Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, November 25, 1994 TAG: 9411250041
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: FREMONT LENGTH: Medium
With her this time were her two sisters-in law and their five children.
Somewhere around the bend, the Santa Train was on its 52nd run, leaving Pikeville, Ky., early in the morning and slowing wherever crowds or even just a single family waited.
``Since we can remember, this has been a big deal,'' Colley said. ``We chased the train, and now our kids do.''
The train winds its way through the coalfields of Southwest Virginia until it reaches Kingsport, Tenn. In these mountains, the streets of the towns are still lined in some places with small houses that were identical when built years ago for coal miners and their families.
Santa and his helpers toss off 12 tons of donated goods ranging from candy, comic books, toboggans, coloring books, detergent samples, dolls, footballs, notebooks and pencils.
Merchants in Kingsport began making the 110-mile trip to thank the people for their business and to kick off the Christmas season. Many in the region still shop in Kingsport.
But the trip has endured because it has become a tradition. Long after the comics are read, the candy eaten and the dolls put away, memories linger. Fred Sykes of Knoxville, Tenn., drove to Dungannon last Saturday to see and remember a morning when the train came the day after Thanksgiving.
``It was cold and dark when it came through, but that didn't dampen the spirit,'' he said.
Now the trip usually is made the Saturday before Thanksgiving.
In some places, it's not Christmas until Santa waves from the end of the Christmas parade. In this part of Appalachia, it's not Christmas until Santa waves from the back of the Santa Train Special.
``This is Day One of Christmas,'' Dana Vanwinkle said as she waited at Dungannon. ``This is when you decorate. It's just the whole mountain tradition.''
She and her 10 brothers and sisters never missed the train when they were growing up. This year, she brought seven children, her own and the children of friends and relatives.
When the train makes its brief stops, children and adults crowd around the back. Those riding the train - from the sponsoring Kingsport Chamber of Commerce and CSX Transportation - help toss presents out.
Some are wrapped and handed out by Santa; most are tossed from the back as fast as the workers are able.
Some people follow the train in cars and meet it at several stops. Some have video cameras to record the beginning of the Christmas season.
Tina Phillips brought her children, grandchildren and two nephews to Dante. She says what they get off the Santa Train will pretty much be their Christmas. She and her husband are both disabled and can't work.
``I'll tell them, `Get your bags and run and just get what you can get,''' she said. ``We get in the car and we go on in to St. Paul.''
by CNB