Santa’s Elves Hard at Work on Holiday Train

By

November 11, 2009

Santa’s elves have arrived! The advance crew is in town to begin work on the Caltrain Holiday Train. Decorated with thousands of lights, the Holiday Train will run Saturday, Dec. 5 and Sunday, Dec. 6, stopping at four Peninsula stations each night for a holiday show featuring music and visits by Santa, Mrs. Claus and a whole cast of holiday characters.

Along the way the train will pick up toys and books for the Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots program and the Salvation Army’s holiday toy drive. People who come to see the train can play “Santa” by dropping off a new toy or book in barrels at the station stops.

San Mateo resident Ross Peterson is Santa’s right-hand man, supervising a dedicated crew of helpers who work feverishly in the weeks before the annual event to attach oversized snowmen, animated Santas and giant candy canes to the cars. The elves also are responsible for connecting dozens of electrical cords and running the cable that powers the thousands of lights that transform the train into a glittering fantasy.

The train, which is pulled by a decorated Caltrain locomotive, includes a flat car that serves as a traveling “stage” for a live holiday performance. At each station stop, holiday characters get off the train to greet children. On Saturday Masterworks Chorale of San Mateo will join the Salvation Army’s brass band. On Sunday, the band will accompany the Menlo Park Chorus. In addition, there will be live musical entertainment at each station before the train arrives.

The Caltrain Holiday Train would not be possible without support for decorations, wiring and costumes from the following sponsors: Linear Technology Corporation, HNTB Corporation, Parsons Brinckerhoff, the Port of San Francisco, Shimmick Construction Company Inc. and Rinat.

The San Mateo County Times, The Daily Journal and Radio Disney are the event’s media sponsors, and in-kind donations are being provided by Peterson Power Systems of San Leandro, Raison D'etre bakery and the San Francisco Caltrain station Subway. Amtrak, Caltrain’s contractor operator, and the San Mateo County Transit District also are partners in the event.

For a complete holiday train schedule, visit www.caltrain.com or call 1.800.660.4287.