Since 1943 a train loaded with toys, candy, and Santa has traveled through Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee. This year made 82 years of spreading Christmas cheer from the train.
The annual event was started as a way to give a bit of Christmas to impoverished children who lived along the route as well as thank folks for shopping in Kingsport.
The Santa Train has become a tradition for many families and it’s not unusual for several generations of a family to have taken part in the tradition. Since the train makes its run the weekend before Thanksgiving it’s a natural start to the Christmas Season for many.
Many years ago Blind Pig reader David Templeton shared a guest post about the train. Here’s a bit of his writing.
“There can be no doubt that the founders of the Train had those impoverished children in mind, maybe foremost in their minds. The founders, however, also saw a broader mission: To be the harbinger of a spirit that would prevail among all, young and old, poor and affluent, through the month-long season; a spirit of sharing and caring and of peace on Earth, Goodwill to men.
Oh yes, that spirit would foment good sales for merchants along the railroad’s path through villages and towns, as the spirit of Christmas and giving fostered a gleeful purchasing spree all up and down the line.
Yet, we remember, don’t we? Not the commercial side of the moment and not what we gave or received on any of those many Christmas mornings. When we hear that the train is going to make another run, we remember that as those of us who got to rush out behind the train and gather the bounty in Santa’s wake are blessed with a very special memory of a time most Americans have only read about but never, ever got to enjoy firsthand.
Thank goodness that the special time goes on and the Train still runs and Santa’s helpers still care.”
Last night’s video: Katie Helped Me Decorate the Kitchen.
Tipper
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Tipper: Interesting that I just ran across that essay at Christmastime, when downloading the files in a couple of my old computers to “thumb drives”. Now in my eighties, and reading my story, I felt, at once, a melancholy for days never to return; days when we seven kids chased behind Santa’s train gathering the loot his helpers showered along the tracks; yet a recollected glee looking back into those wonderful memories and special Christmases when happiness was a bag of treats gathered free from Santa’s own treasure.
I am blessed.
The Santa Train is still a wonderful tradition many families enjoy and I have been there several times over the past 60 years. I have watched how it has changed the distribution due to safety concerns at the stops. I have watched adults grabbing everything they can and filling big tote bags full and some children are left without getting anything at all and hearing them ask “Why didn’t I get anything?” The parents answering “maybe they needed it more, it’s okay.” It is heartbreaking. I wish the adults would let the children have a positive experience and have a good memory to hand down to their families. Maybe Santas helpers can come up with a better way to distribute their goods. When I was at the train as a youngster it was not that way. I don’t want this to sound so negative toward a wonderful tradition but if you go to a stop you will most likely observe what I witnessed.
Thank you again for sharing life in Appalachia! I just know that part of my family had to have been born and raised in that region! I have so, so many traditions, mannerisms, and all that goes with the culture. I am so thankful to be blessed by all of you! I am praying for Granny. I pray for all the hurricane victim, that their needs be met, that government gets out of the way and they can use whatever is available to provide a warm, dry home! God bless you and yours❤❤
To both Gene and Lorie concerning licking the calf over again. At work, the mechanics (troubleshooters) would be asked after rushing through a job and not doing it correctly “why do you not have enough time to do it right the first time but enough time to do it over?
I’ve never heard of the Santa train, I will have to ask my grandparents if they ever experienced it. The little Christmas tree on your buffet looks lovely! The colors are perfect.
Tipper, the little Christmas tree is beautiful. You and Katie did well. I’m sure Granny is enjoying her decorations also!
Patsy- I so enjoyed reading your Santa train story. What wonderful memories you have.
So wonderful !!! I feel the Christmas Spirit just reading this !!! Heart warming & hopefully contagious !!! Merry Christmas everyone!!!
I’m aware of several churches that assemble book bags for Appalachia for Christmas. I think most of the ones our church packed went to Kentucky. One church we were in with about 25 members put together 55 last year. We packed books, Bibles, clothing, candy, pencils and paper as well as an assortment of games and delivered them to the local Association for shipping. (Similar to what Samaritans purse does but a much larger gift.) The bags and contents usually cost close to $100 each.
