KINGSPORT, Tenn. — The CSX Santa Train will return for its 81st year on Nov. 18, the railroad announced today in a video on the Santa Train Facebook Page.
“The Santa Train is an integral part of CSX history, and we are proud to be a part of this longstanding tradition,” CEO Joe Hinricks said in the video.
The train returned last year after a two-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic — and after the railroad had originally announced it would not operate because of staffing and supply chain problems [see “In reversal, CSX Santa Train to run …,” Trains News Wire, Sept. 27, 2022].
It will once again operate on a 110-mile route from Shelby, Ky., to Kingsport, Tenn., with 13 stops en route.
“I had the privilege of riding last year’s Santa Train and was able to see firsthand how beloved this tradition is by CSX employees, community members and volunteers alike, and we are looking forward to another year of serving the Appalachia area,” Hinrichs said in an article in the Kingsport Times News.
The event is sponsored by Appalachian Power, Food City, the Kingsport Chamber, and Soles4Souls.
“None of this would be possible without the Santa Train partners and community, and we are grateful for their unwavering support,” CSX Vice President of Corporate Communcations Bryan Tucker told the Times News. “This is truly a passion project for Team Santa Train, and we’ve been hard at work creating an unforgettable experience for those along the tracks this November.”
Please let it happen.
Hinrichs is adept at pushing the right buttons….
Just a wild rumor: CSX is interested in having Western Maryland Scenic Railroad 1309 pull this year’s Santa Train.
Dr. Güntürk Üstün