Lake State Railway (LSRC), Railway Age’s 2018 Short Line of the Year and 2021 Regional of the Year, delivers toys and “Christmas cheer” to Michigan communities. Also, OmniTRAX rail affiliate Great Western Railway of Colorado (GWR) performs Santa Claus’s last-mile sleigh service; Santa and Damian Maldonado ride Texas North Western Railway’s (TXNW) holiday train to Sunray, Tex.; and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) kicks off the holidays in Mexico with Tren Navideño.
LSRC
LSRC employees recently volunteered to bring Christmas cheer to communities along the Michigan-based Class II’s rail lines.
“This year was the biggest year by far for donations, with nearly $10,000 in toys donated to Toys for Tots by our employees, partners, and Antin Infrastructure Partners,” LSRC reported via social media.
The LSRC SD70M 1776 (pictured below) also took part in the event. The unit was rolled out earlier this year. Its special red, white, and blue paint scheme celebrating American independence was designed by second-generation LSRC railroader Travis Vongrey, a former conductor, engineer, and yardmaster and now a supervisor of yard operations. Vongrey also designed a locomotive in a heritage scheme inspired by the Pere Marquette Railway, one of LSRC’s antecedents.
Separately, LSRC is purchasing four SD70ACeT4 locomotives from Progress Rail, a Caterpillar Company. Delivery is expected by the end of this year.
GWR
Great Western Railway (GWR) recently delivered Santa to Boardwalk Park in Downtown Windsor, Colo., in a fully refurbished 1898 Yellowstone Pullman Car. According to the OmniTRAX affiliate, an audience of thousands eagerly awaited his arrival, which was followed by a “Holiday Proclamation” from Mayor Julie Cline and a tree lighting ceremony, plus festive activities, live music, and photos with the guest of honor.
GWR and OmniTRAX employees and their families accompanied Santa on the train and passed out train whistles and candy canes to the children in attendance.
“It’s an honor to bring Santa to Northern Colorado,” said Dallas Ramos, Vice President of OmniTRAX, which has been performing Santa’s last-mile sleigh service for more than a decade. “Windsor Wonderland brings neighbors, family, and friends together and we are proud to partner with such a beloved community event.”
Further Reading:
- For OmniTRAX, Another Wyoming Mining Partnership
- OmniTRAX: Exclusive Switching Partner for Tata Chemicals’ Wyoming Mine
- OmniTRAX Expands into Long Island, NY
- OmniTrax-Coast Belle Rail JV to Run SMVRR
TXNW
“Nearly 1,000 Moore County residents gathered in Sunray in the northern Texas Panhandle on Dec. 6 as their hometown railway, TXNW, transformed an ordinary evening into an extraordinary celebration of community spirit and holiday joy,” the short line reported Dec. 10. “The highlight of the evening came when a festively decorated TXNW locomotive pulled into town carrying Santa Claus and special guest of honor Damian Maldonado, whose attendance was made possible through the Make A Wish Foundation. With Sunray Mayor Bruce Broxson serving as Grand Marshal, the Christmas Train’s arrival marked the beginning of an evening that brought together families, local businesses, and community organizations in a celebration of what makes small-town Texas special.”
The event, co-organized by the railroad and the Sunray Volunteer Fire Department, featured complimentary hot cocoa, Christmas music, and an opportunity for children to share their holiday wishes with Santa. But the highlight, TXNW said, was the outpouring of community support that made the evening possible. “Local businesses and organizations rallied to ensure every child went home with a gift and every family felt the warmth of their community,” it noted. Among the contributors: JBS, DevCon, Moore County Hospital District, Trinity Repair, The Plaza, Jack Oldham, Dumas EDC, Dumas Rodeo, Dumas Lions Club, United Supermarket, Walmart, Toot n Totum, Civil Xcavation Contractors, Dumas ISD, Moore County Sheriff’s Department, Emergency Management Services, and Boy Scouts.
“This event represents everything we love about Moore County—neighbors coming together to create something meaningful for our children and families,” said TXNW Superintendent Amber Farley, whose team spent days decorating the train’s locomotive. “Seeing 1,000 smiling faces as that train rolled in, especially knowing Damian was aboard with Santa, reminded us why we’re proud to call Sunray home.”
“There’s a magical connection between Christmas and railroads for children, and we wanted to honor that tradition in a way that brings our entire community together,” said Paul Treangen, CEO of TNW Corporation, which is the privately held operator of TXNW and two other short lines, plus four logistics centers in Texas. “We’re grateful to work alongside so many generous neighbors who share our commitment to making Moore County a special place to raise families.”
Further Reading:
CPKC
“We’re proud to continue our annual Tren Navideño tradition, celebrating the season with our railroader families in Mexico,” CPKC reported via social media on Dec. 9. “This private event features festive lights, holiday activities, a visit from Santa, and the joy of tradition—a special thank you to our dedicated team and their families. Wishing everyone a wonderful and memorable holiday season!”
Meanwhile, the annual CPKC Holiday Train is touring Canada and the U.S. through Dec. 21, presenting musical performances and raising money, food, and awareness to support food banks across its network, and CSX hosted the 83rd running of its Santa Train on Nov. 22, delivering toys, gifts, and winter essentials to 13 communities in Appalachia.
For more “Holiday Briefs,” featuring Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern, Genesee & Wyoming events, click here.
