CSX Santa Train 2025
It was hoped that the 2025 version of the annual Santa Train would have Clinchfield heritage unit 1902 again in the lead, but railfans had to settle for three F40PHs. The temperature was warm for this time of year, but rain was in the forecast.
1. I headed for Shelby, the origin point. Santa is scheduled to depart at 0600, but there was a big crowd anyway. Totes of goodies were shuttled by Elves from the car to the crowd.
2. A new car has been lettered especially for the Santa Train, but I didn't get the number. Boxes of contributions are stored in the last car also.
3. Volunteer Elves mingle near the train.
4. I was offered a stuffed animal, but I declined. Years ago, I got a Clinchfield Coal toboggan and several Eastman Chemical (then part of Kodak).
5. The Santa Train, running as P001-22, departs a little after 0600.
6. Clear block signal for Santa at Draffin. The rain became heavy at Marrowbone and continued at Draffin.
7. CSX 1 passes the signal.
8. Ho! Ho! Ho! P001-22 has 13 cars.
9. It is starting to get daylight when the Santa Train departs on time, at the former Clinchfield Elkhorn Yard.
10. F40PHs 1-3-2 head the 13-car Santa Train. These are former Amtrak units, built between the late 1970s and the mid-1980s.
11. A bunch of bystanders and railfans were on hand to watch P001-22 pick up speed.
12. The schedule was presumably the same south of Elkhorn City. I headed back home to watch Saturday football games.
Train images used by permission of Everett N Young