UPDATE: Holiday Train Not Stopping In Sturtevant, Maybe in 2012

Update: Ed Greenberg, a spokesperson for CP Rail, told Patch this afternoon that with so much demand from communities for a Holiday Train visit, the company is shifting its focus this year to the need in Milwaukee. That doesn't mean Sturtevant is off the list, though.

"We value the community support we've received in Sturtevant and the village is on the 2012 list for consideration," he said.

More, the Racine County Food Bank will still benefit from the 2011 Holiday Train. Greenberg said while the dollar amounts are still being worked out, the Food Bank will still receive a check.

Original Story: Residents throughout the area will not be able to make their annual Holiday Train visit this year.

This yearly tradition also benefits the Racine County Food Bank, encouraging people to come out and donate food and money.

Village President Steve Jansen said he received word today, Oct. 14, that Canadian Pacific Railway is not stopping in the village this year. Instead, the train will stop in Milwaukee.

“We are very disappointed. I know that many people will also be disappointed that this festive holiday event will no longer take place in Sturtevant," Jansen said. "It is also sad that when many families are struggling and in need of the assistance of the Racine County Food Bank that this event was cancelled by the Canadian Pacific Railroad.”  

The Holiday Train is a full-size locomotive decked out in hundreds of strings of holiday lights. Santa comes along to pass out small tokens to the kids, and a freight car opens to reveal live entertainment for seasonal songs everyone can sing. Local groups, like boy and girl scout troops, provided hot chocolate while school bands played in the moments leading up to the train's arrival.

Dan Taivalkoski, executive director of the Racine County Food Bank, is disappointed.

"This was a great family event," he said. "It's really too bad Sturtevant won't be a stop this year."

CP Rail typically jump-started the giving by presenting the Food Bank with a check for $1,000. Cash donations from people who came out each year totaled another couple thousand and hundreds of pounds of food were donated, too.

CP Rail returned a call from Patch, but the contact with details is out until Mon., Oct. 17. We expect to talk to him then and will update the story.