After a five-year hiatus, the Operation North Pole (ONP) Christmas train is returning to the rails! Metra and ONP encourage Chicago area residents to show their support on Saturday, Dec. 20, and cheer on the families participating in ONP’s annual holiday train trip for seriously and terminally ill children and their families on Metra’s Union Pacific Northwest Line.
Founded in 2009, ONP and its volunteers have helped spread the spirit of the holidays to children and families affected by illness with a day-long Christmas event featuring a ride to see Santa at the North Pole aboard a special train. Since 2011, the exterior of the train has been decorated with a holiday theme sponsored by the charity. This year’s train exterior features characters from the Nutcracker, and Metra employees have decorated the interiors of each car with lights, tinsel, and holiday themes like Santa’s Workshop, the Grinch, and Candyland.
This year, the specially decorated train will also be used in regular service beginning Dec. 8 on Metra’s three Union Pacific lines and for Metra’s Holiday Train event on the UP Northwest Line Dec. 13. With the exception of the ONP and Metra holiday train events, the specially decorated train will operate on the UP Northwest Line Dec. 8-Dec. 14, the UP North Line Dec. 15-21, and the UP West Line Dec. 22-Jan. 2.
ONP is inviting the public to come out to view the latest version of its holiday train and cheer on the families during their journey to the North Pole. Due to the number of buses and escort vehicles used for the event, as well as the needs of the participating families, the public is strongly encouraged to view the train from locations north of the Des Plaines Metra Station (Cumberland Station to Pingree Road Station).
The ONP train is scheduled to pass through the following communities Saturday, Dec. 20:
12:30 p.m. – Train departs Pingree Road Station in Crystal Lake
12:35 p.m. – Cary Station
12:38 p.m. – Fox River Grove Station
12:44 p.m. – Barrington Station (Pack the train station charity event)
12:51 p.m. – Palatine Station
12:55 p.m. – Arlington Park Station
12:58 p.m. – Arlington Heights Station
1:06 p.m. – Cumberland Station
1:10 p.m. – Stop at North Pole (Des Plaines Station)
The Barrington Chamber of Commerce will be holding a charity event at Barrington Station to cheer on Operation North Pole and raise funds for a number of good causes. At Pingree Road Station, Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department, Crystal Lake Police Department, the McHenry County Fire Department, and local schoolchildren will celebrate the participants by singing carols on the platform and handing out treats onboard.
Upon arrival at the North Pole, Santa and Mrs. Claus, along with an incredible crew of local firefighters and police officers, will escort the families to a winter wonderland at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont for an afternoon filled with dancing, food, candy, music, games, presents, and special time with Santa himself.
For more information about ONP’s mission, as well as information on how to volunteer or donate, visit its website operationnorthpole.org.
