Santa, friends will visit area by train Saturday

Greene County Daily World file photo SANTA AND MRS. CLAUS: The Indiana Rail Road will bring Santa and Mrs. Claus to Greene and Sullivan counties on Saturday. The annual Santa Train will make stops in Solsberry, Bloomfield, Linton, and Dugger. It also will stop in Sullivan on Sunday. The Russell family from Switz City visited Santa and Mrs. Claus last year. They are (from left) Autumn, Ashton, and Sam. Their parents are Abbey and Cody Russell. (Greene County Daily World/File Photo)

Santa and his helpers will be rolling into several Greene and Sullivan County towns this weekend on a 3,000-horse power, 160-ton sleigh.

Children along The Indiana Rail Road Company's main line will get a chance to see St. Nick aboard the Santa Train.

"Families are invited to come aboard the decorated train, meet with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and spend some time frolicking with a few of their friends from the North Pole," said Chris Rund, director of Public Relations and Communication for Indiana Rail Road Company.

Planned stops are scheduled in Solsberry, Bloomfield, Linton, Dugger, and Jasovnille on Saturday and Sullivan on Sunday.

Stops on Saturday include:

* Solsberry -- 8:30-10 a.m.

* Bloomfield -- 11 a.m.-noon

* Linton -- 1:30-3 p.m.

* Dugger -- 4-5 p.m.

* Jasonville -- 6-7 p.m.

Sunday the Santa Train will be at Sullivan from 6:30 to 7 p.m.

Now in its 19th season of operation, the Santa Train originated in 1989 as a volunteer project of Indiana Rail Road Company employees. Ever-popular with children and families, the train continues to bring season's greetings to rural towns in South Central Indiana and Southeastern Illinois. Indiana Rail Road Company employees and their families stage the event, which, for many small-town children is the only opportunity to visit Santa in person, according to Rund.

"The event is free and open to children and grownups of all ages. Santa's helpers will also be giving away coats to help children in need prepare for winter weather," Rund said.

The employees of Indiana Rail Road Company look forward to this annual event.

"The Santa Train is our most treasured tradition," says Thomas Hoback, president and CEO of The Indiana Rail Road Company. "It's an occasion where we can meet people who live in the communities along our railroad and share a special holiday gift with them. And when we see all the young faces light up as Santa rolls into town, it's a real treat for all of us, too."

The Indiana Rail Road Company is a 500-mile regional freight railroad, hauling some 170,000 carloads of freight -- more than 15 million tons of goods annually. The railroad carries traffic between Chicago, Louisville, Indianapolis, and Newton, Illinois, with connections to major western and southern carriers. Indiana Rail Road was founded in 1986 and maintains headquarters in Indianapolis.

Visit http://www.inrd.com/santa_train.shtml. for more information.