News : Holiday Train Ride Returns Due to Popular Demand

A special holiday train ride will take holiday travelers between Palo and Vinton again this winter season.

On Saturday, December 3 families and friends are invited to board Iowa Northern Railway Company’s Hawkeye Express for a special, one-day fundraising event, known as the Palo Holiday Express, to benefit the United Way of East Central Iowa. The Palo Holiday Express will run between Vinton and Palo, taking travelers on a unique train ride with holiday music and spirit.

“This marks the third time we have partnered with NextEra Energy Duane Arnold Energy Center to bring this special family event to Eastern Iowa,” says Dan Sabin, President of the Iowa Northern Railway Company, “and the tickets typically sell out quickly. We’re bringing back the Palo Holiday Express for another year to spread a little holiday cheer, and allow people who missed previous events another chance at riding the wintry rails.”

Funds raised from this event will be donated to the United Way of East Central Iowa and will be used to support childhood education and youth development programs. The two previous Palo Holiday Express events raised more than $60,000 in ticket donations to assist individual businesses and home owners in Palo and Vinton with funds for flood recovery assistance.

Iowa Northern Railway has donated its equipment and operating team for this year’s event; a team of NextEra Energy Duane Arnold Energy Center employees organized the event; Benton County Historical Society has donated the depot and volunteers for the event; and United Way volunteers will help provide staffing for the day.

Tickets for the Palo Holiday Express are available at the Farmers Savings Bank and Trust branch in Vinton and the Guaranty Bank branch located in the Blairs Ferry Road Wal-Mart beginning Friday, November 18. For additional information about this event, please visit www.paloholidayexpress.com.