(The following story by Michael Andersen appeared on The Columbian website on December 13.)
COLUMBIA, Wash. — Santa Claus rolled into Vancouver’s Amtrak station Saturday morning, just ahead of a North Pole blast of chilly weather.
The bearded gift-giver, who arrived on a 1938 SP&S 700 steam locomotive, was part of the fifth annual Christmas celebration by BNSF Railway. After arriving, he took shelter in a heated tent and talked to a long line of children about the coming holiday.
The railroad provided cookies, cake, coffee, hot chocolate and cider for the public.
Kim Kuhle of Vancouver said she first heard about the free event three years ago. She and her husband, Terry Morin, loved it immediately.
“We knew it was coming, so we started obsessing about it,” said Kuhle, 42. They’ve been scanning the paper and Web sites for weeks to be sure they didn’t miss it, she said.
As she spoke, BNSF spokesman Gus Melonas walked past, handing the family a little gift box containing a plastic railroad-themed tree ornament.
“Score!” said Morin, 39.
The pair said they and their children Maas, 5, and Autumn, 3, can usually finish the event in an hour.
Melonas said his company spends more than $10,000 on the event, the biggest railroad-sponsored Christmas celebration in the Northwest.
“Christmas trains and kids go hand in hand,” Melonas said.
Saturday’s event drew a record 1,600 people, Melonas said, 100 more than last year.