Holiday Train returns to area on two different rail lines

The Canadian Pacific Railroad’s popular Holiday Train will return to this area in December, this time running over two different rail lines five days apart.

The train, decorated from end-to-end in holiday lights, will make its first-ever run over the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad’s tracks, stopping in New Ulm from 7:45 to 8:15 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9. The CP took over the DM&E in late 2008.

On Monday, Dec. 14, the train will again visit the former Soo Line tracks west of Minneapolis with 30-minute stops planned at 6 p.m. at Northeast Third Avenue in Buffalo, at 7:30 p.m. at the downtown park along Oak Avenue in Annandale, and at 9:15 p.m. at Eden Valley’s Main Street crossing.

The train features musical entertainment in a converted boxcar at each stop. Visitors to the train are asked to bring food and/or money to contribute to a local food bank.

A diverse array of musicians will headline the U.S. portion of CP’s two-country effort. The brother-sister due Prescott and Ottawa singer/songwriter Adam Puddington will perform their blend of country, rock and blues on the American tour. Genre-defying Wisconsin singer/songwriter and guitar wizard Willy Porter rounds out the tour in Minnesota.

(Terry Davis is a Hutchinson Leader staff writer. E-mail him at davis@hutchinsonleader.com.)