Operation Toy Train announces 2026 toy collection stops in Warren, Sussex and Morris counties
NORTHWEST, N.J. — Operation Toy Train will return to communities across Warren, Sussex and Morris counties this December, collecting new toys for children in need as part of its 18th annual holiday toy drive benefiting the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation.
The nonprofit organization has announced its 2026 New Jersey schedule, which includes stops in Hackettstown, Washington, Stewartsville, Phillipsburg, Rockaway, Dover, Ledgewood, Flanders, Sparta, Franklin and Vernon, among other communities.
The holiday trains will travel along several New Jersey railroads, with participating railroad companies donating equipment, personnel and time to support the toy collection effort. Residents are encouraged to bring new, unwrapped toys to scheduled stops, where donations will be loaded aboard the trains for distribution to children in need.
According to Operation Toy Train, toys collected along the New Jersey routes will benefit the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation’s toy drive in Dover, which distributes toys to children in Bergen, Essex, Morris, Passaic, Sussex and Warren counties.
Warren County stops — Saturday, Dec. 5
Operation Toy Train will travel along the Dover & Delaware River Railroad on Saturday, Dec. 5, making five scheduled stops in Warren County.
The train will begin in Hackettstown from 9:15 to 10 a.m. at Hoff’s Automotive, 700 Grand Ave., before continuing to Port Murray from 10:30 to 11 a.m. at the Port Murray Post Office, 218 Main St.
The next stop will be in Washington from 11:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. at Washington Borough Park & Pool, 150 Broad St., followed by Stewartsville from 1:15 to 1:35 p.m. at the Warren Street Grade Crossing, 425 Warren St.
The train will conclude its scheduled stops for the day in Phillipsburg from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Phillipsburg Union (PU) Tower, 84 Brainard St.
Morris County stops — Sunday, Dec. 6
On Sunday, Dec. 6, Operation Toy Train will travel along the Dover & Rockaway River Railroad, making four stops in Morris County.
The first stop will be in Rockaway from 11 to 11:30 a.m. at Arico’s Riverside Shoppe, 26 E. Main St., followed by Dover from noon to 12:50 p.m. at Dover Town Hall, 37 N. Sussex St.
The train will then continue to Ledgewood from 2 to 2:40 p.m. at Mattress Firm, 310 Route 10, before making its final stop in Flanders from 3 to 5 p.m. at Flanders Fire Company No. 1, 27 Main St.
Sussex and Morris county stops — Saturday, Dec. 12
Operation Toy Train will return to northern New Jersey on Saturday, Dec. 12, traveling along the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railway with stops in several Morris and Sussex county communities.
The train will arrive in Butler from 1:45 to 2:10 p.m. at the Butler Museum, 221 Main St., before continuing to Newfoundland from 2:35 to 3:20 p.m. at Newfoundland Station, 1667 Green Pond Road.
The Sussex County portion of the route will begin in Sparta from 3:55 to 4:20 p.m. at Sparta Train Station, 30 Station Road, followed by Franklin from 4:35 to 4:50 p.m. at the Junction Street Grade Crossing, 50 Junction St.
The train’s final scheduled stop will be in Vernon from 5:05 to 5:45 p.m. at Veterans’ Memorial Park, 50 Vernon Crossing Road.
Earlier that day, the train will also visit Rochelle Park, Hawthorne, Midland Park, Wyckoff, Franklin Lakes, Oakland and Pompton Lakes.
Residents encouraged to donate new toys
Operation Toy Train is encouraging residents to bring new toys in their original packaging to any scheduled stop. Donations should not be gift-wrapped.
Visitors will have opportunities to meet Santa Claus, view historic railroad equipment and meet members of the Operation Toy Train organization. Some stops will also feature activities organized by local municipalities and businesses.
Residents who cannot attend a scheduled stop can donate toys through participating local businesses and organizations that have established collection boxes. Those donations will be delivered to the train and distributed through the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation or other participating civic organizations.
Operation Toy Train is operated by TOYX Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has organized holiday toy collection trains since 2009. The organization works with railroad companies, volunteers, businesses and community partners to collect and distribute holiday gifts to children in need.
Businesses, organizations and individuals interested in sponsoring, volunteering or supporting the toy collection effort can visit www.OperationToyTrain.org or email info@operationtoytrain.org.
The complete schedule, including dates, times and locations for all New Jersey stops, is available at www.OperationToyTrain.org/schedule.
