2023 Christmas Train and Photo Charter
Photos by Burt Mall
2023 Steel Highway and Ethan Brodie photo charter
Santa Train 2023
Images by Tony Raia
Trains Photo Charter 2022
Santa Train 2022
August 2022
1003 comes to Chicago for Metra Family Days:
November 14, 2021
A “beginning of winter” photo freight for TRAINS magazine from Brandon to Hartford, Wisconsin:
Photo Credits: Chris Guss, Burt Mall
Photo Credit: Dave Zeman
November 13, 2021
Santa greeted children from the window of his Milwaukee Road bay-window caboose:
Photo Credit: Mike Raia
October 9, 2021
SOO 1003 and Wolf Oil helped Slinger, Wisconsin celebrate their notable and festive station/museum grand opening:
Photo Credit: Mike Raia
November 15, 2020
TRAINS Magazine’s 80th Anniversary with Photo Freight From Randolph, WI to Hartford, WI:
Photo Credits: Mike Raia, Chris Guss, Burt Mall
November 14, 2020
Annual Santa Train Event – Hartford, WI, with Social Distancing:
Photo Credits: Mike Raia, Burt Mall
November 9, 2019 – Hartford, WI
Santa made his annual visit to hear children’s Christmas wishes with the best crew ever!
November 2, 2019 – Slinger, WI
In familiar territory, 1003 made an appearance at the village’s 150th anniversary celebration. Note the 7-foot cake on the flat car!
November 23, 2018 – Plymouth and Elkhart Lake, WI Holiday Appearances
On November 23, Soo Line 1003 and its crew brought Santa to Plymouth with close to 1,000 young and old touring Santa’s decorated caboose. For a special appearance 1003 was later a backdrop for the city’s more than popular and exciting evening parade. The locomotive and consist also moved to Elkhart Lake and delivered Christmas trees by flatcar to purchasers at the community’s downtown holiday festivities.
November 10, 2018 – SOO 1003 Rolls into Hartford, WI for Santa’s Usual Visit
Metra Family Days – Shriners Hospital for Children-Chicago
Locomotive 1003 trekked into Chicago and then returned back to Hartford with a small freight over the period Aug. 9- Aug. 14. The first appearance on Saturday, August 12 was in conjunction with a highly attended Metra Family Days at Metra’s Western Ave. shops/ yard.
The second appearance was at the Galewood (Chicago) station for a public exhibition which supported the Shriners Hospital for Children-Chicago.
Santa Train 2016
Photo Freight to Randolph, WI – November 22 – 23, 2016
Santa Train 2015 – November 14, 2015
Photo Freight to Fairwater, WI October 31 – November 1, 2015
1003 Test Runs – November 9, 2014
Santa Train – November 8, 2014
Toys for Tots – Nov. 3, 2012
On Saturday, November 3, 2012, the Steam Locomotive Heritage Association ran a “Whistle Stop Santa Appearance” train from Milton to Middleton, Wisconsin, with stops in Edgerton, Stoughton, McFarland and Madison. The trip was run in conjunction with Toys for Tots Organization, Marine Corps, University of Wisconsin Athletics and the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad.
Joined by two United States Marines and four UW football players, volunteers collected a huge amount of gifts for the Toys for Tots program from the hundreds of people came out to see the train. We thank everyone who participated and enjoyed this event.
