NORTH POLE - Abigail Baker didn't know where she was headed on Tuesday night, so when the Sandpoint youth boarded BNSF Railway's Holiday Express her eyes lit up.

Not only was she on a train for the first time, she was aboard a vintage luxury train headed to North Pole.

"This is really cool," Baker said just prior to getting a surprise visit from Santa. "I'm finally getting to ride a train."

The 1.5-hour ride went from BNSF's refueling depot near Hauser to North Pole and back. North Pole, on Google Maps, is an unincorporated area south of Athol.

About 300 Idaho National Guard and Reserve personnel and their family members were treated to the ride, which included snacks, a commemorative Christmas ornament, visits from Idaho Lt. Gov. Brad Little and Maj. Gen. Gary Sayler of the Idaho National Guard and Santa's arrival.

"It's a way to spread holiday cheer to military members and their families and to say thank you for everything they've done for the country, the world, BNSF and the community," said Gus Melonas, BNSF spokesman. "We're pleased to bring this to the community."

Hayden's Jason Rzepa, who had both of his legs amputated below the knee due to injuries sustained during a roadside bomb attack in Iraq, enjoyed the ride with his wife, Cassandra, and sons Kohl, 9, and Collin, 2.

"I'm on a train," Kohl said emphatically. "I've been on a train, but not like this one. This one is a lot nicer."

Rzepa said he and the kids appreciated the ride.

"Who doesn't want to go on a train ride?" he said.

The Express features 14 refurbished passenger cars from the 1950s, including dining cars, a coach, sleepers, a dancer car and cafe.

The ride kicked off a nine-day tour for the Holiday Express throughout the Northwest and California.

Baker's father, Greg, was deployed to Iraq when the Express stopped in Hauser three years ago.

"It's nice to do something that's family oriented because we've spent so much time apart," Greg said.

Greg's wife, Tabitha, said it was also nice bonding with other military families.

"Those in the National Guard have their military duties and their civilian duties, so we juggle all of those and get pulled in different directions," Tabitha said.

Bob and Sandy Davis, neighbors to the Bakers, joined them for a group outing. Bob, a Vietnam-era Air Force veteran, said he's pleased to say that military families are recognized more today than when he served.

"I know trains - I tried to get out of Texas for three days in 1960 on a train - but this is a pretty good deal," he said with a smile.

The ride drew widespread comments from young ones.

"I want everything that I don't have," one boy told Santa.

Another asked Roger Nober, BNSF's executive vice president of law, if the train was going to get robbed.

"Not tonight," Nober assured the boy. "Trains used to be robbed, but not any more."

As a parting gift to the military at the end of the ride, the BNSF Foundation presented $10,000 to the Idaho National Guard Family Support Fund.

Since the inaugural trip of the Express five years ago, the foundation has given more than $400,000 toward organizations in the West that support troops and their families.

"Our men and women soldiers and their families go through untold hardships and extreme challenges," Col. Tim Marsano of the Guard said. "When you see companies like BNSF give back, we applaud them.

"Gratitude is the word of the day."