What: BNSF Railway free annual Christmas Steam Train.
When: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.
Where: Amtrak station, 1301 W. 11th St., Vancouver.
It’s time for another visit by the SP&S locomotive … which, in December, means “Santa, Presents & Steam.”
The venerable SP&S 700 locomotive will chug into Vancouver with the red-suited guest of honor Saturday morning for BNSF’s 10th annual Santa Steam Train event.
The family-friendly Christmas celebration will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the BNSF Railway facility, adjacent to Vancouver’s Amtrak station.
More than 2,000 people have turned out for Santa’s last few steam-powered visits, Gus Melonas, BNSF spokesman, said.
There will be presents for children when they meet Santa Claus in a pavilion set up in case of inclement weather.
The two-hour event will include hot chocolate and cider, cake and cookies. It’s free, but people are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy to be donated to the Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots campaign.
Built in 1938, the Baldwin oil-fired steam locomotive ran a passenger route for SP&S (Spokane, Portland & Seattle) Railway from Portland to Spokane via Vancouver and the Columbia RiverGorge.
The festivities will be taking place in a working railroad yard, Melonas noted. Patrons should dress appropriately, including shoes, and watch for trains.
All tracks in the area will be open to rail traffic Saturday.
