1) First run: 1943. 2) Over the Santa Train’s three-quarters-of-a-century history, only four men have made the commitment to personally make sure Santa showed up on the back of the train: Joe Higgins (1943-1944); John Dudney (1945-1983); Frank Brogden (1984-2002); and Don Royston (2000 to present). 3) Flem Dobyns of Dobyns-Taylor Hardward Store and Bill Waddell of the Kingsport Times-News are credited with the original idea for “the Santa Special.” 4) Over the years, many dignitaries and local officials have been guests on the train.