Marquette Rail Santa Express

[SD80MAC]

It's almost time for Marquette Rail's 7th Annual Santa Express train. Hopefully there'll be some snow on the ground this year


MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Here Comes Santa Claus on the Seventh Annual Santa Express, Saturday, December 15, 2012
Ludington: October 25, 2012 - For the seventh year, Marquette Rail will be bringing Santa and Mrs. Clause to communities along its line, where they will hand out candy to good girls and boys from the Santa Express. Children (and adults) of all ages are welcome! Marquette Rail has again partnered with Jim Nickelson’s Christmas Trees of Ludington and Millers Produce of Manistee to help distribute trees at each stop to lucky drawing winners who have been pre-selected. Marquette Rail will operate its seventh annual Santa Express on Saturday, December 15th, between Grand Rapids, Ludington and Manistee, following the schedule below:
Station Arrive Depart Location
Comstock Park 9:30 am 9:50 am Comstock Park Depot,
Dwight Lydell Park off West River Road
Sparta 10:10 am 10:20 am Division St. Crossing
Kent City 10:35 am 10:55 am Main St. Crossing
Grant 11:20 am 11:45 am Grant Depot
Newaygo 12:10 pm 12:30 pm River St. Crossing
White Cloud 12:50 pm 1:00 pm Wilcox Ave. Crossing
Bitely 1:35 pm 1:50 pm Main St. Crossing
Baldwin 2:10 pm 2:25 pm Baldwin Depot/off Astor Rd.
Scottville 3:15 pm 3:30 pm Main St. Crossing
Ludington 3:50 pm 4:15 pm First St. Crossing
Fountain 5:15 pm 5:55 pm Main St. Crossing
Free Soil 6:05 pm 6:20 pm Free Soil Rd. Crossing
Stronach 6:40 pm 7:00 pm Main St. Crossing
Manistee 7:25 pm 7:40 pm River St. Depot
For more information, contact MARQUETTE RAIL at 1-231-845-9000. MARQUETTE RAIL is a Rail America property serving Western Michigan and operates between Grand Rapids, Ludington and Manistee, Michigan.
*Times are approximate and station stops are subject to change.*

[J T]

White Cloud's #1 railfan is elated!

[Racer]

YES!

[soolinegp38]

This will be the first year I catch this train. I'll probably do it in Sparta. CANT WAIT!

[Saturnalia]

So glad RA let it happen

[Standard Railfan]

Sweet!
Egg Nog party in CP anyone?

[Buster Manning]

I wanna see the Schwinn snowplow again

[TrainWatcher]

Looking forward to heading to GR this year to see this.

[J T]

I wanna see the Schwinn snowplow again

[CAT345C]

I wanna see the Schwinn snowplow again

I wonder how often he goes through ball joints and wheel bearings!

[Saturnalia]

This will be the first year I catch this train. I'll probably do it in Sparta. CANT WAIT!

You can do it many times I recommend the Colonial Drive overpass north of Grant as one place you have to visit.

For anyone interested, Amtrak1007 has a track map of the Baldwin Sub (now MQT GR Sub) here:
http://gllx3001facts.com/pere_marquette/index.php

It's over a decade old, but most of the crossing info is still accurate

[Buster Manning]

JT,

after a somewhat lousy day, coming home to see that photo put a big on my face....thanks

[J T]

JT,

after a somewhat lousy day, coming home to see that photo put a big on my face....thanks

[Saturnalia]

Any word on power this year? I hope we get 3001 and those 2 AWESOME cabooses

[J T]

Any word on power this year? I hope we get 3001 and those 2 AWESOME cabooses

I would guess it would be similar to last year. Plus, 3001 looks funny with a boxcar and caboose. As much as I like 01's paint scheme, I find one of the geeps as a leader more aesthetically pleasing to my photographic eye. But I'll be happy with whatever they send, especially if there is snow. Last year was lame.

[Saturnalia]

Any word on power this year? I hope we get 3001 and those 2 AWESOME cabooses

I would guess it would be similar to last year. Plus, 3001 looks funny with a boxcar and caboose. As much as I like 01's paint scheme, I find one of the geeps as a leader more aesthetically pleasing to my photographic eye. But I'll be happy with whatever they send, especially if there is snow. Last year was lame.

It was lame until I showed up

I did like the Geep last year, the paint was pretty good, but the horn was the best part.

But if we're going to speculate, there are really only 2 units on MQT that could do the honors with only 1 SD and 1 GP repainted (2635 having been returned to GMTX).

[Standard Railfan]

Any word on power this year? I hope we get 3001 and those 2 AWESOME cabooses

Maybe it will be the new G&W Heritage units.....

[GP30M4216]

I hope we get 3001 and those 2 AWESOME cabooses

3159 and......??

[SD80MAC]

I hope we get 3001 and those 2 AWESOME cabooses

3159 and......??

I'm sure he's talking about the restored C&O caboose.

[Brakey]

Ooh I wonder if I am related to the Santa this year. I haven't heard him talk about it yet.