December 07 LE&T News
LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEERS AND TRAINMEN DECEMBER 2007 PUBLISHED BY THENEWS BLET, A DIVISION OF THE RAIL CONFERENCE, INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS Happy Holidays! Thousands turn out for annual CSX Santa Special Thousands of children and families train left Erwin, Tenn., on November 16 turned out on November 17 for the 65th and traveled to Kingsport, Tenn., where annual CSX Santa Claus Special. The the toys and food for the needy were annual train follows a 110-mile stretch loaded on the train. They then traveled in the rural mountain communities of to Shelby, Ky., for the night, and on No- Eastern Kentucky, western Virginia vember 17, the Santa Train began its and Northeast Tennessee, and is one run from Shelby, Ky. to Kingsport, Tenn. of Appalacia’s most anticipated holiday Country singer Patty Loveless was traditions. the special guest on the train this year. Santa himself rode in the caboose Brother Peoples said that including and was part of the team that distrib- Shelby, one of the 14 stops along the uted more than 15 tons of toys at 14 route caters to children with special stops along the route. needs. Another major player on the team As important as the locomotive en- was locomotive engineer Alf Peoples, a gineer is on the Santa Train, a team of CSX engineer and member of Division volunteers make sure everyone stays 781 in Erwin, Tenn. Brother Peoples safe along the route. worked as locomotive engineer of the “There are many BLET and UTU Santa Claus Special this year. members all along the 110 mile route Brother Peoples is a veteran Santa to keep the crowds out of the track as Train engineer, and involvement with the train arrives,” he said.
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