I stood out in pouring rail last night waiting for the CP Holiday Train in Sturtevant Wisconsin. Several hundred local folks were there, and donated food for the local food pantry. The train arrived and departed exactly on time, and the scanner chatter showed that the railroad was very careful about safety with the big crowd at the old depot there in Sturtevant (due west of Racine WI)
The train is gorgeous – a big GE several intermodal cars, a boxcare converted into a stage, a covered hopper, and three classic old passenger cars, all covered with thousands of bright lights. As it moves it lights up the sky – last night we could see the rain lit up above the train before we could see the train itself. What a sight! The entertainers are very talented and sang several songs, mostly new material, some old favorites, for about 25 minutes or so. It was cold and rainy but quite a nice evening even though I might have destroyed my scanner with moisture. By the way the local political types were there to make brief speeches – this bought a lot of politcal AND neighborhood good will for the CP railroad, and not just among railfans either
Dave Nelson
I was a little luckier…it was just as rainy in Franklin Park, and I didn’t get there until after the show was over, but in time to see the train leave there! My wife and future son-in-law were with me; they were both impressed as well (and they stayed dry!).
A CP employee attends the same church as I, and his pride in this train is entirely justified.
Dave, how did you know this was coming? On the scanner, or was there some press release I missed?
I chased the train for 2 days. We did not have rain here in the PA and NY but it was cold (10-15 degrees). The public turnout was very good at the 4 stops that I saw.
Could not even get close to the train at Binghanton NY. Lots of peaple and limited area.
I agree that the CP did a good job and got a lot of public goodwill and collected a lot of food and money for the local food pantry.
I caught the train in Whitby , Ontario. What a fantastic sight, the kids really enjoyed. My only complaint was it was two hours late (temp was only 5 deg , so we froze) and they didn’t advise us when it was to arrive. There were lots of people with alot of food donated. Although it was late, we totally forgot about it. The highlight for us was when it stopped, the tail end of the train was a bit up the line where we were standing (only a few of us) and Santa was at the back of the train. He told us to wait there , jumped off the train (almost fell down as he was sliding on the ballast, lol ) came over and talked to my kids for 5 mins and gave them a holiday train whistle. I got this all on video tape ; kudos to CP !!!
You can see the schedule on the CP website, just follow the link to the Holiday train.
Cheers
Does anyone know where to find the schedual of the CP holiday train… or am I the only one who can’t find it?
Kev
Trains had it in there newswire segment I think?
stay safe
Joe
Dave, I froze and got wet too, but at 10pm in Wauwatosa. We pulled into the parking lot adjacent to the tracks and opened the back of our station wagon. We sat in the back, motor running, heat on full blast, waiting for the train to show. When it did, the locomotive stopped right in front of us. Talk about good luck. The bad luck set in when we tried to leave and couldn’t because there was only one way in and out of the parking lot, and it was blocked with the crowd watching the presentation. Oh well, it was cool to study it while we waited and I think the entire family enjoyed it.
CPR has photos of the train at their site:
http://www8.cpr.ca/cms/English/Media/Photo+Gallery/Holiday+Train/default.htm?Show=Kamloops
Kevin, you can find
Jim/Zardoz: I am sorry you did not know about the CP Holiday train. The entertainers said “see you next year” so look for it then.
I think there was something on the newswire about it that gave the URL for the CP railroad website; Keith Schmidt had posted something in this forum about it on November 12. His Powerton Report website which I think he has the URL for on his posting also had information.
The restaurant we ate at in Sturtevant had a very very nice poster that the CP railroad made up about the train – would make a nice collectible – if the food was better I would go back and ask for it 
Dave Nelson
I remember last year when the CP holiday train went through my home town of Langenburg, Sask. on it’s way to Bredenbury (which won a nation-wide contest for towns being decorated up for Christmas, it’s really something to see) from Minnedosa. There was actually quite a crowd gathered just to see the train pass by. Wouldn’t it be great if CP used the Empress for the Holiday train?
Sask tinplater was the train from Brandon that went throught Langenburg. nice to another sask citizen on trains forum
I agree! I stood for 45 minutes in very cold rain in Gurnee, IL but it was worth it. My girlfriend even liked it so much she told me she wanted to go again next year. She also admitted that she never would’ve believed that trainwatching in the cold and rain after a 50 minute drive could be fun be she did really have a good time. I hope that my schedule allows for future visits. Thanks again CP!