Gifts usually go under the tree during the Christmas season, but officials at the Jamestown Gateway Train Station would like the gift to be the actual tree.

Lee Harkness, train station general manager, said they are accepting donated artificial Christmas trees that will be auctioned to raise money for the engine train barn restoration project. The former engine barn is located west of the former Erie-Lackawanna train station along West Second Street.

In April, Harkness announced city officials received permission from the Western New York-Pennsylvania Railroad to restore the old engine building. He said the railroad company isn’t legally allowed to sell the land the barn is on, but can lease it to local officials. He added the building could be turned into a railroad museum.

Harkness said people can drop the artificial trees at the train station or if they call 483-3041 to have them picked up.

”We have a great volunteer group and they came up with the idea,” Harkness said about the fundraiser. ”Redoing the engine barn is going to be expensive. We don’t have a final figure, yet. The roof alone is going to be $50,000. Then we want to paint the building to remove the graffiti. That is going to be another $10,000. These are our tentative goals.”

The artificial tree fundraiser will be a silent auction where someone who wants a tree will write down their contact information and their bid. Harkness said the trees will be displayed in the train station. He added they have an account established at the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation for the engine barn restoration project.

”We will place a box by each tree where people can write down their bid,” he said. ”We will have them up inside the train station. We’ve got a couple trees up already and we will have more for Santa Express.”

On Saturday, Dec. 12, the third annual Santa Express will be happening at the train station, located at 211-217 W. Second St., Jamestown, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Harkness said the event is made possible through the generosity of the Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad. At 11 a.m., Santa and Mrs. Claus are scheduled to arrive by train to the station. After that, children can have their picture taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

There will also be holiday crafts, cookie decorating, letters to Santa, storytelling with Mrs. Claus, games and horse and carriage rides. Harkness said the Jamestown High School Madrigal Singers will perform along with the Barbara Jean Trio.

The cost for Santa Express is $5 for adults, $2 for children up to 16 and $20 for families.