Santa's Coal Train taking some to all of the bad children.

Here we are on orders from Santa taking a load of stocking coal for all of the bad children. It's not too often you see a steam engine pulling a revenue freight these days all dolled up for Christmas. I thought you might get a smile out of it so here it is.

You're right ws, a real long time. I hope Santa mentioned something to ya about coming through Freetown.

If he's bringing Coal for the bad kids I'd like to be put on rest list. I'd like some Coal. That's one nice looking train. Definitely gets you in the mood.

It is probably coming to my house.

The wife is pregnant so it is obvious that she has been naughty and it is going to take a pile of coal to fill up those fishnet stockings that was the start of the naughtiness. Thankfully I have a fed stove so the nut coal or stove sized coal won't fall through the holes of that fish net.

Yeah, that sure is prettier then the boxy clunkers I see every day here in Chattanooga. I sure did miss the trains and didn't realize it! Last had them Downeast in mid 80's.

Kevin

I felt bad when they ripped the rails up in Downeast Maine, but as a railroader I also know the sad truth; if trains were ever to run on those rails again they would have to replace the ties and rails. That would be several million dollars a mile so I don't see the trains coming back soon.

I will say though that the MDOT was smart enough to retain the right of ways so that they can go back and install rails IF railroads become viable again. Who knows, maybe Maine Two-Footers were just ahead of their time!

Beautiful picture !