w/ our pass, and hope to jump back on the train and ride it to the end and back.  Otherwise, if it left w/out us, then we'd have to wait and catch it on the way back.

Zach and Wyatt waiting patiently for the train.  It did not arrive on time, and we had to wait an additional 8 minutes longer for it.  It was COLD, and snowing a bit, but the boys were in good spirits.

Here comes the train, all lit up.  There is an "SC" on the front for Santa Claus.  One of the cars is a flatbed w/ a real Santa sitting on a sleigh.  We never did see it though...bad timing.

Boys on the train, on our way to meet DaU

An Elf on the train passing out candy canes!  She said they have to decorate and undecorate the train each year...they don't keep one in storage.  She says it's a huge task, but she loves helping with it.

When we got to the Noyes stop, the boys and I ran out, I left them on the platform while I dashed 10' away to give Art the card to swipe himself in.  One El worker was very confused as to the mass panic/chaos around me & the kids (I'm loudly telling them to not move), and I think she helped to make sure the train did not leave until we got back on it.  We were certainly a spectacle, but it saved us waiting 20 minutes for the train to return.  Thank the Lord for helping us out on this seemingly impossible (most stops are VERY short) task! 

Interior shots of the train

Art and the boys eating candy canes (they ate way too many given no dinner yet!); check out those decorated seat cushions

Mommy, w/ the boys, relaxed now that everything has worked out nicely

At the last stop on the Purple line, Linden, we had a 5 minute wait for it to go again, so I took some exterior shots of the train all lit up and decorated.  We SHOULD have walked down the platform and seen Santa on his sleigh.

It was a fun outing, and wonderful that Art didn't have to miss out on all the fun.  I was thinking that most Dads would have this problem many times; not getting to attend fun outings or events with the kids.  I'm very happy that we've been blessed with a lifestyle that allows Art to participate in most things!