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By RACHEL RAIFORD | Staff Writer

CALERA — The North Pole Express has made its way to the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum and will continue to take residents on festive rides until Dec. 20.

The North Pole Express experience includes a train ride and time spent among the characters of the North Pole. There will also be food vendors around the grounds of the museum, though food and drinks are not allowed on board of the train.

There are four variations of tickets, each including a different amenity. Ticket variations include: Coach, Entertainment Coach, First Class and the Premium Table Car ticket. Each ticket accounts for passengers ages two and up.

There are also six train cars to choose from when booking your tickets: Frisco, Long Island, Chicago & Northwestern Gallery, Silver Maple, Santa Fe and Silver Cuisine. Each care offers a different experience.

The Silver Maple car offers the North Pole’s finest hot chocolate along with a special bakery treat. The Silver Cuisine car is the newest addition to the train. It offers a unique premium experience of traveling in a tabled booth to the North Pole. The activities in the Silver Cuisine are best suited for children ages five and older.

Santa, Mrs. Claus and their elves will also board the train to visit with families and take photos with every child. After their visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, families will be served drinks and treats.

Families in attendance will also receive a custom collectible ornament as a gift to keep the holiday memory alive for years to come.

Each train car will have an assigned boarding tent and boarding will begin approximately 15 minutes prior to the departure time.

Tickets are available at Hodrrm.org. Ticket prices vary between class and the full price list is available on the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum website. Attendees should plan to arrive approximately one hour prior to their scheduled departure.