Safety Glasses? Check. High-Visibility Vest? Check. Hard Hat? Not So Much...
The BNSF Railway's 2016 California Division Christmas Train has gotten all the way from San Bernardino's B Yard to A Yard - about a half mile - and we've already gotten held for a high priority intermodal train. As one crew member told me, "The first mile is the longest!" While we wait, one of the train's elves waves. BNSF ES44C4 7153 is on the point of this fifteen car train, and another ES44C4, 8184, is on the rear. In short order, our train will be at the San Bernardino station to load the day's first trainload (of two runs) of excited low income and disadvantaged kids for a trip up to the summit of Cajon Pass. En route, they will be kept busy with a constant parade of balloon artists, chipmunks, magicians, local police mascots, a BNSF Police officer handing out stickers, clowns and a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Claus! This train is staffed entirely by unpaid volunteers, and for many of these kids, it is the highlight of their holiday season.
