Christmas is only 24 days away and with New Year's right around the bend, RxR Dispatch takes a look at trains and this worldwide holiday.

Christmastime and trains have gone together for the longest time. You may have seen model trains in shop windows or may even have one running around your Christmas tree. You may have watched Christmas movies with trains or references to trains within them. However, the question almost always asked is, "Why trains?"

Trains, especially steam passenger trains, are related to Christmas because of their significance in bringing family members home for the holidays. Most journeys home included a nice leisurely train ride through the snow-filled wonderland and arriving at a train station where loved ones would be waiting with open arms. A reference to these passenger trains can be seen in the beloved holiday films of ELF and The Polar Express. In ELF, while Buddy is decorating the store he set up an Amtrak train that ran around a LEGO New York City display that is seen a little later in the movie. In The Polar Express, the entire premise of the movie is based around a steam passenger train that takes kids to the north pole to get into the spirit of Christmas.

Trains are not only the movies where we get the feel of the Christmas spirit, but we also get the feeling in the real world with special excursion trains that run this time of year. Museums, scenic railroads, and other rail-based organizations pull Christmas-based train rides during this time of year; most of these trains are called The Polar Express, based on the book and movie. However, the best excursion in my opinion is pulled by none other than Pere Marquette 1225, the locomotive The Polar Express is based on, and the Steam Railroading Institute that is rightfully named North Pole Express.

These passenger trains are one of the reasons that trains are so prevalent at Christmastime, but freight trains are also important to this theme of trains and Christmas. Trains were and still are the primary movers of Christmas presents across the country. Some major railroads across the United States and Canada have recognized this meaning of trains and Christmas. Three corporations that have recognized it are Canadian Pacific, CSX, and the Indiana Rail Road. Canadian Pacific hosts their own Holiday Train which is a locomotive and freight cars covered in Christmas lights. CSX hosts their own Santa Claus train that travels around the Eastern United States, allowing railfans and everyday people to see Santa, a special set of locomotives and rail cars.

Next time you see a train around a Christmas tree or in a shop window you'll know why there are trains at Christmastime.

Around four hours ago, at the time of writing this, Norfolk and Western #475 collided with a rail excavator. Multiple videos had been captured of the collision. The cause for the collision seems to have been that a siding switch was not moved back to its proper position. 475 was pulling a passenger train from Strasburg to Paradise, PA and was running around the train for the return trip. The locomotive passed over the incorrectly set switch; before the engineer had time to stop 475 the arm of the resting excavator went through the front of the locomotive's boiler. At this time there are no reports of injury, but there seems to be extensive damage to the front of the boiler. Hopefully, N&W #475 can be repaired quickly and be back to revenue service.

Watch the incident here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQ5JwKY7ytg

UPDATE: N&W #475 has been taken back to the Strasburg Shops by New York Central #8618 and the shop crews have inspected the locomotive. According to Trains Magazine and reports from the Strasburg shop crew, 475 could be back up and running by next week. In the meantime, Canadian National #89 & Great Western #90 (only 75 days from 1,472-day certification before a federally mandated inspection is required) will be handling trains until 475 can be returned to service.

Modern-day steam is a spectacular sight, but there is a small number of these mainline steam stars! Union Pacific #4014 & #844, along with, Nickel Plate Road #765, and SOO Line #1003 are only a couple of the mainline steam stars that ran on the high iron this year. However, even though these are the ones that have run this year, there are multiple steam restorations on the horizon or are currently in process. Here are a few:

Chesapeake & Ohio #2716: The Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation is hard at work on the Kanawha and are preparing the locomotive for the years & excursions to come. Completion of 2716's restoration is targeted for some time in 2024.

Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis #576: Nashville Steam is in the concluding steps of restoring 576 and are planning for the first steam up in 2023. Completion of 576's restoration will be in the fall of 2023.

Nickel Plate Road #587: Currently in storage at The Yard, Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation's property in Ravenna, KY. A private owner bought the 587 and plans to restore the locomotive and extremely possibly back to operating condition. 587's plan and restoration schedule has not been announced yet.

Pere Marquette #1225: While 1225 is not truly under complete restoration, the drivers and other wheels of the locomotive are being repaired. Once the wheels are placed back on, 1225 will be back doing its regular excursions. Completion of the restoration of the wheels for 1225's has not been announced yet.

Union Pacific #3985 & #5511: Railroading Heritage of Midwest America will be restoring 3985 and 5511 back to operation as their subsidiary has done with Milwaukee Road #261. 3985's and 5511's plan and schedule for restoration has not been announced yet.

There are more restorations around the country, but these are the ones SIDETRACK PRODUCTIONS is looking out for and hoping to see completed in the near future.

In 2024, Kirkwood Train Station will be getting a brand-new makeover. Kirkwood's beloved train station will be under construction until mid-2025. The station will be renovated to its former glory during the days of the Missouri Pacific. Kirkwood train station was built in 1893 and  has not been renovated since 1941. The renovated station will be a spectacular and welcoming place for railfans and passengers alike. The community is ready with open arms to the many tourists and passengers Amtrak's Missouri River Runner may bring.

The renovations will include the roof, window, doors, the main desk, heating and cooling system,  ADA-compliant restrooms, accessory storage building, and a covered exterior platform for train passengers. All these renovations and additions will accommodate the passengers for the River Runner and the railfans, such as myself, watching trains. I know that I among others will be visiting the renovated station when the time comes.