2003-Event History

Unique Features:

• For the first time, the Christmas Train ran in two sections; the first was a special freight train carrying the gifts for Tecate's junior citizens and the second was the passenger special carrying the Three Kings and their 300 helpers.

• Also for the first time, construction at the Tecate Brewery and refurbishment of the Tecate Depot made necessary a change in venue for the gift distribution to nearby Tecate Stadium.

Description of the Day:

The Christmas Train, 2003 edition, started before sunrise Sunday morning January 5th with the gift section departing at 6:30 a.m. from Campo. The gift freight section consisted of a locomotive, two boxcars and a caboose. The boxcars carried more than 5,800 gifts for the children. It arrived at the Tecate Stadium at 7:30 and was greeted by the local police with their car red lights flashing and the road blocked off. Shortly thereafter, a large semi-truck backed up to the boxcars and the gifts were transferred and taken into the stadium.

Back at Campo in the USA, three hundred volunteers signed-in, boarded the passenger cars and anxiously awaited the sound of the locomotive horn, announcing the departure for Tecate. At 9:00 a.m. sharp that signal blew and the sleek Carrizo Gorge Railway locomotives began pulling the Museum's seven historic railroad cars down the track to Tecate, México. Just before arriving in town, the train stopped and picked up the Mayor's wife and other dignitaries from DIF, Tecate's Social Services agency. As the train approached the stadium, you could see ranks of children waiting.

The train slowly came to a stop and the jumble of clowns and other volunteers unloaded and walked into the stadium. After a short introduction of the Three Kings, the children began filling the stadium to receive their gifts. Volunteers worked two shifts assisting the Kings to hand out apples, candy, toothbrushes and helping the clowns, who painted the children's faces - a unique experience as México does not have the clown tradition, as we know it, and the children weren't quite sure about these strange appearing humans.

By the end of the day, nearly 5,000 children had once again celebrated the coming of the 3 Kings by train with the volunteers. The Mayor of Tecate, Juan Vargas, personally thanked the volunteers, saying, "this is a happy day for the town of Tecate. Thank you to all that have made our town so happy this day." Then, the wistful whistle from the waiting train sounded and we all knew it was time to depart. As we traveled back to the U.S., volunteers were already saying, "I can't wait 'til next year." 

Well, next year has already arrived. Volunteers are busy collecting toys, coordinating with the City of Tecate, U.S. and Mexican Customs, and Carrizo Gorge Railway.