The Santa Train Celebrates 82 Years of Giving in Appalachian Kentucky

I find myself using phrases like "as a kid," "when I was young," or "in my childhood"--or some variation--quite frequently these days. Then again, I can't think of a better time to evoke your youth than the holiday season.

As little ones, we cannot WAIT for Santa Claus to park his sleigh on the roof. I don't care how big it is, it always fits, right? Of course, we didn't consider the logistics of hitting every home where a child lives, but we were kids; what did "logistics" mean?

The CSX Santa Train Keeps on Giving Throughout Appalachia

However, we would have been far more convinced of Santa's powers if our beloved traditions had replaced a sleigh with a train from the outset. Certainly, the kids (of all ages) in eastern Kentucky can be forgiven if they've come to believe Santa Claus arrives in a locomotive because, well, he's been doing that for more than eight decades.

When Jolly Old Saint Nick and his helpers roll up into all these coal communities, they bring tons and tons of toys, school supplies, and food, among other things, for all the kiddos. And they make sure every child gets something. What an incredible tradition.

The Santa Train, or CSX Express, makes stops in Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee. It's a tradition that began in 1943 and hasn't let up. How exciting for all these families in Appalachia. Normally, we all have to be sound asleep when Santa arrives.

I don't know how I could work this out; that first big weekend of the Christmas season is crazy busy, but I'd sure like to be at one of those stops to see how this plays out in real time.

Let's take a look at another stop before we go:

Merry Christmas, and here's hoping you get everything from Santa you asked for, whether he arrives in a sleigh, a cab, or, yes, a big beautiful old locomotive.