Rain or shine, CSX Santa Train rides again

KINGSPORT — The CSX Santa Train winded its way through parts of the Appalachian region Saturday. The 110-mile journey through Eastern Kentucky, Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee started with a downpour of rain in Marrowbone, Kentucky. Even as puddles of water pooled on the ground, several hundreds of people braved the rain awaiting Santa's arrival. Many people came prepared with ponchos or umbrellas, while others who stood soaking wet donned Santa caps or pajamas. The weather cleared up as the sun began to rise, and as the train crossed over into Virginia from Kentucky. More than 15,00 toys, 6,000 train safety books and 5,700 backpacks filled with gifts, gloves and hats were distributed to families along the 13 stops on the route. Santa threw plush, stuffed toys off the back of the train to children in the crowd. Children shouted Santa's name hoping to get something special from the jolly old man himself. Family members placed the youngest children on their shoulders to give them a better chance at catching a stuffed animal as it was thrown. A small group of students from the Twin Springs High School Marching Band serenaded the crowd with holiday music at the Dungannon stop. At each stop, Santa Train volunteers disembarked the train to help pass out gifts on the ground. These volunteers were handpicked by CSX or selected from the train's partner organizations like Appalachian Power, Food City and the Kingsport Chamber. This year, Kingsport officials such as Steven Bower, Morris Baker, Pat Breeding, Melissa Woods and Chuck Carter were on board. Partner companies like Food City and Appalachian Power serve a majority of the area the CSX Santa Train passes through. Aaron Walker, president and CEO of Appalachian Power, said this was his third time being on board the train. He said he looks forward to seeing the tradition continue to its 100th anniversary and beyond in the coming years. "There's eight stops that are involved in our service territory for our customers," he said. "We operate in West Virginia, Virginia and northeast Tennessee, so it's a really exciting opportunity. With just over a half million customers, it looks like they're all outside waiting for the Santa Train to come back." Jamie Horton, assistant manager at the Eastman Road Food City in Kingsport, said this is her 28th year doing the Santa Train, but this was her first year being able to hand out gifts on the ground. She said it was an emotional experience for her as someone who has been so heavily involved in the planning and implementation process for many years. "I saw this one little boy that was crying, so I went to him, and I gave him a CSX teddy bear," Horton said. "The mom was standing right beside him with a little baby in her arms … I said, 'Why are you crying? Don't cry, honey. This is a special toy from Santa.'" She said the mom explained her son was upset he didn't get a backpack. So Horton went back to the train and got him one. "I came back to the train, got him a backpack and handed it to him," Horton said. "As soon as I handed it to him, he dried up the tears. He started smiling, and I absolutely started bawling." Continuing the tradition Bryan Tucker, CSX, vice president of stakeholder engagement, said the tradition of Santa Train is important to the company's employees. "It's a responsibility that I think our people take very seriously because they know that as we continue to do these events, there are new employees that are going to come on," he said. "We're going to pass that on to them and they'll continue doing this for hopefully another 83 years." He said the Santa Train and its partners are really what help keep the tradition alive and moving forward each year. "I think anybody who comes out and experiences the Santa Train knows that this is just something that you just have to keep going," Tucker said. "It has got a spirit of its own and it must continue for years to come, because it's just such an important tradition … We are teaching the next generation of railroaders who will continue it in the future." The Santa Train wrapped its 83rd run around 3 p.m. Saturday as Santa got off the train in Kingsport to greet the hometown crowd. Children participated in crafts and activities at Santa's Depot held at Centennial Park downtown.