Kids shielded from Christmas train tragedy

Hundreds of children in pajamas and clutching wish lists for Santa were told their trip to the North Pole was being derailed by a shortage of “magic fuel” after “The Train to Christmas Town” fatally struck two people Saturday night, authorities said.

“We had barely served cookies and cocoa,” a shaken Kaylene Jablecki, manager of the Cape Cod Central Railroad and a mother of five, told the Herald yesterday.

“It was trying — very trying,” said Jablecki, who was on the holiday-themed train’s traditional complimentary dress-rehearsal run for first responders and their families “as a way to give back for all they give to us.”

“The Train to Christmas Town,” which begins its normal schedule after Thanksgiving, was only 10 minutes into its journey from a depot in Buzzards Bay when authorities said it struck and killed a 33year-old woman and a 36year-old man on the Cape Maine Line’s tracks in Wareham shortly before 7:30 p.m.

Jablecki said organizers needed to think quickly to keep the children occupied while authorities investigated the tragedy outside.

“We made the announcement on board that we ran out of magic fuel and we’re not going to make it to the North Pole,” she said.

She said several of the first responders wanted to disembark and help, but were advised by responders on the ground to stay with their kids unless needed.

Instead, Santa appeared, dispensing gifts and collecting the children’s Christmas wish lists, while authorities investigated.

“It’s a tragedy, and of course we feel terrible,” Jablecki said, “but it could have been mass chaos. Ultimately, I feel it was handled well.”

Plymouth District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz’s office said both victims were Wareham residents.

Cruz’s office said the victims “were on the tracks at the time they were struck. The conductor made attempts to stop the train and activated the train’s emergency braking system prior to impact.”

No one on the train was injured, and Jablecki said the emergency stop did not cause anyone to be jostled from their seats.

Jablecki said approximately 200 of the 355 passengers were children. In addition to the conductor and engineer, she said there were 28 staff members on “The Train to Christmas Town,” some of them dressed as elves and other characters from the Peggy Ellis book of the same name.

“It was rough,” Jablecki said. “Trains don’t stop on a dime. Cars barely do. But I want to commend my staff. I told them to keep going.”

The families were eventually returned to Buzzards Bay on two train cars, urged by the crew to use their cellphones to help light the way.

Jablecki said the tracks are active with trash trains regularly passing through. It is also used by the CapeFLYER commuter train from Boston to Cape Cod between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

The families were offered a free return trip so they can complete the journey to the North Pole.