Nostalgia & History > Perfect Santa Train Weather

The wind was howling and snow flying on December 8, 1979 at West Danville, Vermont. Passing Joe's Pond was the Santa Train. Lamoille Valley RS-3 7802, ex-Delaware & Hudson 4125, featured antlers and Santa Claus at the throttle. Kids, young and old, gave the LVRC special a warm welcome in towns along the line like Greensboro Bend. The old Hardwick highway plow worked just fine on the LVRC 7802.

Thanks, Lamoille Valley for a memorable day in northern Vermont. Farewell, old friend as your rails are removed in 2004.

The St. Johnsbury & Lamoille County Railroad was incorporated January 24, 1948, as successor to the old company. Passenger service was discontinued during 1956. This company filed for abandonment November 7, 1972. The state of Vermont purchased the company's assets and leased them to the Lamoille County Railroad which began operations October 16, 1973. On April 25, 1974, the Lamoille County Railroad adopted the former name, St. Johnsbury & Lamoille County Railroad. This company ceased operations October 4, 1976, and was succeeded by the Vermont Northern Railway which operated the line for Vermont authorities from October 28, 1976 to December 31, 1977. The Lamoille Valley Railroad began operations January 1, 1978. (American Short Line Railway Guide by Edward A. Lewis published in 1978)

The track and fixed assets are owned by the state of Vermont. The railroad company was owned by local interests including the Central Vermont Railway. Four Alco switchers built in 1952 for Delaware & Hudson were painted Lamoille Valley's yellow and green scheme; RS-3 7801, 7802, 7803 and 7804, back in the late 1970's.

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Lamoille Valley borrowed Central Vermont Alco RS-11 3614 on January 24, 1981. It worked with LVRC RS-3 7803 at Cambridge Junction, Vermont. Snowy roads, covered bridge and New England railroading - what a combination!

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Central Vermont GP-9 4927 had interchanged cars with shortline Barre & Montpelier at Montpelier Junction, Vermont. The train continued on to St. Albans, VT.

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Lamoille Valley Railway's Santa Train used Central Vermont caboose 4041 on December 13, 1980. Train had a good turnout at Cambridge Junction, VT, snow and all!

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A young lad watches the Lamoille Valley Railway 1980 Santa Train move west from Cambridge Junction, Vermont. Santa and his elves rode the borrowed Central Vermont caboose 4041's platform on December 13, 1980. LVRC RS-3 7803 handled the special.

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good series Vermont Zephyr