In addition, KCS’ Holiday Express has a charitable component. Over the past 18 years, the project has raised over $2.1 million, which was donated to The Salvation Army at each scheduled stop to help provide warm clothing and other necessities for children in need in the local community.
“KCS is thrilled to bring joy to communities throughout our network with the Holiday Express project,” said KCS president and chief executive officer Patrick J. Ottensmeyer. “This special tradition brings people together, strengthens community ties and supports our corporate values.”
Anyone interested in making a tax-deductible contribution to the 2019 KCS Holiday Express fundraising campaign may do so by visiting kcsouthern.com > Corporate Responsibility > Holiday Express. The campaign will close Nov. 14.
The KCS Holiday Express was built on the tradition of the Santa Train, which ran on a segment of the network bought by KCS in 1997. In 2000, a group of warm-hearted KCS employees noticed that the Santa Train was the only Christmas some kids had, and that some kids did not have essential items like coats, hats and gloves, so they committed to elevating the project. In 2001, volunteers transformed a retired freight train to the KCS Holiday Express experience that thousands enjoy every year.
Led by KCS’ Southern Belle business train, the Holiday Express train includes a smiling tank car “Rudy”; a flat car carrying Santa’s sleigh, reindeer and a miniature village; a gingerbread boxcar; an elves’ workshop; the reindeer stable; and a little red caboose. Each car is dressed in lights.
The schedule is as follows:
DATE TIME* CITY STATE ADDRESS
27-Nov 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Shreveport LA KCS Yard, 4500 North Lake Shore Drive, Gate 5
(Private Event for KCS Employees)
29-Nov 4 p.m. LaPlace LA 529 Hemlock Street
30-Nov 4 p.m. Gonzales LA Felix Avenue
1-Dec 4 p.m. Baton Rouge LA KCS Yard, 1401 Foss Street
2-Dec 4 p.m. Pineville LA 901 Melrose Street
3-Dec 4 p.m. Coushatta LA Front Street
4-Dec 4 p.m. Zwolle LA 1400 North Main Street
5-Dec 4 p.m. Westlake LA 3995 Old Spanish Trail
6-Dec 4 p.m. DeQuincy LA Railroad Museum, 400 Lake Charles Avenue
7-Dec 4 p.m. Leesville LA KCS Yard, 901 South Third Street
8-Dec 4 p.m. Mansfield LA 1004 Polk Street
9-Dec 4 p.m. Shreveport LA KCS Yard, 4500 North Lake Shore Drive, Gate 5
10-Dec 4 p.m. De Queen AR 300 Block of East Stilwell Avenue
11-Dec 4 p.m. Heavener OK KCS Yard, 403 West First Street
12-Dec 4 p.m. Stilwell OK Depot
13-Dec 4 p.m. Decatur AR 257 South Main Street
14-Dec 4 p.m. Goodman MO 205 West B Avenue (at intersection of North School Street & West B Avenue)
15-Dec 4 p.m. Joplin MO Union Depot, Just East of “B” and North Main Street
16-Dec 4 p.m. Pittsburg KS Elm and Monroe Streets
17-Dec 4 p.m. Higginsville MO Depot
18-Dec 2 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Kansas City MO Union Station
19-Dec 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Kansas City MO Union Station
20-Dec 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Kansas City MO Union Station (Open to Public)
6 p.m.-8 p.m. Kansas City MO Union Station
(Private Event for KCS Employees and USKC Members)
21-Dec 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Kansas City MO Union Station
22-Dec 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Kansas City MO Union Station
*No set end time unless noted.
Source: KCS
