Third Annual Caltrain Holiday Train Returns Nov. 29 & 30

Caltrain will be transformed into Santa's glittering sleigh for the third annual Trains for Tots Special the weekend of Nov. 29 and 30.

Decorated with more than 40,000 lights, the world's largest toy train will visit nine Caltrain stations over two nights, bringing holiday joy and the music of the season.

At each of the train's 20-minute station stops, people can join in singing with onboard carolers and a Salvation Army brass band. Santa, Mrs. Claus and their extended family will get off the train to greet kids and pose for pictures.

Continuing a tradition begun in 2001, Caltrain and the Golden Gate Railroad Museum are joining with other partners to sponsor the special train to help generate toy donations for the Salvation Army and the United States Marine Corps Reserves' Toys for Tots Program.

Last year, more than 6,000 toys were brought to Caltrain stations, filling toy barrels to overflowing. People are again encouraged to help make the holidays brighter for needy Bay Area children by donating a new, unwrapped toy.

Two employee choruses will ride the train to lead the caroling. On Saturday night, it will be the Cisco Singers of Cisco Systems, directed by Mary Beth Shields; on Sunday night it will be the Caltrain Chorus led by Bill Welch, appearing with members of the Peninsula Harmony Chorus.

Pulled by a Caltrain locomotive, the train will include two old-fashioned passenger cars, a baggage car and a caboose - aglow with silvery garland, twinkling stars, waving snowmen, drumming soldiers and other holiday displays.

Thanks to local groups, this year's Trains for Tots will offer entertainment for families waiting for the arrival of the train at many of the Caltrain station.

Model railroad displays will be open at the Menlo Park and Santa Clara stations before and after the train comes to town.

Local musical and theatrical groups also be on hand at the following stations to entertain a half hour before the train is due: the Crystal Springs Players (San Bruno); the Hillsdale High School Chamber Singers (San Mateo); the Redwood City Children's Chorus (Redwood City); Palo Alto High School Madrigal Singers (California Avenue); and the Santa Clara Corps Band of the Salvation Army (Santa Clara).

With just weeks to go until the train makes its trips down the Peninsula, volunteers from Caltrain, the Golden Gate Railroad Museum and Amtrak are hard at work at a railroader's version of the "North Pole" - attaching the decorations to rail cars and wiring it all together for the dazzling nighttime display.

Museum volunteers take time from jobs and weekends to supervise the extensive work that is required to deck out the train, a labor of love that is rewarded by the number of toys that are donated, as well as by seeing children's faces light up when Santa arrives on the train.

This year's holiday train sponsors include Amtrak, Peterson Power Systems, Herzog and Stacy & Witbeck Constructors, UPN44 television and Rail Journeys West. Debbie Lyn's Costumes of Sunnyvale is providing most of the costumes for this year's train, and radio station KFRC is helping to promote the event.

Following is the schedule for the 2003 holiday train:

The train is for display only. Trains may arrive up to five minutes ahead of schedule.

+ Model railroad exhibits will be open at Menlo Park from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and at Santa Clara from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

* The holiday program in San Francisco begins at this time.