Holiday cheer came early to about 350 North Idaho military service members and their families on Friday. As a way to say thank you for their service and sacrifice to our country, BNSF Railway hosted the local military families on the Holiday Express, a unique train ride. This is the 12th annual Holiday Express, which travels around the BNSF network.

The 90-minute train ride took families from Rathdrum to Cocolalla Lake as they enjoyed special holiday snacks, a holiday ornament and a visit by Santa.

The BNSF Railway Foundation also gave $5,000 each to Newby-Ginnings of North Idaho, a non-profit that provides basic necessities and essential household services to veterans, active military and the their families; and the Idaho National Guard and Reserve Family Support Fund, which provides financial relief for emergency and urgent situations for Idaho Guard Members and Reservists and their families.

The BNSF Holiday Express features 15 restored vintage railcars decked out with holiday decorations, and is powered by two of BNSF’s newest locomotives.

This year the Holiday Express will be in Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon and California. In total, more than 2,800 military personnel and their families will ride on the Holiday Express. The BNSF Railway Foundation will donate $70,000 to not-for-profit organizations that provide support to military members and their families.

BNSF Railway has a long history of supporting the military, reaching back more than 150 years. Since then, its people, equipment, and tracks have played a critical role in the nation’s defense strategy, helping to carry millions of men and women and countless tons of supplies and equipment to ports for deployment to conflicts around the world. BNSF employs nearly 8,000 veterans, representing 20 percent of our workforce. While deployed, employees receive make-whole pay and benefits continuation for themselves and their families.

In the past 12 years, the BNSF Holiday Express has hosted more than 27,000 military personnel and their families. Since the Holiday Express’ inaugural trip, the BNSF Railway Foundation has donated nearly $1 million to organizations that support the troops and their families. Additionally, the Foundation has donated $2.4 million to the USO to benefit Operation Enduring Care along with other military support organizations.

BNSF’s commitment has earned many honors including the prestigious Department Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Freedom Award, and four Seven Seals Awards. BNSF is consistently recognized as a “Top Military Friendly Employer” by G.I Jobs magazine.

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Courtney Wallace is a regional director in the public affairs department for BNSF Railway.