FILLMORE, Calif. – Sierra Northern Railway’s Ventura Division hosted a Dec. 6 toy drive in partnership with Operation Toy Train on its line from Piru to Ventura, Calif., operating a train between Ventura and Santa Paula and using trucks from Fillmore to Piru.
A specially decorated train consisting of a genset locomotive, open-air car, and heavyweight observation car No. 409 (borrowed from the defunct Fillmore & Western) brought Santa Claus and his elves to greet children and adults.
In all, 677 toys were collected for needy children. The crew consisted of Engineer Robb Whitaker and Conductor Matt Blackburn, staff from Sierra Northern and Sunburst Train, as well as Operation Toy Train volunteers.
Sierra Northern Railway is the freight division of privately owned Sierra Railroad Co. SN currently operates approximately 75 miles of track in Northern California and 30 miles of track in Southern California, including through several prime industrial areas, and serves a wide variety of customers while interchanging with BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad.
— To report news or errors, contact trainsnewswire@firecrown.com.
