Hotshot Magazine | Holiday 2014

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Michael Berry CP’s Holiday Train Continuing to Spread the Holiday Cheer

Michael Berry CP’s Holiday Train 2014/2015 Edition Schedule Map

Michael Polk Holiday Train Experience MRM’s Polar Express

Michael Polk & Robert Della-Pietra Holiday Train Experience SOO Line 1003

Alex Wood Tennessee Central Santa Special 2014

Featured Photo Showcase Holidays 2014

Featured Holiday Wishes From The Hotshot Family To Yours

Featured Holiday Cards From Our Friends

Publisher: James Terrebonne Managing Editor: Maximillian Curry Advertising Director: Cameron Applegath Art Director: John Crisanti Copyeditors: Stephen Schmidt, Jason Boring

Cover Photo: Mathieu Tremblay

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Produced By: Hotshot Publications Louisiana, Colorado, Illinois, and Kentucky

Hotshot Magazine | Holiday 2014

Business Manager: Robert J Della-Pietra Staff Writers: Jon Hill, Colin Mucha, Jason Boring Photography: Michael Berry, Cameron Applegath, Robert Della-Pietra, John Crisanti, Michael Polk, Keith Schmidt, Mathieu Tremblay, Lewis Marien, Conner Dell, Christopher Goes, Donovan Reed, Dan Davis, Bill Willis, and Alex Wood.

Contact us: contact@hotshotrailmag.com Submissions: submissions@hotshotrailmag.com Advertise: advertising@hotshotrailmag.com


EDITOR’S James Terrebonne

On behalf of the staff here at Hotshot Magazine, we would like to thank everyone for their support. Without our fans, this magazine wouldn’t have kicked off the way it did. It has been an amazing few months, and we are excited to release this holiday issue – our second – to the community. We started this magazine as a true hobbyist magazine, and with hard work and dedication, we proved to the railfan community what could be done. 2014 was an incredible year for the hobby, and we hope 2015 becomes an incredible year for Hotshot. Once again, from the staff here at Hotshot Magazine, thanks for your support. It is the best gift of all. From our families to yours, we wish you a safe and wonderful holiday season – railfanning optional, of course.

James Terrebonne Publisher, Hotshot Magazine

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On November 30, 2014, the American version of CP’s Holiday Train sits in front of the Plattsburgh, N.Y. station. After its next stop in Rouses Point, the train will enter Canada for a few days before heading to the Midwest. Photo by Michael Berry

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he Canadian Pacific (CP) Holiday Train has been bringing joy to communities all along CP’s network for 15 years, and both railfans and the general public are hopeful that the train will run for another 15 years. So what is the CP Holiday Train? First off, it is important to point out that there are not one, but two CP Holiday Trains, both fairly identical in their consist. The first Holiday Day is the Canadian train, which originates in Montreal and makes the long trek to Vancouver, stopping countless times along the way. The American Holiday Train, which also originates in Montreal, mostly travels the United States (specifically New York and the Midwest), but also stops in southern Quebec and southern Ontario, areas that the Canadian holiday train does not visit.

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What will you see when the Holiday Train comes to town? A brilliantly and colorfully lit train of about 12 cars and a diesel engine, each decorated with lights and other ornaments. Up until this year, 6-axle freight locomotives were the customary power; CP 9824 on the American train and CP 9815 on the Canadian train, both GE AC4400W’s. This year, for the first time, 4-axle GP20C-ECO’s were used; CP 2249 on the American train and CP 2246 on the Canadian train. This made for a nice change for those of us who were getting a bit tired of seeing the same locomotive lead the Holiday Train year after year! At each Holiday Train stop, the routine is usually the same: the train arrives, stops for about 45 minutes and departs for the next stop. During each stop, the crowd enjoys a musical act or two, and hopefully donates food or money, as the main purpose


After leaving the East Binghamton yard, CP’s US Holiday Train is crossing over from DLW 4 track to the Johnson Running track and is about to cross the NS and begin its trip north of the former D&H Freight Mainline. Photo by Mathieu Tremblay

On December 7, 2014, CP 2249 makes its stop in Milwaukee, Wis. Photos by Keith Schmidt

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On November 27, 2014, the Canadian version of the CP Holiday Train makes its first stop of the year at Montreal West, which it has never done before. CP 2246 is just a few feet east of the Westminster Avenue crossing. Photo by Michael Berry

of the Holiday Train is to raise money for local food banks. In fact, according to CP, the Holiday Train has raised close to $9.5 million and 3.3 million pounds of food since it started in 1999. For railfans, the best time to shoot the Holiday Train is at night, when you can capture the fantastic holiday colors in all their glory. Those without access to multi-flash setups will have to shoot time exposures of the train stopped. Railfans living in areas served by CP know that the end of November means getting ready to go out and shoot the Holiday Train!

