The 2025 Clinchfield Santa Train is returning from its run to Waycross via Jacksonville....which came as a surprise to the dispatcher. Train took the route to & from Kingsport via Florence this year. Instead of pulling directly into the West Jax yard, which was packed with military, phosphate, rock & coal trains, they pulled down the main to Edgewood, recrewed, then backed into Dufford. The maneuver took longer than the time they spent at WJBCT. This gave time for folks to take in the newest additions to the train, ex-Pan Am 100 observation (which debuted in 2024) and "Claus Special Xpress", added in 2025. With their Holiday Express cars in Waycross rarely venturing out, there is potential for a rival to the CPKC holiday trains.
