Clinchfield CSX Santa Train
- Clinchfield Railroad Home Page
- History | Design | Surveys | Railroad Battles | Construction Predecessors | CRRR | 3Cs | OR&C | S&W | CC&O
- Leaders: George L. Carter | M.J. Caples | John B. Dennis
- Floods and Clinchfield/CSX Reconstruction
- Maps | Mileposts | Stations | Connections | Branches/Spurs | Yards | Sidings | High Line | Bridges | Tunnels | Grades | Loops | Santa Train
- Locomotives | Diesels | Steam | Challengers | No.1 | CSX Heritage Unit
- Operations | Freight | Passenger | Timetables | Wrecks | Dispatcher’s Sheet
- Corporate Couplings | Family Lines | Seaboard System | CSX | Closure/Reopening
- CSX/CRR Today | CSX Kingsport Sub | CSX Blue Ridge Sub
- Railfanning | Restaurant Guide | CRR 800
- Destinations | Elkhorn City | Breaks | Dante | Speers Ferry | Kingsport | Johnson City | Erwin | Nolichucky Gorge | Spartanburg | and more
- Clinchfield Model Railroads
- Resources: Books | Scholars | Museums
- Clinchfield.org: Editor | Site Map
- Related Websites: Appalachian-Railroads.org | Southern-Railroads.org
Santa Train – Santa Claus Special
The nationally-known event first hit the rails in 1943 delivering candy, gifts and toys to children along Clinchfield Railroad’s mainline between Elkhorn City KY and Kingsport TN. In 1986, the Clinchfield became part of CSX, who has carried on the tradition. Throughout its 82 trips on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, the event has been sponsored by the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce, Clinchfield/CSX, and many businesses throughout the region. In 2024 over 15 tons of gifts and toys were distributed along the 110 mile route.
In later years, the train’s route was lengthened, starting at Shelbiana KY. Above and below are pictures from one of its late morning stops in St. Paul VA.
At each of the stops, candy and soft toys are being tossed from the rear of the train. A small army of volunteers also detrain to distribute gifts such as toys, backpacks, gift wrapping, clothes, and much more.
In orchestration with the 2024 Santa Train, CSX also unveiled its new Clinchfield Heritage Unit. Here, the newly painted locomotive rounds a curve near Starnes VA. Click here for more information on #1902.
By mid-afternoon, the train arrives at Kingsport TN for a celebration in the city square.
One final wave from Santa after 8 hours, 110 miles, and hundreds of waves and ho-ho-hos!
CSX President and CEO Joseph Hinrichs congratulates Santa Train Engineer Scott Steffey who is retiring after 30 years, with the 82nd Santa Train being his last run.
More information and pictures from other Santa Trains over the years will be added in the months ahead.
Clinchfield.org Sources and Resources
The following are excellent resources for those of you wanting to explore and learn more about the Clinchfield Railroad. These sources of information also serve as reference and historical materials for Clinchfield.org. Much of the content on the website is verified across multiple sources.
- Association: Carolina Clinchfield Chapter National Railway Historical Society
- Association: Louisville & Nashville Railroad Historical Society
- Association: George L. Carter Railroad Historical Society
- Association: Watauga Valley Railroad Historical Society
- Personal maps, timetables, track charts, and memorabilia
- Archives of Appalachia – ETSU, Johnson City TN
- Book – Drury: ‘The Historical Guide to North American Railroads’
- Book – Goforth: ‘Building the Clinchfield’ and ‘When Steam Ran the Clinchfield’
- Book – Graybeal: ‘The Railroads of Johnson City’
- Book – Helm: ‘The Clinchfield Railroad in the Coal Fields’
- Book – Irwin & Stahl: ‘The Last Empire Builder: The Life of George L. Carter’
- Book – King: ‘Clinchfield Country’
- Book – Marsh: ‘Clinchfield in Color’
- Book – Poole: ‘A History of Railroading in Western North Carolina’
- Book – Poteat & Taylor: ‘The CSX Clinchfield Route in the 21st Century’
- Book – Stevens & Peoples: ‘The Clinchfield No. 1 – Tennessee’s Legendary Steam Engine’
- Book – Way: ‘The Clinchfield Railroad, the Story of a Trade Route Across the Blue Ridge Mountains’
- Magazines – ‘Trains‘ , ‘Classic Trains‘
- Newspaper Articles – Newspapers.com
- Online Article – Scientific American: ‘The Costliest Railroad in America‘
- Online Article – Classic Trains: ‘Remembering the Clinchfield Railroad‘
- Online Article – Railway Age: ‘This Coal Road Is Also A Speedy Bridge Line,’ Sept 1, 1952 edition
- Online Article – ‘Railway Signaling and Communications‘
- Online Article – Flanary: ‘The Quick Service Route, The Clinchfield Railroad‘
- Online Article – Flanary: ‘Men Against Mountains, Running Trains on the Clinchfield‘ October 2001
- Online Video – Ken Marsh on Kingsport area railroads and region’s history Video #1
- Online Video – Ken Marsh on railroads and region’s history Video #2:
- Website – Carolana.com – North Carolina Railroads, South Carolina Railroads
- Website – Johnson’s Depot hosted by StateOfFranklin.net
- Website – RailFanGuides.us for Johnson City and for Erwin
- Website – The Radio Reference Wiki
- Website – SteamLocomotive.com
- Website – VirginiaPlaces.org – Railroad History of Virginia
- Website – Multimodalways.org
Contact Us at Clinchfield.org
Would enjoy hearing from you if you have questions, suggestions, edits, or content that you are willing to share. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have similar interests in the Clinchfield or Model Railroads.
3Cs Websites
Appalachian-Railroads.org | Clinchfield.org | Southern-Railroads.org
