Starting this weekend, Santa and his elves are boarding the Dufferin area's two tourist trains.

Both the Orangevillebased Credit Valley Explorer and Tottenham's South Simcoe Railway (SSR) are offering special tours targeting kids of all ages.

The Explorer's 50- minute tours will start this weekend at Inglewood, with the train boarding set for 11 a.m., 12 noon, 1 and 2 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday. The same schedule will be used the following Saturday, Dec. 6 for trips north to the Forks of the Credit.

Departures on the following two weekends will be from the Orangeville train station, with boarding at 11 a.m., 12 noon and 1 and 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13, Sunday, Dec. 14 and Saturday, Dec. 20.

Tickets on all trips will be $14.50 plus GST per passenger and sold by advance reservation only. They are available online and for Inglewood departures can also be purchased from the Inglewood General Store (905) 838- 4386.

At Tottenham, Santa and his helpers will join the SSR in December for their annual visit to all the good girls and boys. Santa Express excursions through the Simcoe Creek valley run the first three weekends in December, departing at 10:00, 11:30, 1:00 and 2:30, except on Dec. 6, when they will depart at 1:00 & 2:30 only.

Missing for the first time this year will be the familiar sounds and smells of the steam locomotives, with both 1883-vintage 136 and 1912's 1057 requiring major restorations by the SSR's team of volunteers. In their place will be a diesel locomotive that's similar in age to the Explorer's Spirit of Orangeville, 1950s-era engine 1000.

Fares for the Santa Express: Adults $13, Children $7 including all taxes. Babies under 2 not occupying a seat are free. Children's fares apply to age 15 and under.