Mechanical Department "No no that's fine shove that 20 pound set all around the yard... those shoes aren't hell and a half to change..."
The Missabe Road: Safety First
Do not despair, Murphy Siding. Currently, or in a few days, Canadian Pacific will have three such trains on the tracks: Midwest U.S., Northeastern U.S. and Canada. I believe the Midwestern one departed from Gurnee, waaay north of Chicago the evening of Saturday, December 9; and its first scheduled stop was at the new depot in Sturtevant, Wisconsin. Then it heads off on CP-controlled tracks thru Wisconsin, Minnesota and up to the Canadian border.
All three of the CP Christmas trains collect food for the poor, are strung up front-to-end with colored Christmas lights, and feature musical entertainers (usually country or folk) who ride aboard the train between stops / performances. (Of course, there are numerous musical "crew changes" along such a long routing.)
Also, CSX cost-cutting has not eliminated the Santa Claus Train, a heritage that goes back to the Clinchfield RR and its path into and through many of the Cumberlands' remote "coal hollers." The train originates in Kingsport, TN, I believe. As in the Clinchfield days, it keeps up the tradition of giving (or tossing) toys and treats to the kids along the route. It usually runs a weekend or two after Thanksgiving.
Well, I'm no old timer being 30 years old and all, but here in Los Angeles we have the Metrolink commuter service. I haven't seen it yet but they have a Christmas train that runs on the weekend and stops at each station to have Santa pass out gifts to all the children. My two year old son loves trains and I am hoping to catch that last possible station closeist to my town since I missed the closer ones not knowing about this train. Here is the link:
http://www.metrolinktrains.com/
Also my buddy just got back from Durrango, Co where he was looking to buy land. He said that he took the family on the Durrango, Silverton RR which has a wonderful Christmas train with the theme of the Polar Express. Here it their website:
http://www.durangotrain.com/
I think that these trains and others that are Christmas Trains are a wonderful thing. BNSF also has a small train that runs out to Monrovia, CA which take the Cancer Children for a ride out of the city of Hope Hospital. That to me is top notch.
--Zak Gardner
My Layout Blog: http://mrl369dude.blogspot.com
http://zgardner18.rrpicturearchives.net
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A Rock Island E unit brought Santa into Peoria for the Christmas parade every year.
He left the "train" (he rode a baggage-express car behind the E), and got on his float at the station to bring up the end of the parade.
I could use a little cheering up. Judging from some of the recent flair-ups on some threads, maybe we all could use some.
Locally, BNSF and The Ellis & Eastern Railroad run a little Christmas special through town every year. While I appreciate what they do, I wonder what railroads did in the past around Christmas time.
Any of you *old-timers* want to tell us *youngsters* (I'm 45) about Christmas trains back in the "good old days"?
I'm all ears. Thank you.
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
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