2001-Event History

• Arrival from Campo, once again, the collapsed tunnel segment having been daylighted and through track restored.

• Promotion of dental hygiene, a new dimension, was added to the event.

Description of the Day

The Christmas Train, with clear tracks ahead, pulled out of Campo with 120 volunteers, special guests, 4820 gifts for children, and with a very dedicated train crew. Our destination was Tecate, México and the Festival of the Three Kings. This was the fourth year the San Diego Railroad Museum helped to support the Christmas Train. The trip to Tecate was filled with joy and anticipation of delivering gifts to the children. Following established tradition, the locomotive announced our arrival by blowing its horn every mile.

At approximately 11:00 a.m. we rounded the last curve before Tecate. Even here on the outskirts of town, we began to see the children standing alongside the tracks. They were waving and excited about a train, bringing them gifts from the U.S. Approaching the gates into the gardens of the Tecate Brewery, we could see the size of the crowd. It was estimated to be 4,000. The volunteers went to work unloading some 16 tons of gifts and apples.

The Three Kings were in their costumes and began to hand out the gifts to boys, girls and infants as they filed by the train. By three o'clock we were finished. Four thousand eight hundred and twenty children with their parents had received gifts. Six thousand apples had been handed out, along with 5,000 tooth brushes.

Alejandra Rodrigues de Leon, the president of DIF (social services) in Tecate, and her staff organized the event on the Mexican side of the border. They provided means for the children to come to the train, first aid service, a stage and of course the police escort in and out of town for the train. Alejandra wanted us to let all the volunteers and members of the "Museo de Tren" know "how very special this event is to the town and the children. It is beyond the expression of gratitude and saying thank you, it is very much appreciated."

In addition, we left blankets (400) and sheets (600) for DIF to distribute to the families in the back country. We also provided gifts for the Mexican volunteers who numbered over a hundred. In a small way the San Diego Railroad Museum and the 300 volunteers involved in the Christmas Train, are helping to make an Impossible Railroad, possible again. But most of all, we bring happiness to children in an international way, by train.

Thanks to all and see you on the next "Christmas Train".