1999-Event History

Unique Features:

• The Christmas Train becomes an annual event.

• An unscheduled stop at a small rural settlement causes some early trepidation and ultimate joy for its young children.

Description of the Day

We can only imagine the excitement of a child who knows a train is coming to town with gifts for them. On the day the train comes, a child wakes up with that very first thought on his or her mind. As the day dawns, the children of Tecate begin to meet in town and talk about the train that comes on Saturday with the tourists. But this time it is coming on Sunday and is bringing gifts for them. In their minds they are wondering.... What will the train bring me on this Day of the Three Kings? Will they have enough? And as they wait in line, they can hear the train whistle blow in the distance. Yes! The train is coming today. As the time passes, the train whistle gets closer. Soon it will he here. And then. . . they see the train, its powerful locomotive pulling it forward to meet them. That thought alone, will stay in the children's minds forever. And on each occasion the train arrives in Tecate, the children will remember the day the train brought gifts just for them. 

On this special Sunday morning, the Christmas Train carried its long awaited cargo through the mountainous countryside from Campo, USA to the city of Tecate in México, where thousands of children and their families anxiously waited. This was the second year the Christmas Train made the journey to Tecate to help celebrate the Festival of the Kings, the day gifts are given in México. 

In November 1998, volunteers in San Diego began the awesome task of collecting the gifts needed to fill the thousands of gift bags to be given to the children. By January 9,1999, there were 5,400 brightly decorated gift bags containing toys, stuffed animals, crayons, pencils, coloring books, tablets and candy waiting to bring a smile to the face of a child. Other donations included 4,500 large, fresh, delicious apples, and lots of warm blankets, including 350 baby blankets. 

Before dawn that January morning, approximately 200 volunteers began arriving at the San Diego Railroad Museum's Depot in Campo to begin preparations for loading the train. Unlike the prior year, where the Christmas Train was incorporated within a regular scheduled excursion trip and had to adhere to the normal departure and arrival schedule; the San Diego Railroad Museum this year provided a private train, exclusively for the Christmas Train, with a more flexible schedule to accommodate the enormous task involved in giving out the gifts to so many children. The Christmas Train consisted of a huge diesel locomotive, a vintage baggage car, hospital car, and four passenger cars to accommodate the thousands of gifts, several huge boxes of blankets, cases of apples, all the band members and their equipment. By the time the three large trucks arrived at the Campo depot at 6:00 a.m., the air was filled with excitement. "WE'RE READY!" greeted the drivers as the trucks took up their positions. 

No time was wasted in transferring the tons of cargo from the trucks, the train had to be ready for an estimated 9:00 a.m. departure, in order to arrive in Tecate before noon. At approximately 9:10 a.m., the engineer gave a long blast on the train's horn as the Christmas Train pulled away from the depot.

The air was crisp and cool, and the many varieties of shrubs and trees along the way glistened in shimmering gold and silver as the first rays of sunshine peered through the clouds and lit up the early morning dew, giving a special glow to the hills. As the Christmas Train made its way along the winding route through the mountains toward Tecate, some of the volunteers decided to catch a few winks, while others were busy enjoying the beauty of the scenery, the vintage cars of the train, or memories of their trip to Tecate the year before. 

During this time, the "Three Kings" began donning the elegant robes on loan once again from the Drama Department of the San Diego State University in preparation for their arrival in Tecate. Excitement still abounded, and the many young children and teenagers who accompanied their parents or grandparents for the event, passed the time enjoying numerous trips through the cars. For some, it was the first time they had been on a train, for others, the first time they had ridden on real 1930s-vintage train cars. They often marveled how people could have relished traveling across country with such few modern "amenities," but really seemed to appreciate the beauty and workmanship of the era. 

The Christmas Train approached Tunnel No. 4 where the Conductor and Trainmen, also volunteers, who had been pointing out the many interesting sites along the way, told everyone to watch for the white line painted on the rocky lining of the tunnel that marked the border between the United States and México. Tunnel in sight, the engineer sounded several long blasts on the train's horn to scare away any wild horses, or cattle that might have wandered into it. As the train entered the tunnel and the cars grew dark, everyone sat staring out the windows hoping to catch a glimpse of the white line. 

When the Christmas Train exited the tunnel, it was in México! The engineer gave several long blasts on the train's horn as it rounded a bend and began to slow. Up ahead, three young children from a very small settlement along the tracks ran up a steep hill to wave at the train as it drew closer. The train came to a stop in front of the children, who weren't quite certain what to make of the stop, especially when a strangely garbed King debarked the train and started toward them. The littlest ones retreated to the skirts and pant legs of their parents, until they saw the older children who had stood their ground were receiving gifts. 

The Conductors informed everyone on board that the train normally didn't stop here, but when the train made its regular trip each weekend from Campo to Tecate, the children of the settlement would run out and wave at the people on board. This was to be the Christmas Train's first stop on the way, to give presents to the children because the families were not able to make the trip into Tecate. The King who had gotten off the train, the engineer, and several volunteers gave each of the children a gift bag. They also gave the family a box of food and blankets. Then, with everyone back on board, the Christmas Train eased away from the startled, but very happy children, who waved goodbye and excitedly scampered back down the hill clutching their gift bags. And, as the old saying goes, "there wasn't a dry eye in the house!" 

