Westmoreland railcars return for Toys for Tots collection, bring new traditions

Skip Flack of Latrobe started a new family tradition this year.

Each year he and his wife, Kay, would participate in Toys for Tots drives. They would buy a couple hundred dollars worth of toys and drop them off at a donation site.

But Flack grieved Kay’s passing in October.

Wanting to honor his wife’s legacy, Flack, 76, invited his four grandkids — 17, 16, 15 and 14 — to go toy shopping with him on Veteran’s Day.

“I thought maybe they would want to keep on the tradition,” Flack said.

The group made it a family day ending with a lunch together.

“They’ve already asked when we can do it again next year,” Flack said.

Flack attended a Toys for Tots collection in Youngwood on Saturday to donate the toys he and his grandkids bought.

He wasn’t the only person there making family memories.

A crowd of people gathered at the train tracks along Depot Street to see a caravan of about 25 railcars decorated for the holidays.

Organizer John Gonder, 70, of Ruffs Dale, led the caravan for the 10th time — traveling 40 miles — from East Huntingdon to Hempfield. The crew collected donations at numerous stops in communities along the Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad line — also known as Carload Express.

Members of the North American Railcar Operators Association directed all of the donations to a local Marine Toys for Tots program.

Railcars are small cabs once used by railroad companies to inspect and maintain lines. The annual event, which started in 2016, was advertised in the association’s magazine and calendar for participants.

Stephanie Kanyan of Latrobe heard about the event multiple times over the years.

Her son Anthony, 12, loves trains and she decided to mark the event on her calendar. Kanyan, Anthony and her daughter Jocelyn, 6, arrived at the tracks just before 11 a.m. to donate toys and grab a spot to see the cars.

“(We’re excited) just to see what it’s like,” Kanyan said.

She said she hopes the event helps teach Anthony and Jocelyn the value in giving back to the community.

“(Jocelyn) doesn’t quite understand yet why we’re donating the toys away, why she can’t keep them,” Kanyan said. “I think this might become a tradition for us to do every year.”

Kaylene Fritz, 27, of Latrobe, stood near the tracks with her 17-month-old son, Xander. She watched for the railcars’ arrival since it would mean seeing her husband, Brad, behind one of the controls. Her husband is a track inspector and works on the railroad with Carload Express.

“I usually meet Brad (at the Youngwood stop) and we’ll ride on the tracks for a little bit and then hop off,” Fritz said. “It’s the one time of year we can take (Xander) with us for something like that because it’s not often you’re allowed to get on the tracks.”

Fritz came to the tracks a bit before noon to donate bags of toys.

“I think it’s really great that they do this,” Fritz said. “Every stop they enjoy seeing the kids come out, and it’s nice to give to people in the community.”

Gonder said that over the years, the event has collected an estimated 15,000 toys and $30,000 for Toys for Tots.

“The railroad here… is very hospitable to us,” Gonder said. “They do a fantastic job of allowing us to use their tracks to makes these collections every year.”

The trek began after the railcars departed Savage Intermodal Terminal in East Huntingdon at 8 a.m. They stopped 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. It took the caravan into Bridgeport, Everson, Scottdale, Tarrs, Ruffs Dale, Hunker and New Stanton. They were in Scottdale around 10 a.m. and Hunker at 11:10.

They reached Youngwood at noon and headed to Huff Avenue for a 12:45 p.m. arrival.

After the South Greensburg stop, the group crossed over Route 119 and headed toward Greengate Center, stopping near Aroma Joe’s (891 N. Greengate Road) at about 1:20 p.m. before heading back south.

They were back in Youngwood about 2:25 p.m.

“The people in Westmoreland are just amazing,” Gonder said.

He said each stop Saturday morning was met with a crowd of people and tons of donations.

“Every year it gets bigger and bigger,” Gonder said. “I’m not actually a member of the Marine Corps, but I do this for the Marines. It’s a way to give back. It’s something that makes us feel good.”