ERWIN, Tenn. — Not only will CSX Transportation continues its tradition with the 82nd running of the Clinchfield Santa Train on Saturday, Nov. 23, the railroad is also operating a separate christmas-light-decorated holiday train that will visit Erwin, Tenn., on Thursday, Nov. 21 — two days before the Santa Train.
In social media posts today (Thursday, Nov. 7) on sites including Facebook and x.com, CSX announced it will stage a train adorned with holiday lights and pulled by the railroad’s recently released GE ES44AC Clinchfield Railroad heritage locomotive No. 1902 in the Erwin Yard. The event will feature a music performance by Drew Holcomb.
“The devastation across the region has been heartbreaking, and all of us at CSX want to try to bring some joy to our neighbors in Erwin, Unicoi County, and the surrounding region,” CSX CEO Joe Hinrichs said in a press release. “Our team has been busy providing water and other relief since Hurricane Helene and we will continue to support the community in the months ahead”
In late November 2023, CSX operated a special CSX Holiday Express train to Washington, D.C., featuring four repainted boxcars equipped with holiday lights and decorations. Presumably, this equipment, widely documented elsewhere, is what will make an appearance in Erwin with the heritage locomotive.
Erwin was badly destroyed by Tropical Storm Helene’s devastating flooding that has taken the railroad’s Blue Ridge Subdivision out of service for several months.
“It is a privilege to support our neighbors and the communities we serve in challenging times, and we are proud, for the first time ever, to add a one-time-only event to the traditional CSX Santa Train week,” says Bryan Tucker, vice president of stakeholder engagement and sustainability at CSX.
The event will kick off at the railroad’s Erwin Yard located at 229 Nolichucky Avenue on Thursday, Nov. 21 at 6 p.m and last until 8:30 p.m. Gates will open at 5:30 p.m.
Two days later, the 82nd running of the Santa Train will operate between Shelby, Ky., and Kingsport, Tenn., with its traditional 14 stops along the railroad’s Kingsport Subdivision. Erwin is about 35 miles south of Kingsport and about 45 miles north of Asheville, N.C.
— Updated at 4:50 p.m. CT with comment from CSX CEO Joe Hinrichs.
Many years ago, Ervin was old stopping grounds. Caan even remember the Challengers being parked north of the service facility. The Erwin persons really need a pickup at this Thanksgiving.