Metra’s North Pole Special’s engine.
Metra used to run Christmas trains called the “Polar Express” after the successful movie.
The first car of Metra’s Christmas train.
The owners of the copyright objected, so that stopped.
The second car in Metra’s Operation North Pole train.
Now Metra calls its Christmas train “Operation North Pole.”
According to the article at the link above, this is an “annual train ride to see Santa for children with serious illnesses and their families.”
LifeSource paid to sponsor the second car.
Businesses have partnered with the commuter railroad.
Metra’s third car on its North Pole Express.
They wrap cars with Christmas themes and their names.
Rosemont sponsored the third car.
Last Saturday, we were downtown getting a haircut at Dinstinctions.
The fourth car was sponsored by Rosemont Village President Donald E. Stephens.
Then, eating at Duke’s.
The fifth car didn’t have a sponsor.
During that time the special train came by twice–once going to Harvard and the second time back to Chicago.
Kind of cool to see, but the extra costs to paint and then possibly repaint over, is that all worth the effort?
Hey, Nob, doesn’t it say that the cars are sponsored (at least for the most part)?
Maybe we could ask the kids what they think about it.
Better hurry though, some of them might not be around next Christmas. 🙁
I would certainly hate to see happy smiling children around Christmas time.
Bah Humbug Nob.
This is actually for an non-profit organization called Operation North Pole that provides a festive Holiday event for children with terminal illnesses.
For more info, you can check out their website: http://www.operationnorthpole.org
The train cars are actually wrapped in vinyl, not painted, and it is easily removed afterwards.
I work for the company that produces the wraps for the train cars.