Photos: Alaska Railroad's 2014 holiday train

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The Alaska Railroad holiday train prepares to embark from the Anchorage depot on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

With a few quick toots from the horn, this year's Alaska Railroad holiday train took off from the Anchorage depot on Saturday morning with scores of excited children and their parents in tow.

As the train slowly made its way through town, a group of carolers started at one end of the eight-car train, while a troupe of balloon artists made their way from the other end.

Adding to the excitement was Santa Claus himself, who visited each and every child during the 2.5 hour trip down Turnagain Arm.

The holiday train is one of the Alaska Railroad's many special event trains, which include a Halloween train, Easter train, and the ski train, among others, and it has been running each year for over a decade. This year approximately 1,700 people enjoyed the holiday train.

Video: Alaska Railroad's 2014 holiday train