Caltrain Lights Up the Holidays for Needy Kids

Santa Claus made a glittering grand entrance for the 2003 holiday season aboard Caltrain's third annual Trains for Tots Special, and brought back a sleighful of toys for needy Bay Area children.

Despite the threat of showers, a diesel-powered "Rudolph" managed to dodge the raindrops to bring Santa and his entourage of musicians, singers and characters to nine Caltrain stations over two nights, Nov. 29 and 30.

Co-sponsored by Caltrain and the Golden Gate Railroad Museum, Trains for Tots helps generate toy donations for the United States Marine Corps Reserve's Toys for Tots Program and the Salvation Army.

More than 3,200 toys were collected during the holiday train's station stops, and the two organizations raised awareness as they embarked on their Bay Area toy drive.

"The Caltrain Trains for Tots program is a wonderful opportunity for us not only to collect toys but to also raise awareness about our programs and services," said Claire Dunmore, Family Services Director for The Salvation Army. "There are hundreds of people at each stop ready to sing a Christmas carol and meet Santa Claus. It's a wonderful family event and a great way to kick off the holiday season."

Marine First Sergeant Darrell McNeal said "all of the Marines who participated in the train this year said they were amazed at how the different communities come together for a common cause."

The train kicked off the Marine Corps' Toys for Tots campaign for the year, and McNeal said he couldn't think of a better way of raising awareness than through the train visits to Peninsula stations.

The Salvation Army provided both musicians and logistical support for the event. An onboard brass band played carols both nights, and a second band entertained at the last Peninsula stop each night. Joined by Marines, Salvation Army volunteers staffed toy donation barrels and a canteen for all the holiday train stops.

The Cisco Singers from Cisco Systems returned for the third year, and the Caltrain Chorus made its debut on Sunday night, with members of the Peninsula Harmony Chorus. Before the train's arrival, singers from local high schools and community groups entertained, and model railroad exhibits were open at two stations.

Volunteers spent weeks getting the train ready for the trip, attaching strings of candy cane-colored ropelight, giant waving snowmen and Santas, and lighted teddy bears to the six-car train.

During the train's 20-minute station stops, the band and chorus entertained aboard a flatcar that had been turned into a rolling "stage," festooned with silver and red garland, lighted candy canes and a string of oversized Christmas lights.

Powered by a generator donated for the weekend by Peterson Power Systems of San Leandro, the lights drew as much power as the electrical service needed for three houses.

Significant promotional support was provided by radio station KFRC 99.7 and TV station UPN44. Other sponsors included Amtrak, Debbie Lyn's Costumes of Sunnyvale, Herzog-Stacy & Witbeck Constructors and Rail Journeys West.

Many members of the Golden Gate Railroad Museum took time from their own businesses to supervise volunteers from Caltrain, Amtrak and others in the massive job of decorating the train, wiring 40,000 lights and then providing staffing during the two-night run. Without the GGRM, the event would not be possible.