The North Pole Express was loaded with the Christmas spirit at Boothbay Railway Village over the first weekend of December. The train took its first seasonal trip Dec. 2 as dozens of families bundled up in the open-air cars or cozied up inside heated ones. Kids wrote letters to Santa, which they delivered in person on the journey. Afterwards, they could enjoy hot chocolate and s’mores by the fire or just explore the decorations around the village. 

The North Pole Express takes place on Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 17. The train visits the “North Pole” eight times daily, with the first train at 10:45 a.m. and the last train at 4 p.m.