Toys for Tots railcars November tour adds a stop in South Greensburg

A new stop has been added for this year’s caravan of railcars that collect donations for Toys for Tots around Westmoreland County.

Organizer John Gonder said the railcars will take a spur on the Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad line to stop near Huff Avenue in South Greensburg about 12:45 p.m.

“It’s not really going to change our times a whole lot, just an extra place for people to go,” he said.

Gonder is expecting the largest caravan yet — 29 railcars — on Saturday when the operators make their annual 40-mile trek from East Huntingdon to Hempfield. The railcars will be decked out in holiday decor while stopping at several communities along the line to collect new, unwrapped toys and cash donations.

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. Gonder said the annual event, which started in 2016, is advertised in the association’s magazine and, this year, railcar operators will join from New York, New Jersey, Indiana and Georgia, among other locations.

“This is one of the most fun things we do every year,” he said. “Every year, it seems to be getting bigger and bigger.”

Gonder estimated the 2023 event collected 2,700 toys and $2,500. Registration fees paid by participating railcars are directed to Toys for Tots.

“We’re well on our way to passing last year’s figures already,” he said.

Some communities along the route are planning activities surrounding the caravan’s arrival. 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.

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.