Hello friends! I intentionally skipped a week to rest after a very busy North Pole Express season. In today’s post I am going to reflect on this past NPE season and reflect on what I and the Essex Steam Train achieved this year. There is plenty to be thankful for and I achieved much during this year. With that, let’s pause and take a look back.
As always, when talking about the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat, the views here are my own.
Becoming a Captain
It may come as a surprise to some of you, but 2024 was the year that I officially became a licensed captain. From January to March of 2024, I took a class to get the certificates I needed for my 100 Ton Master’s license, as well as my Towing Assist Endorsement.
I then took a physical, plus a drug test, then submitted all the paperwork to the National Maritime Center in West Virginia of all places. With that came the waiting game, and in October my license finally arrived.
My license arrived too late for me to operate the Becky Thatcher or the Adventure unsupervised, but the plan is that next season I will be training as a captain. Once I am ready, I will be skippering the boats. I look forward to that very much, and I can’t wait to be silly over the radio with the train crews.
North Pole Express Conclusion
On December 23rd, 2024, the North Pole Express season came to a glorious end. I was aboard Train 1, so I was aboard for the very last departure of the year (the 8pm trip). It was an uneventful trip operations-wise, but we had fun with it. ALL of the elves came aboard for that last trip, and I bid goodbye to some of our Claus family members until next year.
After returning to Essex, we put the train away, then ate the many pizzas and desserts that the company had ordered for us. I gave lots of hugs, handshakes and well-wishes to my coworkers at the pizza party.
To top it all off, we took our annual crew photos with the locomotives. This year we had four train sets running, so we squeezed in 0902, 40, 97, and 3025 into the shots. This made for some memorable photos. Since 2021 we have expanded the photo shoot to include the elves, sleepy servers, North Polians, and (new this year) bar staff. I will link the photos here.
Cast Party at the Stanford’s
After the photos and pizza, I joined some of our train crew and cast members at the Stanford house. Becky and Nick hosted a cast party at their house for the second year in a row. Becky is one of our North Polians (as Holly Jolly) and she and her husband Nick are both involved in the Connecticut theatre scene. They are lovely people.
Jayden, Julia, LB, Sydney, Johanna, and Mat were among the partygoers. Jayden had been to the Stanford house last year, but it was Sydney’s first visit. The Stanford house is a lovely residence. Nick and Becky clearly take pride in their home.
I remarked to Sydney that this was really our first time sitting down and talking to each other as friends at a party. Normally we’re so busy that conversation is an afterthought. She agreed, and we both hope that next year will bring more opportunities for friendship.
My one regret is that Angela, my girlfriend, could not be there. She was not feeling well that evening. Despite that, I made it a point to remind her how much I care for her.
Christmas at the McNally’s
My family’s Christmas celebration this year was much lower key than in the past. My sisters, all of whom are married or engaged, spent their Christmas with their spouse’s/fiance’s families. At the house this year was just my parents and myself.
Despite the absence of my siblings and their partners (and my niece), we still had a good time. On Christmas Eve we had dinner with our family friends, and on Christmas Day we hung out at the McNally family home. We exchanged a few gifts, then enjoyed a hearty meal in the evening.
It was our first Christmas without our beloved Timber. We miss her so much but know that she will always be with us in spirit. I will always love you, Timber, my big fluffball.
Mom, I know you may not approve of me sharing this personal stuff, but then again, this whole blog is about my experiences, so it’s pretty darned personal. I still love you, though!
North Pole Reflections
The 2024 North Pole Express was an excellent but extremely busy operation. We had four (four!) train sets running this year, more than any other year previously. With all those trains, we had a grand total of 344 departures! A record for the company’s history books.
One thing we all noticed is that the public is more demanding, pushy, and entitled than ever before. This makes the operation much more difficult. Despite the bad behavior of some of our guests, the majority seemed cooperative and happy with the production. We all made an effort to put on a smile, even with the adversity.
I made new friends among the cast and crew this year, including Toby, Sierra, and Aimee, plus I saw many old friends, such as Peter, Johanna, Elijah, and Angela. The connections that we make among each other at NPE are as enduring as Christmas itself. I would not trade that for anything.
Launching This Blog
I launched this blog in August of 2024. I originally started this blog as a means of making money on the side, but that goal is still a long way off, and it will likely take years before it turns a profit. Then again, making money wasn’t my only goal.
I also want to share my experience with my coworkers, friends, family, and the public. Some of you have subscribed to the blog and are regular readers. I appreciate your support and hope you will continue reading. There’s still plenty of experiences left to share, and stories to tell!
I appreciate everyone’s support in this new endeavor. It has been a joy to write about railroading and my maritime experiences. Thanks once again, everyone!
2024 Concludes
2024 was not without challenges, such as financial difficulties, irate customers, losing Timber, and dealing with the government’s own (and usually slow) pace. But it was also a year of triumphs. I became a licensed Captain, completed the North Pole Express season for the eighth year in a row, and launched this blog.
Thank you everyone for being my support system, especially my family and significant other. I love you all to the North Pole and back!
As always, thanks for reading!