Eastern Railroad Discussion > The 73rd Annual Santa Train on the Clinchfield

This past Saturday 11/21/15, CSX operated the 73rd annual Santa Train on the 110 mile route between Shelby, Ky and Kingsport, TN via the Clinchfield.   With the recent closing of the middle portion of this route, the future for this tradition is certainly unknown at this time, but at least the train ran this year....but will it be the last time??  Only Time will tell. 

I had been on the fence about going, but decided to join a few friends at the last moment, and the day turned out well.  We had sunny skies for the majority of the day, except when the train crossed the famous Copper Creek Bridge at Speers Ferry, Va. The crowds were large as usual, and given the uncertainty of the future, there was a LOT more folks out than normal to shoot the train .  Below are a few teasers, and you can find all of my results at this link >>>  http://www.pbase.com/kd4jsl/csx15


#1 Well before the sun got above the ridge, the train crossed the C&O Bridge over the Russell Fork at Elkhorn City, KY.  The Second stop of the day was right ahead in downtown.  At this point, the train was running about 10 minutes early 

#2 The sun was finally up by the time the train made its was through the reverse curves at Haysi, Va. 

#3  The train plunges into the Haysi Tunnel, ready for the stop on the other side.  The blonde gal next to Santa is Meghan Linsey, the celebrity guest.....cant say I have ever heard of her. 

 

E.M. Bell , KD4JSL
Salvisa, KY
Jreb.org NS group

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#4  The train swings around the famous Osbourne's Curve near  Dungannon, VA

#5  Large crowds waited for Santa all along the route, as seen here at Fort Blackmore, Va

#6  The train crosses a swollen Holston River as it approaches the end of the trip at Kingsport, TN
 

E.M. Bell , KD4JSL
Salvisa, KY
Jreb.org NS group

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how long before the Clinchfield is a weed overgrown deteriorated tie that can't keep gage railroad ??? and then no more Clinchfield Santa trains ...

Very Nice!

Posted from Android

Good job, Mr Bell

gmojim

Here is some information about Meghan Linsey
the celebrity guest on the 2015 Santa Train.

http://theboot.com/meghan-linsey-santa-train-2015/

Nice series, last shot is really well composed.

Great chase & photos. Congratulations on IOTD.

Ronda Thomas

Very nice!  The 8033 may have traveled this line many time before in Family Lines paint having the low headlight, am I correct, is this motor an ex SCL/family Lines SD40?

Great stuff. Hopefully they'll do it next year!

Wow, nice tradition that they're keeping up.  Great photos and coverage!

Rich

Nice pics!!

Did this train turn at Kingsport and go back north?  It usually came on south and went to either Atlanta or Waycross.  I didn't hear anything on the scanner concerning this train this past weekend.

NC_CSXFAN13