I so enjoy reading each day’s post and people’s comments. Thank you all.
Good morning everyone!! Love the story about the train and Santa Claus. There is something about the rocking back and forth of a train to relax you and maybe take a quick cat nap.
Tipper, I finally made my pinto beans with ham cooked them on the stove all day, where the aroma drove me wild. Finally, when my daughter got home, I had my cast iron skillet with bacon grease, just waiting…..finally the day arrived to make my cornbread , put the skillet in the cold oven, ready set go!! I had a box of Jiffy Mix, mixed it up put it to the side to rest. So I went to fold the clothes, and the went back to the kitchen where smoke was billowing out of the oven! Needless to say all the windows were open, and I finally got that cornbread I had been waiting for!! Love the crunch on the ends!! Tipper, you inspired me to make this meal. In fact my daughter took some to work enough to feed a co-worker. Gee, the wonders of a cast iron skillet!! What can I cook this weekend
Have a wonderful weekend, tell Granny hello from central Oklahoma, give her a hug and kiss from me!!
Love to all your family!!
Donna-that is a feast for sure 🙂
Well, Randy, as children we may think it is the gift. But with time we come to understand it is the pure motivation of the giver that is the ultimate gift. That heart-to-heart connection is what we really want to receive and to give. When we read here the memories people have, what they treasure and why, it is so very clear the value is never money. It is because two hearts met and smiled and hugged each other.
Such a sweet story and example of generosity to the less fortunate. I can’t bare the thought of little children not having anything for Christmas. Bless the people who are still suffering from Helene.
Marlo Tackett started a Santa train in eastern KY years ago. He was a local country music celebrity who recorded a few songs in Nashville and owned a popular nightclub in Pikeville. He helped finance the endeavor while spending countless hours collecting donations to make sure every child in his community had a toy for Christmas. The man with the big heart died a few years ago and I wonder if the tradition will continue.
I’ve always loved trains and train rides.
Nothing to do with Christmas or trains. I have just read an old posting by Glenda Beall titled Childhood Days On The Farm. There is nothing in my life I have enjoyed much more than driving a tractor, the older the better. I immediately recognized the picture of a Farmall model A, I drove one when I was a young boy with my beagle dog, Sam, sitting between my legs on the platform under the seat. My favorite tractor of all to drive was my father in law’s hand cranked 1939 JD model A. Until 1960 all of the larger models of JDs were two cylinders and had hand clutches. When I was still in diapers, Daddy would sit me in his lap and ride me around the yard on his B F Avery tractor, it must have effected my brain. Now at 70 years old, fighting depression and anxiety, driving my tractor relaxes and comforts me. Sorry about writing this. Maybe at some other time I will write about how to crank that old JD tractor, it did not have a crank sticking out in front.
We so need the spirit of giving and good will toward each other these days. The good the Santa Train does is a reminder of what used to be. We used to be people with good hearts who thought good of each other until proven otherwise. Sadly, it seems the reverse is true these days. Maybe we can put all the anger and rancor aside for just a little while.
Good mornin everyone, it’s a very exciting day for me today. My daughter was just admitted to the hospital…in labor with our first grandson! I’m so excited to meet him! Please pray that everything goes smoothly and mama and baby are both healthy. Thank you, merry Christmas and God bless!
Cassie-so exciting for you all! I’m praying for mother and baby!!
How exciting… the best Christmas gift ever for all of you! Prayers for mama and baby. Congratulations!,
I love Patty Loveless’ song Santa Train, I had no idea it was probably written about a true train! By the way, ever heard of the saying “now youve got to lick the calf over again?” My aunt from KY said she made that statement the other day and no one had ever heard of it before.
Lorie, our family used that term, meaning to perform a task a second time when the first effort had gone wrong. I can’t recall the last time I heard or read it.
