ROUSES POINT — The brightly lit Canadian Pacific Railway Holiday Train will embark on its North Country journey Thursday in Rouses Point and finish Nov. 30 in Plattsburgh.

After stopping in Plattsburgh, the train — covered with thousands of holiday lights — continues on to southern Ontario and the U.S. Midwest.

Entertainers on the train include the group Prescott, which is brother and sister singing duo Kaylen and Kelly Prescott, and singer/songwriter Adam Puddington, along with special guests Shaun Verreault and Willy Porter.

The train's purpose is to encourage residents to come out with donations of non-perishable foods or cash for local food banks, and CP Railway makes a generous monetary contribution of its own.

LOCAL STOPS
For the second year, the train's local calls will be split into two days, with Rouses Point visited late on Thanksgiving Day, and Ticonderoga, Port Henry and Plattsburgh the Monday after that.

People going to see the train should plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early.

FIRST STOP:
ROUSES POINT

Rouses Point Mayor George Rivers said he's been a fan for several years of the Holiday Train and the good it does.

He said the train used to make Rouses Point the last stop, but they have moved it to a different day from the other North Country stops.

"CP Railway said, 'You have a pretty good crowd there. Could we stop on the way down?' We had about 250 people there."

He helps provide refreshments for the crowds that come to see the train.

"My wife and I serve hot chocolate; we've done that for several years," Rivers said.

"To see the train and watch the show, it's free, but we would appreciate canned goods or dry goods for the food shelf."

'WONDERFUL TOUCH'
Plattsburgh Mayor Donald Kasprzak said he looks forward to the Holiday Train every year.

"I am a full supporter of the Holiday Train, not only from the perspective that it's a wonderful holiday touch to the festivities, but more importantly it brings attention to the North Country's generosity. Once again, the cause is to help people through food-shelf donations.

"I am very confident the North Country steps up to help as many people as possible during these difficult times."

NEW SETUP
Ticonderoga Town Supervisor Robert C. Dedrick said that because the Ticonderoga Ferry is still open, they can't block the railroad crossing on Fort Ticonderoga Ferry Road, where the train usually stops.

Instead, motorists will be asked to park at Fort Ticonderoga, and three school buses will take them to the train, which will stop before the crossing.

"A message board will direct all traffic to the fort," Dedrick said. "We had 400 people last year. It was packed."

He said they try very hard to get people to bring a non-perishable food product to donate.

"You can't get better than this. It puts you in the holiday spirit. It's a great show, and on top of that the food pantry does so well."

E-mail Lohr McKinstry at: lmckinstry@pressrepublican.com