About the Author J. D. Santucci (a.k.a. "Tuch") began his railroading career in 1978 as a trainman on the Missouri Pacific. After a round of lay-offs in 1985, Tuch embarked on a railroad odyssey, working in many different situations for different roads. This column tries to explain some of the nuts and bolts of the job and also demonstrates what we have to deal with on a regular basis within and without the industry. Tuch currently works through freights out of Chicago for Canadian National/Illinois Central. ©1999, 2003-2007 JD Santucci. Logo ©2002 The Railroad Network. By J.D. Santucci

December 1, 2004
I hope that Thanksgiving was a good one for those of you that celebrated the holiday this past Thursday. Mine was great; two days off in a row, one work day and then my regular rest day. A holiday spent with the beautiful bride and some family as we enjoyed our Holiday feast together. Plus my Chicago Wolves won on the road trip we took this past Friday. And I even won on one of the squares I picked on the bus as we headed up to Grand Rapids. So it was indeed, a good time for me. After enough years of working holidays, it was good to have one away from the zoo and enjoy life as you civilians do.

Today's topic title (How's that for some unplanned alliteration?) may have you all thinking of Ernest Hemmingway and his profile on the running of the bulls. While today's topic is unrelated to that breed of bull, I'm sure there will plenty of other bull running amongst the crew and elves once again on this year's Santa Train.

I promised to get you all of the information on this year's Santa Train that will be operating on the CN Chicago Subdivision and here it finally is. First off, we'll give you the schedule. Following that, we'll give you some directions on how to find us if you are not familiar with the region.

I should remind everybody that we are a big, busy, working railroad. Due to the exigencies of the operation, we may be required to wait in the clear for main line traffic to pass. We also do not depart any location until everybody has had the chance to visit with Santa. We anticipate crowds based upon previous history at each location, but more people than expected may come out to say hello. With all of this in mind, please remember that the times listed above are not cast in concrete. The arrivals and therefore departure times may be thrown off track (no pun intended) by the above situations. Then there are those pesky railroad gods that rear their ugly heads from time to time as well. Nonetheless, we make every effort to try to live up to the schedule.

Now if we are late into a station but everybody there visits and then departs by our scheduled departure time, we will leave that station on the advertised time if the conditions allow. Thus, if we are late but everybody who wants to visit the train does and we can then depart on time, we will.

Again this year as last, we will have the Wisconsin Central parlor car with us in addition to the regular Santa Train set up. All visitors will get to stroll through this car and observe its beautifully appointed interior. For motive power we will again feature one of the IC E units, likely the 100. There will also be a Geep on the other end that all visitors will get to come through as well. I've been told that this year it is scheduled to be Grand Trunk 4996. This unit is painted up in the CN scheme.

Even if you are a big kid like me, you can still take the tour through the train. You just don't have to stop and sit on Santa's lap and tell him what you want. And I'm sure he'll appreciate your not requesting the up close and personal visit. He's not getting any younger you know and his lap cannot take on that excess weight from all the big kids.

When coming out to visit, remember that we are parking the train in open areas. There are no indoor waiting areas, with the exception of Gilman. And even then, the old depot there has a limited amount of space. The Gilman Fire Department does an outstanding job of regulating the crowd through the depot. In all cases, please dress yourselves and your kids according the weather. It tends to get cold, particularly after dark, this time of year. Please dress both you and those little tax dependents properly for the cold weather that will likely prevail. We'd hate to have you and yours come down sick for the Holidays because you nearly froze to death while waiting in line.

Please be patient. The wait can be long, particularly if we are delayed anywhere. We ask that you not push and shove or get unruly. I realize that the wait in the cold can make some folks become rather testy or on edge, but please remember the "Reason for the Season." And it would certainly not look too good to all the little ones to have the law come and haul you off while waiting for Santa. This might leave a kind of bad impression on all the kids as well as some of the adults.

