KINGSPORT, Tenn. — For the first time since 2019, the Santa Train returns to the rails this weekend, delivering tons of presents to thousand of children.

The Santa Train was turned into a drive-thru affair the past two years, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now the life is returning to normal, Santa Claus will once again climb aboard a CSX train to make his 110-mile journey from Shelbiana to Kingsport, Tenn.

The Santa Train’s first stop will be at Shelby Yard, at 6 a.m. Saturday morning. From there, it will travel to Marrowbone at 6:20 and Elkhorn City at 7:05.

The train will cross into Virginia for 10 stops, starting with Toms Bottom at 7:45, Haysi at 8:07, and Clinchco at 8:40. In all, the train will make 14 stops, arriving in Kingsport at 3 p.m.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Santa Train.