2003 Santa Train is 52 tons lighter with all the candy and toys distributed along the 110 miles. The Santa Train is ready to depart for Erwin and call it a day!
2003 Santa Train comes into town as the kids wait for Santa on the rear of the train.
CSX Santa Special crosses Copper Creek as seen from the NS Appalachia line.
CSX Santa Special at Sun, Virginia.
CSX Santa Special
Workers on the end of the Santa Train throw Christmas gifts to the mob gathered at the stop. I was able to catch back up to this train after I had a small complication near Clinchco. ;)
Mountains of The Breaks create a fast falloff of light as the sun comes up, luckily soon enough to light the tunnel for the Santa Special.
CSX 8077 pulls to a stop among the crowd of hundreds in Dante, VA.
Former L&N 8077 pulls the 2003 Santa Special across Copper Creek for the 61st year running.
CSX 8077 leads the 2003 Santa Train over the Holston toward its end in Kingsport Yard.
CSX P92923 headed back to Jacksonville via Atlanta
P92922 crosses Copper Creek and makes its way to the next stop about a mile up the track.