Santa to make Dec. 10 'Toys for Tots' stop in New Smyrna Beach on FEC train

NSBNews.net photos / To loud cheers and whistles, Santa Claus disembarks the Florida East Coast "Christmas Train" in New Smyrna Beach on Saturday morning, Dec. 11, 2010, and is swarmed by parents and children alike. In the smaller photo, Jazmine, 5, Jayden, 2, and Myron, 4, children of Jessica Dubois of New Smyrna Beach, wait for Santa's arrival. The train is coming again Dec. 10 and parents needing help with Christmas are welcomed to bring children.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- When Santa brings toys for tots in December he'll be giving Rudolph and the other reindeers the day off and instead will arrive by train -- courtesy of the Florida East Coast rail -- from Jacksonville to Miami with New Smyrna Beach one of the stops along the way.

 New Smyrna Beach is part of the second annual FEC "Toys for Tots" Jacksonville-Miami Train Run Saturday, Dec. 10. The Train stops in New Smyrna Beach at 10:35 a.m. at South Myrtle Avenue near the entrance to the Florida East Coast Railroad and just north of the maintenance yard.

Here are the directions: At the intersection of SR 44 and Myrtle Avenue, turn south toward the tracks, travel a short distance on Myrtle and go straight through the FEC railway entrance ('Dead End' signs on either side of the entrance).

Canal Street merchant Flare Elliott greets Santa during last year's inaugural FEC Christmas stop in New Smyrna Beach.

Flare Elliott of the Friends of Historic Canal Street Inc. said each stop will only be 20 minutes so she's urging adults and their children not to be late. Anyone wishing to donate can bring an unwrapped toy valued at $10.

Santa and his Elves will be giving 'Operation Life Saver Information' to children who welcome the train. New Smyrna is one of only eight stops for Santa. Additional train stops are Jacksonville, St. Augustine, City Point (Cocoa), Fort Pierce, West Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, North Miami.

In addition to the representatives from Toys for Tots, FEC has arranged for representatives of the United States Marine Corps to be on hand to receive the donated toys to be later distributed in their communities.

FEC’s employees and their families will be at each train stop location, including New Smyrna Beach, to greet Santa in support of the Toys for Tots program.

FAST FACTS

Florida East Coast Railway is a 351-mile freight rail system located along the east coast of Florida and is the exclusive rail provider for the Port of Miami, Port Everglades, and the Port of Palm Beach. FEC connects to the national railway system in Jacksonville, to move cargo originating or terminating in Florida throughout the country. For more information, please visit www.fecrwy.com.

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