Snow and steam heat greet passengers as they board the train to meet Santa Claus.

Wabash 1189 arrives into the downtown Monticello depot with a passenger train.

Wabash 1189 passes searchlight signals pulling the NS Santa Train.

A blue hour departure of the Polar Express is imminent.

Passengers await the departure of the Polar Express to the North Pole.

Relettered to lead the Polar Express, Wabash #1189 goes through Monticello.

Merry Christmas! Wabash 1189 leads the 2017 NS Santa Train west through Decatur.

Wabash 1189 leads the NS Santa Train west into Niantic.

Monticello Railway Museum's passenger train crawls past the Top Flight Grain Elevator while climbing to the NS connection for use on the NS Decatur Christmas Train.

Wabash 1189 leads the Santa Train out of Decatur.

The 2017 NS Holiday Train prepares to depart Wabic Junction with the usual classic consist of Wabash 1189 and CN 6789.

Wabash 1189 passes MP 387 on the Springfield-Hannibal District, a location it's likely passed many times in its 65+ year career.

Wabash 1189 disturbs the quiet town of Niantic as it barrels by the grain elevator with the 2017 NS Holiday Train.

Wabash 1189 gets ready to depart Brush Yard with another round trip of the annual holiday train in Decatur Illinois

Wabash F7 1189 holds next to the old Wabash coal chute in Decatur with the 2017 NS Santa Train.