NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Barely visible to little ones, the unmistakable roar of the train bearing down on the tracks had 5-year-old Lei'Lani Figueroa and other little ones yelling in unison: "Santa's coming!"
In a matter of a minute or two the Florida East Coast train with several cars came to a stop under the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Bridge over U.S. 1 and grown men in Santa hats jumped off and headed to the adjacent car to unload boxes of toys. Then came the roar of children as the jolly bearded one stepped off the train with Mrs. Claus, who appeared to be half his age.
Lai'Lani, the little girl from Dayton Beach went up to Santa thinking she was going to get her desired present -- "earphones" -- but instead got a hug and a balloon. Her grandmother explained that Santa's helpers actually have to deliver the toys.
She just shrugged off the initial disappointment and a frown became a smile.
In all, 627 toys were delivered at the New Smyrna Beach stop at 10:30 a.m., the exact same amount as all eight stops, said David Maddox, assistant vice president of FEC train operations. The train left Jacksonville at 7 a.m. and was expected to arrive in Miami at 5 p.m.
"The stops we're making is where our people live," Maddox said, adding the company matched the amount offered up by those employees to buy the toys packed in cardboard boxes and plastic bags.
Local volunteers of the Toys for Tots loaded the packages in their vehicles for delivery closer to Christmas for needy children while Santa posed for pictures with the 40 or so kids while moms and dads looked on. Mrs. Claus was a big hit with the adult crowd with men snapping away photos.
NSBNews.net asked Santa what he believed the best toy he could possible give to families in this entrenched recession.
"Jobs," he cracked.
Employment wasn't on the minds of the little ones, though. One little boy with a spaghetti bowl haircut no older than 5 or 6 was asked by the bearded one what he wanted for Christmas.
"I want a computer," the boy shot back.
"Oh," Santa responded with a pause. "Have a balloon."
