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Santa waved from a brightly decorated Fillmore & Western Railway caboose and threw out some jolly “Ho-Ho-Hoes!” to the crowd after he made his traditional stop at Santa Paula’s historic Depot.
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Santa Claus leaves the reindeers home,
takes F&W train for special visit
December 05, 2014
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
There were cries of “Santa!” Saturday evening when Fillmore & Western Railway makes its traditional stop at the Santa Paula Depot with their famous passenger to delight local children and pick up toy donations to ensure needy kids have Christmas cheer.
Santa left the reindeers home to take the train for a special visit to communities from East Ventura to its hometown of Fillmore.
A crowd gathered at the historic Depot ahead of time to see Santa who each year can be counted on to throw out a “Ho-Ho-Ho!” or two, handout candy canes and pose for photos with the children that although small are his biggest fans.
Natalia Hernandez, 9, was poised to ask Santa for a pair of roller skates while her sister, Abigail, 8, was opting for a Sketch Pad. Each of the girls, who live in California City, were holding a toy donation while waiting for the train with their grandparents, City Councilman Martin Hernandez and his wife Holly of Santa Paula.
“I’m excited,” said Natalia, who with Abigail was quick to reconfirm their belief in Santa Claus.
Kelly Kroon, 14, said she also Believes in Santa, “Absolutely!”
And within a few minutes the Jolly One himself arrived, waving from the caboose that sparkled with all its decorations.
Once he hopped down Santa was surrounded by dozens of children - and a few adults - who were excited to see him and couldn’t wait to pose for photos.
“We had a lot of people up and down the line tonight,” said Dave Wilkinson, owner of Fillmore & Western Railway.
The train left its home base without a stop and then started its short tour at the East Ventura Montalvo Metrolink Station where the Jolly One delighted - and startled - passengers on the Amtrak Surfliner. Then it was on to the Montgomery/North Bank stop before arriving in Saticoy at Alelia Avenue.
From Saticoy the brightly decorated train made its way to Santa Paula and then continued home to Fillmore and its last stop.
Wilkinson said with an estimated 300 people, the Montgomery/North Bank in Ventura stop had the largest crowd of Santa greeters.
The Santa Train is co-sponsored each year by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, which collects the toys to be given to needy children. Santa’s Helper Bill Bartels and - of course - Mrs. Claus AKA Laura Bartels were also on hand along with various elves and conductors.
Fillmore & Western has been embroiled for more than a year in a lawsuit with the Ventura County Transportation Commission, which owns the Santa Paula Branch Line that runs through the Santa Clara River Valley.
More court dates are ahead but Wilkinson said, “We’re shooting to be back next year,” for a whistle stop in Santa Paula with Santa Claus, whose 2015 visit Wilkinson said will also feature the Fillmore & Western antique 1913 steam engine.
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Santa Claus came to town Saturday and was quickly surrounded by children and adults clamoring to get a candy cane, tell Old St. Nick what they would like for Christmas and enjoy a photo opp with the Jolly One. |