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Top Right: On December 7, 2014, CP 2249 makes its stop in Milwaukee, Wis. An estimated 5,000 people attended the show at the Milwaukee Amtrak station. Local food pantries shared food and collected donations at the event. Photo by Keith Schmidt Bottom Right: On November 26, 2014, CP 2249 is in charge of the American Holiday Train as it makes its second stop of the night at Delson, Quebec. Photo by Michael Berry


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MRM Polar Express

Left: Wabash F7A 1189 heads West by the Wabash searchlight signals at Harristown, Ill. Photo by Michael Polk

Above: Polar Express conductors pose for the camera with railroad lanterns in hand. Photo by Michael Polk

Story by Michael Polk

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t’s that time of year again, time for all the joys that come with the Christmas season, the friendship, the food, and of course, the trains! This year, I was fortunate enough to have the time off of work to partake in, and cover several “Christmas Train” events. My “Home away from Home”, Monticello Railway Museum (MRM), hosted their yearly Polar Express event. Selling out this year in a record eight minutes, it has become a growing hit for families all across the Midwest, not just Central Illinois. Since its conception in 2008, the MRM Polar Express event has won several awards including Best Decorated Event from Rail Events last year. A new addition was made to the train this year as well, in the form of our newly restored Illinois Central dining car!

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MRM volunteers Michael Polk and John Sciutto prepare a breakfast of pancakes, bacon, sausage, hashbrowns, rolls, crescent rolls, eggs, and much more for the MRM and NS crew of the ILD Santa train. Photo by Michael Polk

MRM conductors Michael Polk and T.O. Neal Grant punch tickets on the Polar Express. Photo by Michael Polk

NS Christmas Train

Story by Michael Polk Polar Express is a wonderful event that I consider my favorite of the entire year at MRM. Interacting with the people, being a part of the experience, and keeping the magic of Christmas alive in so many young girls and boys, is something that I hold very dear to me. It is a very powerful experience, for myself, and all of our volunteers whose months of hard work is paid of the moment the first child’s smile is visible.

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orfolk Southern’s Illinois Division (ILD) Christmas Train, out of the Decatur, Ill. terminal, is a wonderful event for employees and railfans alike. It is an employee only event, hosted by NS for the ILD employees and their families to enjoy a train ride out on the mainline with Santa Claus. Monticello Railway Museum sends their equipment to Decatur for the event, for use by NS under supervision of the MRM staff. This is where the railfans come in. It is always a wonderful sight to see vintage equipment hustling down the mainline at track speed! Each year, Wabash F7A 1189 leads the train Westbound to Illiopolis, Ill., and Canadian National FPA-4 6789 leads the train back East to Decatur. It is a magnificent event, and always an amazing experience being out on the mainline watching the train roll by.


On December 13, 2014, the Norfolk Southern Illinois Division’s Christmas Train (NS 957) comes to a stop in Decatur, Ill. to unload its passengers. The yearly train for NS employees and their families uses equipment from the Monticello Railway Museum and runs between Decatur, Ill. and Illiopolis, Ill. Photo by Lewis Marien

SOO Line 1003

Story by Michael Polk

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he third, was the Santa Train operated by the volunteers of the SOO Line 1003 Organization, which coincides with the Veterans Day parade in Hartford, Wis. 1003 was steamed up with tool car, and two cabooses in tow, with Santa on the rear visiting with all of the girls and boys who came out to see. The volunteers were very friendly and open to answering our questions, and giving information about the event and the current happenings of the steam locomotive.

After a day’s work, SOO 1003 sits in the middle of town and is being serviced for the next day’s run. Photo by Robert Della-Pietra

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After backing all the way out of town, SOO Line 1003 does a photo run-by for the crowd before returning to the shops. Photo by Robert Della-Pietra Once Santa Claus is done for the day, he rides back on the caboose at the end of SOO Line 1003’s train in Hartford, Wis. Photo by Robert Della-Pietra

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fter hearing the previous day that the SOO Line 1003 was going to make a run from Hartford to Horicon, Wis., Michael Polk and I decided to stay the night in Milwaukee. On Sunday November 8, 2014, the SOO Line 1003 shoved its way about 25 miles to the town of Horicon, Wis. Upon arrival, we were informed of the many different routes it might take: because of the track layout in Horicon, it could go three different ways. After a 2-hour wait at the Rock River bridge, we heard the whistle of a steam engine. However, it was headed north not east. We hurried up to the town of Burnett, Wis., where it lifted 5 covered hoppers and filled up on coal. After about another hour, it finally departed. We went south to a crossing between Horicon and Burnett to capture this massive piece of machinery in action as it huffed and puffed slowly in the cool fall air. Photo by Robert Della-Pietra

SOO Line 1003 Story by Robert Della-Pietra

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Above: The fireman of SOO Line 1003 poses for a shot before heading back to the engine house in Hartford, Wis. Photo by Michael Polk

Top Right: Zachary Hall, SOO Line 1003 volunteer and Fort Wayne Historical Society member, poses beside the tender. Photo by Michael Polk

Bottom Right: SOO Line 1003’s tender sports a Wisconsin & Southern Railroad partnership banner. WSOR partners with The Steam Locomotive Heritage Association for the event. Photo by Michael Polk

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A Christmas excursion operated by the Tennessee Central Railway Museum pulls into the boarding complex at Nashville & Eastern Railway’s (N&E) Southern Junction Yard in Nashville, Tenn. Photo by Alex Wood

Tennessee Central’s Santa Special Story by Alex Wood

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ennessee Central’s Santa Special was a 16car matching set of streamlined passenger cars bracketed by newly restored Louisville & Nashville (L&N) GP7 405 and TCRX E8A 6902 (ex-NYC 4084). The train traveled from downtown Nashville to the suburb of Lebanon twice a day over the course of two weekends. On board, passengers were given small gift bags, served a small lunch and visited by Santa Claus during the 31-mile trip to Lebanon. The museum operated the train over Nashville & Eastern Railroad’s (N&E) track, which has been upgraded over the course of the last several years to accommodate Nashville’s Music City Star commuter train.

