BNSF News

BNSF Hosts Train Trip with a Few Tricks and Lots of Treats for Charities

2009-11-02

BNSF volunteers hosted children and their families from a number of local charities in the Phoenix area on a special Halloween train trip Oct. 31.

More than 500 young patients and adults participated, from the Make-A-Wish Foundation; Phoenix Children's Hospital Center for Burns and Trauma; Rise Children's Services; and Arizonans for Children, Inc. Ken Kyer, a BNSF engineer based in Phoenix, was instrumental in organizing the event. BNSF has hosted the ride for 10 years and provided rides for more than 4,000 children.

"This was a very special train ride for us because it gave us an opportunity to give back to the communities that we serve," said Daryl Ness, BNSF general manager, Southwest Division. "We all looked forward to giving these children a special treat on Halloween Day."

Participants dressed in costumes to ride the special train, which consisted of two BNSF locomotives and 12 passenger cars. Passengers boarded the train in Glendale, Ariz. As the train traveled from Glendale to Wickenburg and back again, the children were served refreshments and received wooden train whistles and engineer hats. A face painter, balloon artist and magician also provided entertainment during the three-hour trip.

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