Railcars returning to Westmoreland for Toys for Tots collection

In the years since a caravan of railcars started rolling around Westmoreland County every November, they’ve collected an estimated 15,000 toys and $30,000 for Toys for Tots.

Organizer John Gonder is hoping to add to the total Nov. 15, which will be the 10th time the railcars make the 40-mile trek from East Huntingdon to Hempfield, collecting donations at numerous stops along the way. The railcars will be decked out in holiday decor while stopping at communities along the Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad line.

“The county here is very gracious to us,” Gonder said.

Members of the North American Railcar Operators Association direct all of the donations to a local Marine Toys for Tots program. Donors can stop the caravan at any railroad crossing.

Railcars are small cabs once used by railroad companies to inspect and maintain lines. The annual event, which started in 2016, is advertised in the association’s magazine and calendar for participants. Gonder is expecting 28 railcars to take part in the caravan. The fee they pay to participate goes directly to Toys for Tots.

Last year was the first time monetary donations topped $4,000. It also was the first time more than 4,000 new unwrapped toys were collected.

“Each year, the money and donations grows,” Gonder said.

It seems like there’s growth along the route, too, in the form of community activities surrounding the caravan’s arrival and the amount of people waiting to help children in need. A new stop was added last year at Huff Avenue in South Greensburg, and this year’s caravan will see additional community events, and coffee breaks, at a few of the stops.

“We’re going to be sugared-up by the time we get to Greensburg,” Gonder said.

The railcars will depart the Savage Intermodal Terminal in East Huntingdon at 8 a.m. and stop in Mt. Pleasant at the Route 31 crossing at 8:25 a.m.

The rail line runs along Jacobs Creek and the Westmoreland-Fayette border and will take the caravan into Bridgeport, Everson, Scottdale, Tarrs, Ruffs Dale, Hunker and New Stanton. Operators estimate they will be in Scottdale at 10 a.m. and Hunker at 11:10.

The rail line for a time runs parallel to Interstate 70 and then alongside Route 119 and the Five Star Trail. Operators hope to be in Youngwood at noon and Huff Avenue at 12:45 p.m.

After the South Greensburg stop, the group will cross over Route 119 and head toward Greengate Center, where the caravan will make an extended stop near Aroma Joe’s (891 N. Greengate Road) about 1:20 p.m. before heading back south. Operators expect to be back in Youngwood about 2:25 p.m. and in Scottdale at 3:10. The journey should wrap up about 4 p.m. in Mt. Pleasant.

All times are approximate. Gonder said they typically are able to stay within about 15 minutes of scheduled arrival times leading up to the turnaround spot along North Greengate Road. The way back is sometimes a different story, as railcar operators last year had donors at every stop.