UTICA, N.Y. -- The Adirondack Scenic Railroad takes passengers on trips all across the state throughout the year. But during the holiday season, it leaves Utica's Union Station for a festive trek to the North Pole to pick up Santa Claus. 

"Everybody in the area is talking about it, told us to book our tickets back in July. So that's what we did,” said Michele Taber, an Auburn resident.

It's not every day that Union Station in Utica is filled with people wearing pajamas. This year, more than 20,000 tickets were sold for the Polar Express Train Ride on the Adirondack Scenic Railroad, which is the most ever.

“We've been doing this for well over five years now, and it just grows and grows every year,” said Mark Piersma, the Adirondack Scenic Railroad public relations director.

There's Cocoa Class or Coach seating available -- either way many say they can just relax and enjoy the ride.

"That's why we chose to do it because it's something that nobody else has, so it's gonna be a lot of fun for the kids to get on the train,” Taber said.

"It's such a scenic ride, and now the snow is on the ground. People just really love it,” Piersma said.

Whether it's the treats, train ride, or meeting Santa, people say there's just something magical about the Polar Express.

And then the moment everyone waits for is seeing Santa!

Volunteers say the Polar Express Train Ride is truly a unique experience.

“Yeah I guess I could call it 'magical', just the feeling of being able to see all this and talk to so many people, and have so many different families and groups come together on a train,” said Rebecca Darling, a volunteer.

It’s a trip that, for many, has become a Christmas-time tradition.