KINGSPORT, Tenn., Oct. 31 -- Saint Nick is ready once again to leave his home at the North Pole and make his annual railroad journey through Appalachia. Now in its 59th year, the jolly elf will help launch the holiday season on Saturday, Nov. 17, by riding the "Santa Special," a CSX Transportation Inc. (CSXT) train that brings gifts and joy to remote areas of Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee.
This year, the "Santa Special" begins a new tradition of distributing gifts only at designated stops in 13 towns along the 110-mile route. Residents living in or near these communities are encouraged to gather at the stop location to welcome Santa to town. The train begins in Shelby, Ky., with stops in Marrowbone and Elkhorn, Ky., and the Virginia communities of Haysi, Fremont, Dante, St. Paul, Dungannon, Fort Blackmore, Speers Ferry, Kermit and Waycross, before arriving in Kingsport, Tenn. Along the way, Santa and an army of elves will distribute more than 15 tons of gifts.
Joining Santa for this year's journey will be country music star Joe Diffie, and 11-year-old rising star, Kree Harrison. Diffie and Harrison will help Santa distribute gifts at the stops.
The "Santa Special" is co-sponsored by the Kingsport Area Chamber of Commerce and CSXT. The special train gives Kingsport merchants a chance to thank area residents for their business throughout the year. CSXT believes the tradition is a way for the railroad to make a positive contribution to the communities through which its freight trains pass every day.
For more than 50 years, this tradition of giving has brought happiness to the young and the young at heart. And in more recent years, the generosity of people and organizations has allowed the Kingsport Chamber to establish a scholarship fund. Each year, one or two graduating high school seniors living along the train's route are selected to receive a four-year, $5,000 scholarship. So far, about $74,000 in scholarships have been awarded to 16 students.
The "Santa Special's" route is part of the Carolina, Clinchfield and Ohio line, formerly known as the Clinchfield Railroad, a CSXT predecessor railroad.
Today, the train operates on CSXT's Central Region, and its employees are proud to continue this tradition. CSXT has about 7,600 employees in Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia.
The Kingsport Tennessee Area Chamber of Commerce is a membership organization focusing resources and efforts to enhance the Kingsport area business environment. The Kingsport Chamber has been accredited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for nearly 25 years. People interested in supporting the "Santa Special" through funds, gifts, toys or new clothes may send their donations to the Kingsport Tennessee Area Chamber of Commerce, attention: Santa Special, 151 East Main Street, Kingsport, Tenn., 37660.
CSXT and its 35,000 employees provide rail transportation and distribution services over a 23,000 route-mile network in 23 states, the District of Columbia and two Canadian provinces. CSXT is a business unit of CSX Corp. (NYSE: CSX), headquarted in Richmond, Va.
http://www.csxt.com
http://www.kingsportchamber.org