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L&N GP7 405 shoves the Tennessee Central Railway Museum’s Santa Special into N&E’s boarding complex with Nashville’s skyline complimenting the background. Photo by Alex Wood



Do you or someone you know have a business pertaining to railroading, railfans, or model railroading and want to attract customers? Do you or someone you know want to get the word out on a event? What if you could advertise it for free with no strings attached? Hotshot Magazine is offering individuals, businesses, and event planners the option to advertise their railroad related product, service or event for 2 issues for free! Each slot will either be 1/8th or 1/4th in size, with the option to have bigger sizes once the initial trial is up. If you choose to not to continue after the trial, then don’t worry, you won’t pay anything. Hotshot is offering trades as well! Please contact us at: advertising@hotshotrailmag.com Subject line: Advertising Please provide us a summary of your business, event, product or service as well as any questions or comments you may have. Advertisements will be in the magazine in order to pay for expenses like web hosting, so that we can avoid charging our fans to subscribe. We will also provide an option to donate which will also cover web hosting and website services, as well as any future expenses.

FULL PAGE 8.5 in x 11 in

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1/8 PAGE 4.25 in x 2.75 in 1/4 PAGE 4.25 x 5.5 in 3/8 inch bleed

1/2 PAGE 8.5 in x 5.5 in OR 4.25 in x 11 in

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The FEC Santa Train speeds along US1 during the golden morning hour of December 13th, 2014. Photo by Colin Dell

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Above: The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train just arrived for the Delanson show as the last of sunlight fades away for the night on November 28, 2014. Photo by Christopher Goes | Christopher Goes Photography

Top Right: Former Boston & Maine (B&M) F7A 4266, with a train full of families on the Santa Express, is en route to Conway, N.H. on the old B&M Conway Branch. The Conway Scenic Railroad offers these runs in addition to The Polar Express and other fabulous outings during the year. Photo by Bill Willis | Precious Escapes Photography Bottom Right: Hundreds of people were trackside in Windsor, Colo. to greet Mr. and Mrs. Claus that were arriving by train, courtesy of the Great Western Railway. Photo by John Crisanti

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Above: The CPR Canadian Holiday Train (symbol 01H) pulls through Lambton Yard in Toronto, Ont. on its transcontinental journey. This shot was taken just as the Toronto show was wrapping up. The consist spent the night in the yard before proceeding to the suburb of Vaughan the next morning. Local families are seen taking photographs with point and shoot cameras, capturing special moments for their kids. Photo by Cameron Applegath

Top Right: With the Holidays approaching, KCS’s 14th annual Holiday Express train descends the other, lesser known, Huey P. Long bridge into Baton Rouge, Lou. after crossing the mighty Mississippi River. The train has about three and a half miles left before making its first stop of the tour at the old Baton Rouge train depot, where a record-sized crowd gathered to see the train later that night. Photo by Donovan Reed

Bottom Right: On December 13, 2014, Conrail Shared Assets ran their yearly Santa Train. This train runs from Browns Yard in Sayreville, N.J. to Freehold, N.J., where kids can tell Santa what they want to see under the tree, and gift donations can be made for those in need. This year, CSX Transportation GP40-2 4412 and Norfolk Southern GP38-2 5313 powered the train as it rolled down the Conrail Amboy Secondary at Helmetta, N.J. Photo by Dan Davis

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HOLIDAY WISHES From the Hotshot Magazine family to yours

From my home to yours, wherever your rails may lead you, and however many bad orders you have to set out, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Stephen Schmidt | Copyeditor The Terrebonne family would like to wish everyone a Joyeux Noël and Happy New Year! James Terrebonne | Publisher

Alles Gute für das Neue Jahr! My Swiss and American family wishes everyone all the best for the new year! Maximillian Curry | Managing Editor

From the Mucha family to yours, wishing you a Merry Christmas and a happy, fulfilling new year! Colin Mucha | Producer

Wishing everyone a happy and safe holiday season. Cameron Applegath | Operations Manager

I’d like to wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Colorful Colorado! John Crisanti | Art Director

I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a delightful new year. Here’s to 2015! Robert Della-Pietra | Business Manager

From myself to our spectacular audience this holiday season, I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Jason Boring | Staff Writer

Hope all of you have a wonderful holiday season and a wonderful start to the new year. Remember, this hobby is what you make it. So make it fun! Jon Hill | Staff Writer

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HOLIDAY E-CARDS Submissions from our friends on Facebook

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