Holiday Train Wows Hastings Crowd

The wildly popular Holiday Train visited the Hastings Community on Wednesday Night. The mild weather contributed to the crowd of approximately four thousand who gathered at the Depot for the arrival of the brightly lit traveling show. The Train Jamboree took place at nearby Christ’s Family Church where hundreds enjoyed food, fun and the hospitality of the congregation. As the time approached for the Holiday Train to arrive, the masses began assembling in front of the depot. The Moms Club sold cookies and hot chocolate, Cub Scout Pack 278 gathered donated food items into the back of truck, and then the sound of the whistle announced the train was nearing the station. Hastings Police and reserves joined the CP safety crew to keep eagar folks in back of a long line of baracades as the blinding light of the train lit up the tracks. Car after car decorated with super bright LED scenes of snowmen, reindeer, and even Santa, passes the 2nd street intersection and continuing until the engine finally came to a stop at the entrance to the old lift bridge. A boxcar near the end of the train rested at the 2nd street crossing , its retractable side opened up to reveal a stage complete with a full band. Mayor Paul Hicks and Chris Koop from Hastings Family Service were welcomed by the huge crowd and a spokesman for the Canadian Pacific Railway presented them with a giant check, representing a donation of $4,500 for the Hastings Foodshelf. Stay tuned to KDWA for more highlights from the 45th stop on this year’s CP Holiday Train. If you missed this great event, the train will make two more stops just up the line. Thursday Night in Cottage Grove and Friday Night at the St. Paul Depot. We have several photos posted on the KDWA facebook page and even some video complete with blasts from the whistle.