independently. The Clinchfield ceased to exist as a railroad on 1 January 1983 when the Family Lines railroads were merged into a single operating company, the Seaboard System, which merged with the Chessie System to form CSX in 1986. The Clinchfield is remembered for is its famous "Santa Claus Special" that debuted in 1943 from encouragement from several Kingsport businessmen and ran the length of the Clinchfield's main line between Elkhorn City and Kingsport, Tennessee, handing out gifts to the children along the route. Today, it is operated by CSX Transportation (Seaboard's successor) with the Kingsport Area Chamber of Commerce and is now known as the "Santa Train". References Further reading Goforth, James A. (1989). Building The Clinchfield. GEM Publishers, The Overmountain Press. . Goforth, James A. (1991). When Steam ran the Clinchfield. GEM Publishers, The Overmountain Press. . Graybeal, Johnny (2007, 2019). The Railroads of Johnson City. Tarheel Press. . External links Carolina, Clinchfield, and Ohio Railway Records Clinchfield History: Johnson City, Tennessee The Carolina, Clinchfield and Ohio 4-6-6-4s CSX Santa Train Railway companies established in 1924 Railway companies disestablished in 1983 Defunct Kentucky railroads Defunct North Carolina railroads Defunct South Carolina railroads Defunct Tennessee railroads Defunct Virginia railroads Transportation in Appalachia Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Louisville and Nashville Railroad Seaboard System Railroad Johnson City, Tennessee Predecessors of CSX Transportation Former Class I railroads in the United States Standard gauge railways in the United States American companies established in 1924 1924 establishments in the United States