The annual caravan of festive railcars collecting items for Toys for Tots will make the 40-mile trek from East Huntingdon to Hempfield on Nov. 16.

Members of the North American Railcar Operators Association will brave the weather to collect new, unwrapped toys or monetary donations for children in need.

The caravan, in its fourth year, will travel on the Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad line through several Westmoreland County communities, including Mt. Pleasant, Scottdale, Tarrs and Youngwood.

“It started out actually better than we thought it would and it’s grown every year,” said John Gonder, a Ruffsdale resident and association member.

During the 2018 trip, the group collected 300 toys and about $2,100, he said.

“We appreciate the people coming out and helping us,” he said.

Donors can stop the caravan at any railroad crossing. Railcars are small cabs that were once used by railroad companies to inspect and maintain lines.

The caravan will depart the Savage Intermodal Terminal in East Huntingdon at 8 a.m. and pass by Greendance Winery on the way into Mt. Pleasant at 8:30 a.m.

The rail line runs along Jacobs Creek and the Westmoreland-Fayette border and will take the caravan into Everson, Scottdale, Tarrs, Ruffsdale, Hunker and New Stanton.

The rail line runs parallel for a time to Interstate 70 and then alongside Route 119 and the Five Star Trail into Youngwood at 11:30 a.m. Gonder said the group plans to stop at the Historical & Railroad Museum on Depot Street and also at the north end of Buncher Commerce Park.

The line crosses over Route 119 near South Greensburg and heads toward Greengate Center where the caravan will make another extended stop near Aroma Joe’s at 12:45 p.m. before heading back south. All times are approximate.

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