ERWIN, Tenn. — Thousands of area residents were on hand Thursday night (Nov. 21) when CSX held a special Holiday Express event in Erwin to bring holiday cheer and support recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
The event — a precursor to the 82nd CSX Santa Train from Shelbiana, Ky., to Kingsport, Tenn., this Saturday, Nov. 23 — featured a performance by Americana singer-songwriter Drew Holcomb, gift bags, and visit from Santa Claus, and food from Chick-fil-A, as well as holiday-decorated CSX cars and the railroad’s Clinchfield Railroad heritage locomotive. It also saw the presentation of $5,000 donations to five local organizations: the East Tennessee Foundation, United Way of East Tennesee Highlands, the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, and Manna Foodbank.
“The CSX Holiday Express celebration was all about coming together as a community,” said CSX CEO Joe Hinrichs, who was on hand. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to bring joy to this resilient region and to contribute in ways that support lasting recovery. It’s an honor to be here alongside the remarkable residents of Unicoi County.”
