Sagamore Hills Santa helps keep The Polar Express on track

by Erica Peterson

When Ken Andrews retired from Nationwide Insurance three years ago and was looking for something to do, he never guessed it would be playing Santa Claus.

But when his wife Nancy saw an article about the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad seeking volunteers for The Polar Express, Ken decided to check it out.

For one thing, he looks the part. “The good Lord gave me this nice, white beard,” said Ken, 75. “He doesn’t do that for everyone.”

For another, the Sagamore Hills resident has an affinity for trains. A room in the Andrews’ Augusta Lane home is decorated with all things train, including a model locomotive and tracks that snake through the space.

The Polar Express seemed like a perfect fit. And after a few meetings about volunteering, Ken knew it was.

“Everyone has such a great time,” he said. “All the volunteers, the Santas, the elves, are fantastic.”

During The Polar Express season, two trains a night, one from Rockside Station in Independence, at 7900 Old Rockside Rd., and the other from the Akron Northside Station, at 27 Ridge St., arrive at the train depot in Peninsula, which is transformed into the North Pole. It’s filled with elves, tin soldiers and Santa in his sleigh.

The transformation is really something to see, Ken said.

With more than 46,000 passengers last year, The Polar Express relies on about 1,000 volunteers, said Sherri Lemley, CVSR manager of volunteer relations. Nearly 50 of those play Santa.

“We now have 10 Santas a night, so the program has really expanded,” she said. “We are very grateful to all of our Santas and volunteers who put their time into this program. We cannot put into words how appreciative we are.”

Ken is one of the Tuesday Santas. Each Santa visits only two cars, giving children ample time to visit with him.

Santa’s arrival is almost magical, he said. “The elves are singing and dancing and getting the children all pumped up,” he said. “Then, when we pop up behind a curtain, wow, there are screams everywhere!”

The children get a bell from Santa and visit with him, sitting on his lap for photos if they are brave enough. Each child determines the amount of interaction, Ken said.

“We never push them,” he said. “We always ask if we can enter their space.”

Some memorable connections have happened with children who were initially apprehensive, Ken said. He remembered a 2-year-old girl who wanted nothing to do with him.

“She was sitting off by herself and watching me but wouldn’t come over,” he said.

So he visited with the rest of the children, walking down one side of the train and giving children high fives. When he was walking back and passed her again, he stopped, looked at her and held out his hand, and she gave him a “low five,” he said.

He was pleased they were able to share that moment and figured that would be it, but when he was standing at the front of the train waving goodbye, she ran down the aisle and gave him a big hug.

“I could … it was so … that was worth a million bucks,” said Ken, choking up at the memory. “I know she had a great evening, and I sure did.”

Every Polar Express Santa goes through hours of training, and while some are employed elsewhere and have their own outfit, the CVSR provides costumes and gear, as needed.

Some Santas need a fake beard but not Ken. He’s a member of the International Brotherhood of Real Bearded Santas and has been growing out his beard since he started volunteering with The Polar Express, to the delight of the children.

“I was sitting for photos when I felt this tug, and this little man about 5 or 6 was pulling on my beard. I looked at him and said, ‘What do you think? Real?’ He looked up at me wide-eyed and said, ‘Yeah!’” Ken chuckled.

Even when he’s in street clothes, children often give him double takes. He recalled one afternoon when he was still working, he was taking a walk after lunch and a little boy about 3 years old came tearing down his driveway toward him, with his mother frantically running after him.

“He stopped at the end of the driveway, pointed at me and yelled, ‘Santa!’” Ken laughed.

Nancy said she remembers a little girl riding an elevator with them looking up at him with huge eyes.

“I was tempted to wink and give her one of these,” Ken said, putting his finger aside his nose. But he didn’t, saying he takes Santa service seriously.

This is the first year he is accepting other gigs besides the Polar Express. He is looking forward to surprising his mother Alice, who is 101, when he visits her assisted living facility in Brook Park. “She’s never seen me as Santa,” he said.

In its 25th year, The Polar Express at Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad runs through Dec. 21. For more information, call 800-468-4070, ext. 240 or visit cvsr.org.

Tess Wolfe contributed to this article.

 

Featured image photo caption: When Ken Andrews isn’t playing Santa Claus, he enjoys hanging out in a room in his Augusta Lane home that’s devoted to trains. So it’s only natural that when he is portraying St. Nick, it’s while he’s volunteering with the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad’s Polar Express. Photo by E. Peterson