CSX Hosts Holiday Express Celebration in Response to Hurricane Helene
The Class I’s Santa Train hit the rails this past Saturday for its traditional run, but since Erwin is not a stop on the route, CSX decided to send its Heritage 1902 Clinchfield locomotive with the Holiday Express train cars to the Erwin rail yard, according to a WJHL report.
The event was organized to deliver holiday cheer to the local families affected by Hurricane Helene, “reinforcing CSX’s dedication to supporting recovery efforts in the area through donations to five regional organizations,” according to the Class I. Each group received a $5,000 donation to help bolster local recovery and relief efforts in response to Hurricane Helene.
Those organizations include:
- East Tennessee Foundation
- United Way of East Tennessee Highlands
- The Mitchell County Development Foundation
- The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina
- Manna Foodbank
“The CSX Holiday Express celebration was all about coming together as a community,” said CSX President and CEO Joe Hinrichs. “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.”
The festive celebration featured a live concert by award-winning Americana singer-songwriter Drew Holcomb. Guests were also treated with gift bags, a visit from Santa Claus, chicken sandwiches presented by Chick-fil-A, and a close-up view of the heritage 1902 Clinchfield Locomotive along with the CSX Holiday Express train cars, which were beautifully adorned with holiday lights.
“Last night the ONE CSX team brought a little holiday cheer to the community of Erwin, Tenn.,” stated Hinrichs in a LinkedIn post. “CSX has been a part of the Erwin community for over 100 years…going back to the Clinchfield Railroad which started in 1902. We brought our holiday train and the Clinchfield heritage locomotive to Erwin, put up a large tent with heaters, hot dogs, hot chocolate, popcorn, gift bags, and all kinds of holiday decor – and Chick-fil-A donated 5,000 sandwiches for the event. Santa Claus made a special visit with us for this community which was devastated by Hurricane Helene. As the snow was falling, and all the kids were cheering for Santa, it truly felt like Christmas!
“Special thanks to Tennessee native Drew Holcomb for joining us and providing some great music and holiday classics. Another great example of how we bring ONE CSX to life for our employees and the communities we live in and serve.”
This year marks the 82nd run of CSX’s Santa Train through 110 miles of Appalachian terrain across Kentucky, Southwest Virginia, and Tennessee. A longstanding tradition, the CSX Santa Train annually distributes more than 15 tons of toys, winter clothing, and holiday gifts to families along its route, reinforcing CSX’s commitment to uplifting communities in the heart of Appalachia.