During the rest of the trip, everyone began to gear up for the Christmas Train's arrival in Tecate. As it entered the city, the engineer began blowing the train's horn to announce its approach to the children of Tecate, the Christmas Train would be with them soon. This would continue until we reached the square where the celebration would be held. The first to greet the train, as it neared Tecate, was a police escort, who met the train just outside the city with sirens blaring and the lights of their motorcycles flashing brightly. 

As the Christmas Train made its way through the city, the policemen would go up ahead and cover the street crossings along the way, making sure the train did not get held up by traffic blocking the tracks. After it cleared each crossing, they would rush along the streets ahead of the train to the next crossing. All the way into the city there were people in cars honking their horns in welcome, standing on porches, hanging out windows waving and cheering, and some even running along side the train, smiling happily and waving at those on board, who were overjoyed with such a warm, enthusiastic greeting. No matter where you looked, there were smiling, excited faces of both children and adults to welcome the Christmas Train. 

Nearing the square, the sight of over six thousand people gathered there to greet the train emerged. The huge area was filled to overflowing, and more lined up as much as three city blocks around the corner, most of them waiting since daybreak. Everyone aboard the train was humbled by this sight. 

When the Christmas Train came to a stop along side the square it was greeted by resounding cheers from the crowd. There to officially welcome the train was the wife of the Governor of Baja California, Alejandra Gonzales Alcocer, the wife of the Mayor of Tecate, Alejandra de Leon, as well other local dignitaries who had helped organize the event. A DJ played music from a bandstand erected in the square just for the occasion, and above it was a huge sign announcing the celebration of the Festival of the Kings. The DJ introduced all the dignitaries there to greet the train. Then he presented the Three Kings, resplendent in their bright-colored, elegant robes. 

During the introductions the volunteers were busy off-stage unloading all the gifts and preparing the site where the Kings were to present the gifts to the children. The band unloaded their equipment and began to play a variety of music, while everyone waited excitedly for their personal encounter with the Three Kings.

While the band played, the cases of apples were unloaded from the train and placed near the Kings, ready to be given to the children. The gift bags were stocked behind one of three stands where the Kings would give them out, red for the girls, yellow for boys, and white and blue bags for infants and toddlers. 

Once the Kings each took their stations, a large white gate was opened and the children filed in. As they passed by, they were given an apple, then led to one of the Kings to receive their gift bag. 

A steady stream of children passed through the gate, their faces alight with broad smiles as they received their gifts. The band played without stopping, entertaining those still waited, and volunteers went out among the crowd to pass out handfuls of candy to the children awaiting their turn to receive gifts. As the day wore on, the crowd of children and their parents, who were still waiting, began to look apprehensive, but were reassured there were plenty of gifts for all, and that no child would leave empty handed. Not one did. 

When the last child clutched his gift bag and excitedly compared notes on contents with his predecessor in the line, the success of the efforts and kindness of so many to brighten the lives of these children, was best described by the Mayor's wife. She placed her hands over her heart and said "On behalf of the children of Tecate, Thank You! Thank you all!" 

The volunteers boarded the train and waved goodbye to the crowd still waiting to see them off. The Christmas Train sounded its departure with a long, hard blast of its horn. As it pulled away, children and their families waved to those aboard. Once again, the Christmas Train was met by Tecate motor cycle police who escorted the train out of the city. At each crossing, people stood waving and cheering. At the last crossing, the policemen waved to the passengers on the Christmas Train as it passed, with their sirens blaring, lights flashing, and broad smiles. In reply, the engineer gave several long blasts on the train's horn for a final farewell. 

Along the way outside the city, children were standing near the tracks waving as the train went by. Although everyone aboard was exhausted after the long day, they all responded with enthusiasm. When the train reached the point of its first stop, the engineer gave a long blast on the train's horn, and again the children ran up the steep hill smiling and waving happily as the train went by. 

The Christmas Train made its way steadily along the route back to Campo as the sun hung low above the mountain tops, drenching the surrounding hills and canyons in a myriad of deep purples, greens, blues, amber and burnt orange. It was a very serene, peaceful climax to a most exciting and rewarding day. 

At approximately 5:20 pm, four long blasts of the train's horn announced the return of the Christmas Train to the depot at Campo. The exhausting efforts since November, and the long, hard day, was clearly visible on everyone's face. But, there were no complaints, and as the group of volunteers stepped from the train, all that was heard was "Until next year!" 

On behalf of the Christmas Train: The wonderful events of this day could not have taken place if not for all the volunteers who eagerly gave hundreds of hours of their time, all those who donated money or goods for the gifts, apples and blankets, and those who helped organize the event in the City of Tecate. Thank you! It is wonderful that the Railroad Museum can help make possible such memories for children.