Story by Doug Mills
Photos by David Mills
RCN America Network
Rockland, Me. - It
is 8:00 AM when the big 488 diesel roars to life. The crew are
arriving. But today will not be an ordinary day for the crew of the
Maine Eastern Railroad. Today is the TOYS N TURKEYS TRAIN!
This
special train will stop at all four of the railroad's stations to
collect donations of new, unwrapped toys, frozen turkeys, and other
non-perishable food items.
After
accepting donations and giving tours of the vintage Maine Eastern
train the Thomaston Fire Department arrives, two engines and an
ambulance with a truckload of turkeys and other items.
By
10:00 AM we are rolling down the line toward the next stop,
Wiscasset, followed by Bath and Brunswick where Santa was waiting.
Everyone who donated was welcomed on the train for Coffee, Hot
Chocolate and Hot Cidar with doughnuts and goodies donated by Tim
Horton's in Rockland.
“The
Toys 'n' Turkeys Train was a resounding success today! With the
train's freezers stuffed with turkeys (we almost ran out of places to
put them), the turnout and support was great! Here's a photo of all
the fantastic people at the Maine
Eastern Railroad and
the Thomaston Fire Department that came out in honor of Colby Miles”
states Maine Eastern employee Harmony Llanto
A
shortline railroad is a family. The nine employees that make up the
Maine
Eastern Railroad family
were devastated to learn last weekend that one of our conductors,
Colby Miles, was involved in an extremely serious car accident.
Colby's passion for railroading and his community played a very big
hand in the creation of this weekend's Toys 'n' Turkeys Train.
However, with Colby's remarkably rapid recovery underway and the
overwhelming public support for both Colby and the TnT Train, the
Maine Eastern Railroad will forge ahead with the train's operation as
planned in honor of Colby's devotion to his community and his family
here at the railroad.[Maine
Eastern Railroad]
Come ride along...with our exclusive video.
