Date: November 15, 2007
| CPIMAGE:144570|Huge diesel locomotives and railroad cars are decorated with thousands of holiday lights as the 2006 Canadian Pacific Railway Holiday Train begins it US Tour at Steamtown NHS, Scranton, PA. |
| Scott Snell for the Canadian Pacific Railway |
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SCRANTON, PA – The musicians have been chosen, the whistle stops selected and the lights soon will be hung on the boxcars with care for Canadian Pacific Railway’s U.S. Holiday Train and its goodwill journey for food shelves across the U.S. Northeast and Upper Midwest.
The U.S. Holiday Train entertainers include Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame member Tracey Brown, Juno award-winner Colin Linden, and the critically acclaimed family duo Ennis. Visit the Holiday Train page at www.cpr.ca for their bios and photos.
Beginning Saturday, December 1st at Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, PA, from 5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., the U.S. train will begin its trek to visit 39 communities in New York, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota before ending on December 17th. Major stops include Binghamton and Plattsburgh, N.Y.; Gurnee, Ill., the greater Milwaukee area; Minneapolis-St. Paul and Minot, N.D.
The program has raised close to $3 million and 1.6 million pounds of food since the first Holiday Train ran in 1999. Thousands of people gather trackside at depots, railroad crossings and other unusual venues along CPR’s route to enjoy the arrival of the brightly decorated trains lighting up the winter nights. The musicians, who ride in private vintage cars at the end of the 12-car train, hop out and climb aboard a boxcar in the middle of the train that opens to reveal a stage where they perform live holiday concerts and invite crowds to sing along. Holiday Train visitors are encouraged to donate money and/or nonperishable food which goes directly to the UnitedNeighborhoodCenter. Additionally, the Canadian Pacific will present a check at each stop.
From I-81, follow exit 185 (Central Scranton Expressway) to Lackawanna Avenue, and follow the signs to the park entrance at Lackawanna and Cliff Avenues. Additional details regarding interpretive and educational programs and activities may be obtained by calling (570) 340-5200, toll free (888) 693-9391, during business hours, or by visiting the Steamtown web site at www.nps.gov/stea anytime!
Editor’s Note: Digital images for media use are available upon request.
- NPS -
