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« on: December 21, 2014, 08:01:39 PM »
AMEN to all of this. When our party arrived from Massachusetts at about 11:30 and turned into Cross Road, we could not believe the number of cars lining the street. All the way down the hill and up the next, and out of sight. We were lucky and got waved into a space in the parking lot which just had been vacated. Upon getting out of the car, we saw the line of waiting passengers stretching the entire length of the station platform, down the ramp, and along the roadside almost to the Percival house. Never before have we seen that many people at any of the past events! We had to wait for 3 or 4 trains to come and go before seriously considering getting in the line. Despite the size of the crowd, everyone was patient and there was no shoving or cutting in as the train arrived for the next run. The platform is pretty narrow, and people were trying to enter the gift shop as well as wait for the train, so it made for some crowding at arrival and departure time. Refreshments were waiting inside, so the interior was usually packed with people, elbow to elbow. I think it probably was at peak capacity. Many volunteers behind the counter kept track of sales, refilled snack trays, etc. It was "organized bedlam", but again, there were no incidents or lost tempers from what we could see. Everyone was in a holiday spirit. A few drinks were spilled by kids getting bumped trying to negoitate the tight space, but no other problems. At Alna Center, the same spirit of Christmas prevailed. Kids could make clothespin ornaments in the station, see Santa, or ride the "wagon" sleigh ride. The weather was perfect. All in all: A+.
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