The 73rd Annual CSX Santa Train on the Clinchfield

[E.M. Bell]

A week ago  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 .  CSX is of course, not my usual thing, but this seemed important enough to make the trip for. 

Below are a few teasers, and you can find all of my results at this link >>>  http://www.pbase.com/kd4jsl/csx15

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


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


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.


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


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




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