For those of you not familiar with the region in which the Santa Train visits. I'll give you some assistance in finding us.

The CN Chicago Sub parallels Interstate 57 and US Route 45. I-57 is west of the railroad between Ludlow and Ashkum and east of the railroad between Clifton and Kankakee. There are exits at Rantoul, Paxton, Buckley, Onarga, Gilman, Ashkum, Clifton, Chebanse and Kankakee. To reach Ludlow, take the Rantoul exit and head east to US 45. Turn left (north) on 45 and follow it to Ludlow. From Paxton, take the exit and head east. At Rt. 45 turn right (south) and head towards Ludlow. From the Buckley exit head east to Rt. 45 and turn right (south). For Onarga, head east to 45. I cannot recall the way to turn but it should not be hard to find. You'll cross the railroad and see the crowd.

Gilman is a little more involved; head east on the Gilman exit (US Rt. 24). When you come to the stop sign by the K&H Truck Stop, turn left. You'll swing around a right hand curve and see a road that comes off to your left (just past the bank). Turn left and go to 2nd Street. Turn left on 2nd Street, then follow this road about a block. You'll see the depot off to the left just across the tracks.

Danforth is due south of Ashkum. If you take the Ashkum exit from I-57, turn right (south) at Rt. 45. This will get you to both Ashkum and Danforth. Ashkum will be right at the corner and Danforth is about seven miles south of here. In both of these towns we normally park in the elevator tracks, so just look for the big rural skyscrapers.

We pass under I-57 in between Ashkum and Clifton.

For both Clifton and Chebanse, you will head west from their respective exits. Just come right into each town and you'll easily find us as the railroad is right there just west of Rt. 45 which is directly along side of us. There is an old depot still standing in Chebanse and we park the train at the crossing just south of the depot. Depending upon main line traffic, at Clifton we may get into the clear on the elevator track and park the train just north of the north crossing right in town.

For Kankakee, exit at Court Street and head west. Follow the signs that lead you to the Amtrak Station. We park on the team track which is about two city blocks south of the station. We have a small yard office just north of the team track but it is NOT open to the public. There is a small railroad museum at the Amtrak Station you might want to visit as well.

We also head down the Gilman Line and visit Thawville. To reach Thawville, exit I-57 at Rt. 54 and head south. Thawville is a very small community and we aren't hard to find there. The railroad is to your right as you head south. We park right in town by one of the crossings.

As a reference, Ludlow is 108 miles south of downtown Chicago and about 20 miles north of Champaign. Kankakee is about 56 miles south of downtown Chicago.

The local police and fire departments from each community lend tremendous assistance to the Santa Train. Most of these folks are offering their services on their own time by volunteering to be there. Please be sure to thank any of these folks that you may see out there assisting us. Gilman's fire department really goes all out too. They have an old fire truck that they use as shuttle to haul visitors to and from parking areas in town out to the depot. Both they and the Kankakee Fire Department also bring out their portable lighting equipment to really light up the areas as well.

Gilman and Kankakee usually have some of the biggest crowds, so keep that in mind as you make your plans to come out and visit. The biggest crowds lend to the longest waits in line.

The CN Central Division management team as well as the folks in Montreal continue to support our efforts on the Santa Train as well and we owe them a great deal of gratitude. Year in and year out they have continued to allow this train to operate and have contributed greatly to its success.

If you would like to read a little more about the Santa Train, click onto
http://www.railroad.net/articles/columns/hottimes/hottimes_20021223.php

For those wanting to listen in on the Santa Train progress this year, you can find us at 161.190 on a scanner near you.

There will be loads of folks taking photos and video of the train. We ask those of you doing so to remember to use good judgment and common sense. Please don't do something foolish or outright stupid to get that "picture to die for." We don't want anybody to have some sort of mishap.

We hope to see many of you out there again this year. And just in case I don't get to crank another one of these little lessons out before the Holidays hit, a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah and Happy New Year to all of you.

And so it goes,

Tuch