NEW JERSEY — November 7, 2026 — A train carrying a special holiday mission is returning to New Jersey this season, stopping in communities across the state to collect toys for children whose families may struggle to afford gifts.
Operation Toy Train has announced its 2026 schedule, with stops planned in Bergen, Morris, Sussex, Warren and several other New Jersey counties throughout November and December.
Instead of carrying passengers, the train will collect donations of new, unwrapped toys for the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation and other community organizations.
Families will have an opportunity to visit the train, meet Santa Claus, see historic railroad equipment and help provide gifts for children in their communities.
A Holiday Tradition That Began in 2009
Operation Toy Train began in 2009 as a charitable effort bringing together railroad enthusiasts, volunteers, businesses and local communities.
Over the years, the project has grown into a multistate operation, with participating railroad companies contributing equipment, personnel and use of their tracks.
This year’s schedule includes visits to 69 towns across five states.
The organization hopes to collect more than 50,000 toys during the 2026 holiday season.
The trains operate as mobile donation centers. At each scheduled stop, residents can bring toys directly to volunteers, who load them aboard the railroad cars for delivery to participating charitable organizations.
The toys are then distributed to children in the communities served by local holiday assistance programs.
Bergen County Stops Scheduled for December 12
One of the busiest New Jersey routes is scheduled for Saturday, December 12, when Operation Toy Train travels along the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railway.
The train is expected to make stops in several Bergen County communities, including Rochelle Park, Midland Park, Wyckoff, Franklin Lakes and Oakland.
Additional stops are planned in nearby Hawthorne, Pompton Lakes and Butler before the train continues toward Sussex County.
The event offers families an opportunity to participate in a charitable activity close to home without having to travel to a large holiday festival.
Children can watch the train arrive while volunteers collect donated toys, and Santa Claus is expected to greet visitors at participating stops.
The organization advises residents to check its official schedule before visiting, as arrival times vary by location.
More Stops Across New Jersey
The toy collection begins in southern New Jersey on Saturday, November 21, with scheduled visits to Salem, Woodstown and Swedesboro.
The train will then return to northwest New Jersey in December.
On Saturday, December 5, stops are planned in Hackettstown, Port Murray, Washington, Stewartsville and Phillipsburg.
The following day, December 6, the train will visit Rockaway, Dover, Ledgewood and Flanders.
On December 12, its route will continue through Bergen and Passaic counties before reaching Sparta, Franklin and Vernon in Sussex County.
In Hackettstown, the train is scheduled to stop at Hoff’s Automotive, 700 Grand Avenue, from 9:15 to 10 a.m. on December 5.
The community is also preparing a welcoming event with free breakfast sandwiches, coffee and hot chocolate.
Last year, Hackettstown residents donated more than 1,000 toys and two bicycles to the collection effort. Organizers hope to surpass that number this season.
How Families Can Participate
Participating in Operation Toy Train is free.
Residents are encouraged to bring a new toy in its original packaging, without gift wrapping. Donations for children of different ages are welcome.
Families do not need to purchase tickets or register in advance to attend a public collection stop.
Although visitors can see the train and meet volunteers, passenger rides are not offered as part of the donation program.
People unable to attend on the scheduled date can still contribute. Participating businesses and community organizations maintain collection boxes where toys can be dropped off before the train arrives.
Those donations are then delivered to the train by local volunteers.
The program also welcomes businesses, nonprofit organizations and individuals interested in sponsoring collection events or assisting with the operation.
Bringing Communities Together for Children
For many families, the holiday season can bring additional financial pressure, particularly when household budgets are already stretched by housing, groceries and other essential expenses.
Toy collection programs help local organizations provide gifts to children who might otherwise receive very little during the holidays.
Operation Toy Train also gives children a chance to participate in helping others.
A family can select a toy together, bring it to the railroad stop and watch it become part of a much larger community effort.
The program connects several generations through a familiar tradition: trains, holiday gatherings and neighbors contributing what they can.
For railroad enthusiasts, the event is also an opportunity to see working locomotives and historic equipment that are not often available for public viewing.
Where to Find the Full Schedule
Operation Toy Train’s official website provides an updated schedule with dates, arrival times and locations for each participating community.
Residents planning to attend are encouraged to check the schedule shortly before their visit.
The organization’s 2026 collection campaign will continue through mid-December, giving New Jersey families several opportunities to contribute.
A new, unwrapped toy is all that is needed to take part.
Official schedule: https://www.operationtoytrain.org/schedule
Sources: Operation Toy Train, Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, WRNJ Radio, Town of Hackettstown, Patch.
By NJ RADAR Team