Portland Oregon USA - On a cold, clear, evening, the sound of the Spokane Portland & Seattle (SP&S) 700 locomotive's steam whistle can be heard for miles, as it takes revelers aboard the "Holiday Express" for an excursion along Oaks Bottom.
 
"It's hard to believe it, but this is already our 10th year of running the Holiday Express excursion trains," reflected Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation Vice President Ed Immel, during the first weekend of operations this year.
 
Passengers check in at a large heated tent at Oaks Bottom Station, in the parking lot of historic Oaks Amusement Park.
 
While awaiting their departure, many visitors browse tables laden with railroad souvenirs, and purchase a snack, or cup of hot coffee, or cocoa.
 
Then the conductor calls "all aboard", and riders are taken through Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge northward to the Springwater Trail gateway and the Oregon Rail Heritage Center near OMSI, before the return trip back to Sellwood.
 
The SP&S 700 steam locomotive originally went into service in 1938, and spent most of its time pulling trains between Portland and Spokane on the Empire Builder line, Immel told us.
 
Today, it's one of three historic locomotives owned by the City of Portland and maintained by Immel's ORHF.
 
"Depending on how you look at it, the 700 is the third or fourth largest steam engine in the world that is still operating," Immel added.
 
"Not many cities have the opportunity to showcase a massive piece of historic engineering like this."
 
About 150 volunteers help out during the 72 December "Holiday Express" runs, over its three-week schedule.
 
"Again this year, we have people who come from as far as the San Francisco Bay area and Seattle to help out," Immel said.
 
Even though each excursion could accommodate more riders, Immel told The Bee that they limit each train to about 200 guests, giving families plenty of room for their journey in the heated, Christmas-light-illuminated, historic railroad passenger cars.
 
This year, organizers established "demand pricing", providing lower-cost tickets for runs at traditionally less-popular times and days.
 
"So far, it looks as if our ridership will exceed our best year, 2012, based on tickets sold and reservations," Immel smiled.
 
Many volunteers say the best part of the trip is watching kids faces light up when Santa Claus comes strolling through the rail car.
 
"It is true that the Holiday Express is a fundraiser for our non-profit organization," Immel affirmed.
 
"Our volunteers don't mind the cold weather and hard work because they say it's so much fun watching people have a good time, take a train ride, and get close up to massive steam locomotives like these."
 
As another excursion pulled out of the station, Immel mused, "How many people, in their daily lives, get to have others joyfully waving at them and expressing gratitude for what they're doing?"
 
There may yet be time to catch a ride, the Holiday Express runs through Sunday, 21 Dec 2014.

David Ashton.