Last Sunday, Motor Man and I pretended we were kids again and went for a ride on the Sergeant Santa’s Express train at the Ft. Eustis Army Base in Newport News, Va.
The event was sponsored by the Military Railroad Society, and took place on Saturday and Sunday. All rides were sold out.
Our ride was at 12:30, but we arrived early, and had a good view of the 11:00 train as it departed.
Our tickets were for the Catalpa Falls car, which was the burgundy one (3rd car behind the locomotive).
Prior to boarding, we had our picture taken in front of the 607, which was the last steam engine owned by the Army. (During our ride we would learn that our conductor was actually aboard the 607 when it made the last leg of its journey to Ft. Eustis in 1973.)
Once we boarded, one of the other passengers took this photo of Motor Man and me in the main section of the car. We had just finished enjoying cookies and hot cocoa.
One of our ‘hosts’ on the train (a porter, perhaps) told us that our car was actually a sleeper, and if any of us would like to see one of the berths, he’d be glad to show us. It was very interesting, so we made a little video with some information. (And let me just say that I didn’t realize that I say as much with my eyes as I do with my mouth…??)
Soon we were paid a visit by the ‘man in red’ himself. And since Motor Man has been a good boy, he received a goodie bag. He wasn’t much on the coloring book and crayons, but he did make use of the wooden train whistle.
A few minutes later in our ride, a conductor with a guitar paid a visit to our car and sang songs with all the kids….including us. In this photo, he’s handing me a set of bells to ring during “Jingle Bells”.
All of us ‘kids’ had a fun time on the Sergeant Santa Express.
~These Days Of Mine~
these days of mine 