Guide to Seeing the CSX Santa Train in Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee

November 20, 2023

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Seeing a blue and yellow CSX locomotive hauling freight along the railroads through Appalachia is nothing unusual. But on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, the iconic locomotive pulls something different – a string of passenger cars, 15 tons of gifts, and Santa Claus. It’s the annual CSX Santa Train, a tradition dating back decades.

My family’s Christmas tradition with the Santa Train started with an accident in 1988. My brother, sister, and I were crammed into the family car on our way to see family in Big Stone Gap. While driving through St. Paul, my mom noticed a throng of onlookers gathered near the railroad track in the middle of town.

My dad stopped the car and walked toward the tracks to find out what was happening. A moment later, he returned and shouted, “Everybody get out. The Santa Train is coming!”

Twenty-six years later, I returned to St. Paul to experience the CSX Santa Train again. I couldn’t help the goosebumps that crept along my arms and spine when the familiar locomotive trudged around the curve. The train stopped, and ‘ole Saint Nick stepped onto the covered platform on the last car.

The CSX Santa Train is something everyone must experience at least once. This travel guide is everything you need to know about seeing the train as it travels through the small towns in Appalachia from Shelby, Kentucky, to Kingsport, Tennessee.

CSX Santa Train Map

How to use this map: Click the icon in the top-left corner to open the Map Legend, then click on any of the legend items to display more information. If you have a Google account, click the (very faint) star at the end of the map’s name to save this map to your account, then access the map from your smartphone during your trip.

History of the CSX Santa Train

Most coal miners’ families lived in poverty and spent most of their hard-earned income on the bare necessities. Christmas was a luxury few could afford. So, in 1943, a merchant’s association in Kingsport devised a way to celebrate the gift-giving season.

The association collected toys, clothing, and food from corporations and citizens. A few tons were collected during the first run in 1943 – nearly 15 tons were loaded onto the train in 2023.

The Clinchfield Railroad’s main line connected Elkhorn City, Kentucky, to Kingsport, Tennessee. The inaugural “Santa Claus Special” traveled the main line in 1943. By 1986, the railroad was operated by CSX after several mergers brought dozens of railroads together. Since then, the CSX Santa Train has continued the tradition.

2023 CSX Santa Train Schedule

The 2023 CSX Santa Train runs on Saturday, November 18, 2023, beginning at the Shelby Yards near Pikeville, Kentucky, and traveling through Virginia to Centennial Park in Kingsport, Tennessee.

Here is the complete schedule of stops the Santa Train makes throughout its run:

6:00 a.m. at Shelbiana, KY
6:20 a.m. at Marrowbone, KY
7:05 a.m. at Elkhorn City, KY
7:45 a.m. at Toms Bottom, VA
8:07 a.m. at Haysi, VA
8:40 a.m. at Clinchco, VA
9:08 a.m. at Fremont, VA
10:08 a.m. at Dante, VA
10:53 a.m. at St. Paul, VA
12:03 p.m. at Dungannon, VA
12:48 p.m. at Ft. Blackmore, VA
1:48 p.m. at Kermit, VA
2:20 p.m. at Waycross, VA
3:00 p.m. at Kingsport, TN

Shelbiana, KY

The CSX Santa Train’s first stop is the Shelby Yard in the unincorporated Shelbiana, Kentucky. The yard is about a fifteen-minute drive from Pikeville along U.S. Highway 23. Parking is scattered but plentiful.

St. Paul, VA

St. Paul is the best place to see the CSX Santa Train after Kingsport. If you arrive early, around 10 a.m., you may find easy parking along Riverside Drive adjacent to the railroad tracks. If you arrive later, you’ll find plenty of parking throughout the small town, but use Wise Street for easy access.

It takes about 40 minutes to drive to St. Paul from Abingdon along U.S. Highway 58 Alternate.

Dungannon, VA

Dungannon is not an easy town to visit, but it’s part of a two-hour loop from Norton that includes a couple of other stops. It takes about 30-40 minutes to drive to Dungannon along U.S. Highway 58 Alternate and Dungannon Road.

The CSX Santa Train stops near a sharp bend in the road near the middle of the unincorporated town. The best place to park is nearby Dungannon Elementary School – it’s about a five-minute walk from there. Interestingly, you can stand on a bridge where Sinking Creek Highway crosses the railroad and watch the Santa Train pass beneath.

Fort Blackmore, VA

Fort Blackmore is one of the easiest places to see the CSX Santa Train but also one of the most difficult places for parking. The highway crosses the railroad and Clinch River. Park anywhere along the road’s shoulder at either end of the bridge and walk along Islandview Circle to the point where the Santa Train stops.

There is plenty of room for people at the stop, and it’s a safer place from the main highway.

Copper Creek Viaduct in Duffield, VA

The best view of the CSX Santa Train is from an overgrown scenic overlook along U.S. Highway 23 in Duffield. After the train passes through a tunnel, it crosses the impressive Copper Creek Viaduct. Built in 1908, the trestle is 167 feet above the Clinch River and spans 1,091 feet.

While crossing the historic trestle, Santa usually appears for eager onlookers at the scenic overlook.

Kingsport, TN

The only stop the CSX Santa Train makes in Tennessee is also the final stop. It’s the best place to see the Santa Train on its journey from Kentucky. There is plenty of free parking throughout downtown Kingsport and plenty of room in Centennial Park to enjoy the train.

CSX Santa Train in Kingsport, TN

The festivities in Kingsport start long before the CSX Santa Train arrives. Santa’s Depot opens at 1 p.m. in Centennial Park, a small public park near Citizens Bank in the former train depot. Holiday activities include writing letters to Santa and crafts. Enjoy hot chocolate, cookies, and festive music while waiting for Santa’s arrival.

The CSX Santa Train arrives in Kingsport at 3 p.m. Upon arrival, an unbelievably chipper Santa Claus exits the train and visits everyone at the park.

When I was a kid, Santa would exit the train and hop onto the last float of the Kingsport Christmas Parade. That changed a few years ago. Now, the parade is held on the first Saturday in December.

Tips for Seeing the CSX Santa Train

It’s easy to get wrapped up in the festive spirit and forget that the CSX Santa Train is a big piece of machinery trudging along railroad tracks. CSX employees and local police spare no effort to make it a safe experience. But you still need to look before you cross!

Here are a few tips to make the most of seeing the CSX Santa Train:

Plan to arrive an hour before the train to find a good parking spot
Park your vehicle so that all four tires are off the paved road
Don’t block any driveways when parking
Look carefully before crossing roads – don’t assume traffic will stop just because you step into the road
Be careful when crossing over railroad tracks
Listen to the instructions from CSX employees when the train arrives and departs
Never stand in front of the locomotive, even when it’s parked
It’s more important to be safe than to take a selfie
Children sitting on your shoulders have the best chance of catching toys