I’m sure that train was especially welcome this year. The region needed the hope and cheer this train brings.
I rode the train from Blue ridge to copper Hill one time, 10 degree windchill today, God help
I’ve never heard about the Christmas Train but I’m so glad you posted about it here. I was born in 1943 so the train tradition has been happening for as long as I’ve been alive. There must be many cherished memories of that train from those people who have been enjoying it all their lives. Joys from the past and great memories are what binds us all together. Thank you for the story of that wonderful Christmas tradition.
Merry Christmas & prayers for Granny this morning.
What a lovely tradition that has brought joy to so many for 82 years. I have no doubt it’s been a blessing to many throughout the years and still very much needed today.
I have never heard of this train but I’m sure that there are many, many people out there that have this train as a sweet memory. I love it!
Toot! Toot!!! All aboard!!! Sounds just terrific to me!!! I’m thankful the train still runs. God knows the people need it. I’d say many of the children helped by the train will remember and many may take a job with the railroad or an organization that helps empower and build up people in their futures! It’s a total win win!!!
We have a Santa Train that runs from Morgantown Indiana to Palestine Illinois and the run will take place this weekend. The Indiana Railroad operates this and they bring so much love and happiness to everyone along the route. Like Brenda T said, Christmas and trains go together!
It was big deal this year as I am sure it has been on many occasions. The kids here in East TN needed that uplifting and spirit of hope after weeks of chaos and devastation. The video was both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Thank God for volunteers and the traditions they keep alive.
Thank you for the lovely story today. It warmed my heart! ❣️
Christmas and trains just go together. This post was fun to read this morning. Thank you, Tipper. I really enjoyed your tiny tree decorating last evening. I love your house and all the things you decorate with. It looks so cozy. Have a super day everyone!
Tipper
My Husband Everette Allen worked for the railroad starting on Clinchfield He worked on the Santa Train for 30 some years we’d start getting Him ready to go days before
He’d meet the people who came up from Jacksonville and take them shopping for supplies for the trip. They would leave 1 or sometimes 2 days before going up to where the Santa Train started and start back early on Saturday morning before daylight He talked a lot about the Children standing with their Families in the dark cold mornings waiting for the Santa train They would throw out candy and toys to them It was an emotional trip for Him
Me and our 2 children got to go with Him a few times.,most times we’d always meet Him in Kingsport when the Santa Train came back and ride back to Erwin Sometimes He would haft to go on to Jacksonville with the train Our kids and later Grandkids would get so excited waiting to see their Daddy / and Papaw . He made a lot of Friends along the route He enjoyed the trip very much but came Home exhausted
We have a lot of Good memories of the Santa Train To many to mention here
Those were good Times
Patsy-thank you for sharing your wonderful perspective!
I saw a news article about this train making its run again this year. This was not on the same scale as the train but in the Pumpkin Town Community of Pickens County, SC a man named Buddy Cox started something similar years ago for the underprivileged children of the surrounding area to have something at Christmas. After he died, I don’t think this is done anymore. Before Walmart in my area, for a lot of us children any Christmas toy children got would be bought from Mr. Andrew Ferguson, the owner of the local Western Auto store. Most all of it bought on credit. I wrote about this before, my friend worked in a cotton mill and was going through a slow period of work before Christmas, he had managed to pay off his credit bill at the store and Mr. Ferguson asking him if his two young girls were ready for Christmas, Kenny told him they wouldn’t be much Christmas that year because of not working as much, Mr. Ferguson getting him by the hand and walking him through the store picking up things for his two girls and telling him to pay him whenever things get better, his girls were going to have a Christmas. I am sure he did the same thing for others. It tears my heart out to think of a child not getting anything for Christmas. I wish I was financially able to see that every child, especially the poor, got something for Christmas. Wouldn’t the world be so much better if we would keep the Christmas spirit throughout the year? I have already prayed this morning for the ones in the areas damaged by Helene. I could write a lot more but will stop.
Train rides, even if it’s not for Christmas, are a special kind of wonderful.