(The following story by Jason Smith appeared on the Desert Dispatch website on December 5.)
BARSTOW, Calif. — BNSF trains passing through Barstow normally haul freight across the country, but once a year they have a special cargo: children, toys and Santa.
The BNSF Christmas Train departed the Amtrak passenger rail station in Victorville on Monday bound for Barstow with its seven passenger cars filled with more than 270 riders. For five days, the train traveled through Southern California, carrying more than 1,500 children and their families affiliated with New Hope Village, Shriner’s Hospital, Fort Irwin and several other organizations from across the High Desert.
The passenger cars used come from the railroad company’s private business fleet said Lena Kent, spokeswoman for BNSF.
“Because we don’t run a passenger rail service, we don’t really use them, except for events like this,” she said.
The annual ride was started in 1991 by Barstow Mayor Lawrence Dale, a former BNSF employee, as a chance for terminally ill and less fortunate children to enjoy a holiday train ride. Dale still helps coordinate the event.
“What makes it special is when Santa walks through. The kids’ eyes light up and they start to yell; it’s really something,” Kent said. “It’s kind of like the Polar Express.”
Although the railroad supplies the train cars, the event is completely volunteer run. BNSF employees used their vacation or sick time. California Highway Patrol officers parked their patrol cars and donned chipmunk costumes entertaining the lines of waiting passengers by dancing along to the Christmas music of Alvin and the Chipmunks. While on board, passengers sing Christmas carols, receive presents, meet Santa and just enjoy the ride.
For Marcie Pewterbaugh, a grandmother of three, the trip gives her grandchildren something to smile about.
“It’s so special for the parents to get to see their kids have some joy,” she said.
Two of her grandchildren suffer from autism while a third was born with a serious heart defect.
“Most of the kids have a hard time integrating with other kids. They don’t have as much fun as other kids,” she said. “This is just a happy thing where they aren’t different.”
Noah Williams, 9, a first-time train traveler, was as excited about the ride as he was about Christmas.
“I get to see a lot of stuff that I can’t see in the car like mountains and stuff,” he said before the trip.
He got to see plenty of scenery during the ride and Santa too. Williams didn’t even mind that he didn’t come with his team of reindeer.
“Well, this year Santa comes by train,” he said.