By Railfan & Railroad Staff
Santa Claus will be making an early visit to Northeast Indiana, Southeastern Michigan, and Western Ohio aboard the Cameron Christmas Train the week before Thanksgiving to spread holiday cheer while passing out gifts to families in towns along the route.
Sponsored by Cameron Hospital, the train will be operated by the Indiana Northeastern Railroad, Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, and the Little River Railroad. A full schedule can be found at indianarails.org/cameron-christmas.
“As the region’s healthcare provider, we’ve seen how the Indiana Rail Experience has become a major attraction in our community. We wanted to combine its popularity with the magic of the holiday season and give back to those communities in which we serve,” said Angie Logan, president and CEO of Cameron Memorial Community Hospital. “Children and families will not only be able to enjoy seeing the decorated train pass through their towns and backyards but visit with Santa and his elves and receive gifts at each stop.”
On November 18, the train will operate between Edon, Ohio, and South Milford, Ind., with stops in Hamilton and Ashley/Hudson, Ind. On November 19, the train will operate between Pleasant Lake, Ind., and Hillsdale, Mich., with stops planned in Angola, Fremont, Ray, Montgomery, and Reading. Following a block party on November 20, the Little River Railroad will carry Santa from Hillsdale to Jonesville, Quincy, and Coldwater, Mich.
“We’ve seen nearby towns like Waterloo wait up all night on weekdays for other passing holiday trains, so we were determined to create our very own experience. While the Cameron Christmas Train will make its stops on school nights, we know this is a wonderful opportunity to experience Santa’s arrival by train and create new memories and traditions together,” said Kelly Lynch, executive director of the Fort Wayne Railroad. “Anyone that sees this train can also join us for their very own holiday train ride on the Indiana Christmas Train throughout December.”
While people won’t be able to ride the Cameron Christmas Train, Indian Rail Experience is operating a number of holiday excursions in December. Tickets for the Indiana Christmas Train are on sale now at www.indianarails.org. Trains depart Pleasant Lake, Ind., and feature a 1.5-hour trip through the countryside.