Passenger Trains > Metrolink's Holiday Toy Drive Special Trains

METROLINK’S HOLIDAY TOY EXPRESS TO RUN THROUGHOUT THE REGION BEGINNING DECEMBER 1



The Sparkling Train Will Visit Stations Collecting Donated Toys For the Area’s Neediest Kids



Contact: Claudia Keith (213) 452-0233
email: keithc@scrra.net



LOS ANGELES, CA, Nov. 20, 2000: For the fourth consecutive year, Santa is trading in his sleigh for a 450 ton Metrolink train. The 2000 Holiday Toy Express, standing more than 15 feet high and about 340 feet long, will sparkle with 30,000 lights, oversized garland and animated, lighted holiday displays.



The Toy Express will be pulling into train stations located in the San Gabriel Valley, the Inland Empire, Orange County, the San Fernando Valley and Ventura County playing holiday music on nine evenings in December.



The special train begins visiting 44 Southern California Metrolink stations on December 1. Families are invited to come to their local station and enjoy the 20-minute holiday musical production at each stop in the evenings (scheduled station stops, dates and times are listed on attached sheet) through Dec.17. Written and directed by a Metrolink staff member, the storyline of this year’s show is that Santa Claus has taken an ill-timed “summer” vacation and can’t be found as Christmas Eve approaches.



“We would like to invite everyone in the community to come and join the festivities when the Metrolink Holiday Toy Express visits Orange County,” said Sarah Catz, Metrolink Board Member and OCTA Citizen Representative. “With its thousands of lights and animated displays, the Toy Express is truly a spectacular sight. It’s a wonderful way to enjoy the holidays and share in the spirit of your community.”



In addition, fifty talented musicians from various Southland high schools will provide holiday entertainment at stops along the way. The all-volunteer “Santa’s Helpers” band has provided memorable music for the past four years as part of Metrolink’s holiday train.



A ceremonial lighting of the 30,000 light Holiday Toy Express Train is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 25 at the El Monte Metrolink Station,
10925 Railroad Street, El Monte at 7 p.m. Once lit, the train will travel to
visit 44 city stations on nine nights throughout the Southland.



The holiday train will consist of its distinctive modern locomotive, one passenger car, one caboose and two flat cars decorated with thousands of sparkling holiday lights and ornaments. A special car in the middle of the train will feature life-sized holiday displays. Attendees will meet Santa and all his pals, too. A vintage 1950 red fire truck will also be a part of the holiday display.



Metrolink is partnering with the Southern California firefighters in the Spark of Love toy drive, and at each station stop, everyone is encouraged to get into the holiday spirit and donate unwrapped toys that will be distributed to kids within their own communities. Local fire departments will be on hand to collect the toys and they will be distributed to less fortunate children in their area.



Last year more than 25,000 Southern Californians greeted Metrolink’s Holiday Toy Express Train and joined in the celebration at their train station. Toys collected at Metrolink stations helped the toy drive record its most successful year to date.



For more information about Metrolink Holiday Toy Express Train times and station locations call Metrolink at (800) 371-LINK. Residents can also visit the Metrolink web site at: http://www.metrolinktrains.com.

John Pacino in San Luis Obispo

SANTA'S ON A ROLL

METROLINK'S 30,000 LIGHT HOLIDAY EXPRESS TRAIN ,
ADDS SPARKLE TO FIREFIGHTERS TOY DRIVE.


The Holiday Toy Express begins visiting Southern California
Metrolink Stations on Saturday, November 25th a gala media event
at the El Monte Station at 7PM.


Metrolink will create the traveling train display of 30,000
twinkling lights, life-sized holiday displays, and a 20 min.
stage show featuring Santa and all his friends.


The sparking train will visit 45 stations over four weekends,
collecting donated toys as part of The Firefighter's Spark of Love
Toy Drive, Everyone is encouragedto get in the Holiday Spirit by
coming to see the show and donating an unwrapped toy to the
firefighters, which will then be distributed to kids within their
own communities.



Come on down to a Metrolink Station near you an enjoy the
entertainmentfor more information
call Mertolink at 1 800 371-LINK .



METROLINK 'S HOLIDAY TOY EXPRESS 2000 SCHEDULE



SATURDAY , NOVEMBER 25TH ( MEDIA NIGHT )

EL Monte .......................................... 7:00 PM.




FRIDAY , DECEMBER 1ST

LAUPT ......................................On Display 4:00PM
GLENDALE ............................................ 6:55PM
BURBANK ............................................. 7:30PM
VAN NUYS ............................................ 8:10PM
NORTHRIDGE ........................................... 8:40PM



SATURDAY , DECEMBER 2ND

MONTCLAIR ......................................... 5:30PM
UPLAND ............................................ 6:00PM
RANCHO CUCAMONGA .................................. 6:45PM
FONTANA ........................................... 7:25PM
RIALTO ........................................... 7:55PM
SAN BERNARDINO ................................... 8:25PM


SUNDAY DECEMBER 3RD


EL MONTE .......................................... 5:55PM
BALDWIN PARK ...................................... 6:45PM
COVINA ............................................ 7:15PM
POMONA ............................................ 7:50PM
CLAREMONT ......................................... 8:20PM



FRIDAY DECEMBER 8TH


RIVERSIDE .........................................6:00PM
LA SIERRA .........................................6:35PM
WEST CORONA .......................................7:10PM
FULLERTON .........................................8:00PM
NORWALK ...........................................8:45PM



SATURDAY DECEMBER 9TH


SYLMAR / SAN FERNANDO .............................5:20PM
NEWHALL .......................................... 6:00PM
VIA PRINCESSA .....................................6:55PM
VINCENT GRADE / ACTION ............................7:55PM
LANCASTER .........................................8:40PM




SUNDAY DECEMBER 10TH

OCEANSIDE .........................................5:30PM
SAN CLEMENTE PIER .................................7:15PM
SAN CLEMENTE NORTH BEACH ..........................7:40PM
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO ...............................8:40PM



FRIDAY DECEMBER 15TH


IRVINE ............................................6:45PM
SANTA ANA .........................................7:25PM
ORANGE ............................................8:15PM
ANAHEIM ...........................................8:40PM


SATURDAY DECEMBER 16TH


PEDLEY ........................................... 5:40PM
ONTARIO .......................................... 6:15PM
DOWNTOWNPOMONA ....................................7:00PM
INDUSTRY ..........................................7:35PM
MONTEBELLO /COMMERCE ..............................8:20PM



SUNDAY DECEMBER 17TH



CHATSWORTH ........................................5:05PM
SIMI VALLEY .......................................5:45PM
MOORPARK ..........................................6:35PM
CAMARILLO .........................................7:10PM
OXNARD ............................................8:00PM

Hear is the Train Consist

SCAX F59PH #853
SCAX CAB CAR #634
SCAX FLAT CAR #1021
SCAX FLAT CAR #1020
SCAX CABOOSE #MW01




Metrolink / Dave Dodds