Santa deadhead reroute

With the line south of Erwin out, which way will the Santa Train be deadheaded in order to get it to Kingsport? Either up the A-Line to Richmond, then C&O to Russell, and then south? Or via Atlanta to Knoxville and then via NS to Frisco? During the Clinchfield maintenance jamboree's of old, they used to detour the intermodal train via NS-Knoxville-Bulls Gap-Frisco while sending the general freight via Corbin and Hagans switchback.

Rumor is the Clinchfield heritage unit will be on it, too.

The gift distribution run is scheduled for Sat the 23rd, but the trainset is scheduled to be on display in Erwin on the evening of Thursday the 21st for some community event related to Helene relief. Friday the 22nd will be gift loading day and the deadhead run to Shelby. So that means the circuitous detour will have to happen by the Wednesday the 20th.

I've heard from other railfan sources the route will be Waycross, Atlanta, Cinci, Russell to Shelby. Train will stage at Shelby, run to Erwin for the hurricane relief events on the 21st, then back to Kingsport for loading and deadhead back to Shelby on 22nd. Santa run back to Kingsport on 23rd.