By: Kerry Phipps

Kerry Phipps — Sat, 19 Jul 2025 00:25:14 +0000

I HAVE NEVER RODE the Santa train. I am 81 years old, and my wife and I would love to ride. who do I contact to get ride the Santa train

By: Patsy Jackson

Patsy Jackson — Mon, 27 Dec 2021 03:02:48 +0000

The first time I stood by the tracks, holding my moms hand and waiting for the Santa train was 1958. I was 3 years old. Our dad, a coal minor was on strike and many years the Santa train was the only Christmas we had in the hills of SW Va. I remember how exciting it was to hear the train whistle down the track and the faint sound of jingle bells as it made its way up the tracks to the small town of Delano Va., the stop after Haysi. The excitement was uncontainable as the big train got closer. Knowing Santa was at the end of the train, we had to wait until the entire train past by before seeing Santa. He stood on the back as big as life, tossing out taffy candy in green and red wrappers, pencils and tiny tablets for taking notes. For some reason, there always seemed to be a lot of whistles. Seems that me and all six sisters went home with a whistle, which my mother hated. Didn’t take long befor the whisked went missing one at a time. Eventually the candy was gone, whistles gone, the pencils and writing tablets we carried around for days, taking notes, Finally we settled into dreaming of how it would be next year when the Santa Train came to town. Would he bring us something big like a new bike next year? . It didn’t matter we still loved to see the Santa Train. My most beautiful childhood memories was the Santa Train.

Comments on: Guide to Seeing the CSX Santa Train in Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee

By: Kerry Phipps

By: Patsy Jackson