Santa Special

Almost twenty years ago, we shared an East Tennessee tradition called the Santa Special. It's an event where St. Nick leaves his sleigh to ride a train pulled by a steam-powered locomotive, along the way spreading holiday cheer through the state's rugged coal mining country.

The train runs from Shelby, Ky. to downtown Kingsport. The Santa Train departs every year the weekend before Thanksgiving. But if you would like to help with future runs, the train accepts physical and monetary donations. Financial gifts are used for the Santa Train Scholarship, given to select students who live along the train's route. Santa only takes new clothes or toys on the train. Gifts and monetary donations, may be sent to: Kingsport Area Chamber of Commerce, Attn: Santa Train, 400 Clinchfield Street, Kingsport TN 37660.

Joe Elmore has been the host of this Emmy-award winning series since its beginnings. As the face of Tennessee Crossroads, Joe has been taking viewers to meet interesting people and explore fascinating out-of-the-way places since 1987. Joe is also a producer and co-host of Horsepower TV on Spike TV. Joe launched his TV career at WHBQ TV in Memphis, TN, where he served as weekend anchor and reporter. Later, he was chosen to co-host the station's PM Magazine show, where he produced nationally-broadcast stories. He has also done extensive work as an independent film and video producer for clients throughout the Southeast.