Authors recall the time the railroad – and Santa Claus, too – were sued
A milestone was set for the annual Santa Train in 2022 as the three-state goodwill excursion celebrated its 80th year, but what many people may not...
A milestone was set for the annual Santa Train in 2022 as the three-state goodwill excursion celebrated its 80th year, but what many people may not know is that 48 years ago, the future of the Santa Train looked as if it may be derailed forever.For years, the Santa Train received heaps of praise — just as it does now — for its goal of bringing goodwill and many, many presents to some of the poorest communities along the Clinchfield Railroad (and now CSX) lines in Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia, but, in 1974, a $30,000 lawsuit against the Clinchfield, the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce and even Santa Claus himself threatened to derail the annual holiday philanthropic endeavor.