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Baby Kris just fine after wild El ride into life

Little Kris Li is the talk of the town.

His mom, Yanjin Li, beamed with pride this afternoon while talking about her son's much publicized entrance into the world last night on a Market-Frankford El train.

"Thank you to everyone who helped," an exhausted Li, 27, told the Daily News during a bedside interview in Hahnemann University Hospital. "It was so scary."

Li started getting contractions yesterday afternoon, around the time other families were sitting down to Christmas dinner. She and her husband Binqing, 28, hopped aboard an El train near their West Philly home and were rushing to Hahnemann.

But as the crowded train rattled toward Center City, Li's contractions started getting more intense.

Just before 6 p.m., Li's pain reached its zenith.

"Philly, my baby is coming," she screamed.

Kris couldn't wait any longer.

"I didn't know what to do; the baby was just coming out," Li said.

Thanks to some quick-thinking passengers and two diligent SEPTA Transit Police Officers, Li's bundle of joy was delivered safely in the bowels of the 15th Street El stop, across the street from the City Hall of his new hometown.

Those officers, Sgt. Daniel Caban and Officer Darrell James, visited Li earlier today in her room to check in on the family.

In addition to well-wishes, the pair brought a care package for Kris: a Phillies t-shirt and a stuffed SEPTA train, a souvenir from his wild ride into life.

Kris' parents, who moved to Philly about 8 years ago from their native Fujian, China, are doing well and looking forward to taking their son home.

But why Kris? Well, that's an easy one, according to Li.

"He was born on Christmas," she said with a smile. "It seemed like the right thing to do."