A Herd Of Reindeer Was Spotted In Essex

Essex, CT — The holidays are coming, and so are the reindeer. A whole herd will be at the Essex Steam Train this year to help welcome the joyous season as a new Reindeer on the Rails program is unveiled. It is a social distancing alternative to the usual well-known and time-honored North Pole Express and Santa Special “Elf Academy” holiday regulars.

“We did not feel we could maintain adequate social distancing if we offered the same holiday train experiences we have in the past,” said Essex Steam Train President Kevin Dodd. “We don’t want anyone getting sick on our watch, so we have come up with alternatives this year that we hope will keep everyone healthy and families will enjoy.”

The agonizing decision to cancel the regular holiday trains was not an easy one, said Dodd, who personally loves the holiday season and the joy and pleasure that the trips with Santa on the trains bring to passengers of all ages.

“The leadership of the Railroad explored every possible paradigm, over the past six months, to make the experiences here safe for everyone and to ensure that we still made something special happen for the kids,” said Dodd. “We are doing the very best we can.”

Starting after Thanksgiving on Nov. 27, there will be two holiday options for families to enjoy the magic of the Essex Steam Train aboard the elegant Essex Clipper Dinner Train. For daytime fun, excursions geared more toward younger passengers will be the Reindeer on the Rails. They will offer breakfast and lunch rides aboard the beautifully decorated 1920s Pullman dining cars drawn by a vintage diesel locomotive.

While boarding, guests will be welcomed to meander through an enchanted evergreen and candy cane forest as Mrs. Claus waves hello. Once aboard, kids will don their festive Reindeer Antlers (a gift from Rudolph himself), piece together a fun Christmas craft ornament and write a personal letter to Santa, to be mailed at the Reindeer Express Post Office before departing Essex Station at the conclusion of the trip. Guests will be seated at family dining tables, which will be set with continental family-style breakfasts or lunch platters. In addition to the timely scenery along the rails, families may even get a quick glimpse of Old Saint Nick himself if they keep their eyes peeled.

Evening rides, geared toward more mature families (kids age 10 and up), will include special holiday menus and nighttime rides along the rails lit up with holiday cheer. The new train programs will run through Dec. 21.

“We are hopeful for a return to normalcy soon,” said Dodd. “In this environment, planning for the holiday season has been exceedingly difficult, as with everything in 2020.”

He added, “Almost all that we do depends on the public demand, which is sporadic and inconsistent due to shifts in ideas and information related to Covid-19.”

To accommodate for social distancing, tables on one side of each dinner car have been removed to allow for more space. Currently, there are six tables seating four each in each of the cars. Everything is sanitized and thoroughly cleaned between trips. Staff wear masks at all times, and guests are asked to wear masks until they are seated at their tables.

For more information or to buy tickets, go to www.essexsteamtrain.com.