“KCS looks forward to bringing Santa and his elves on the Holiday Express train to communities throughout our U.S. service territory, and we are especially pleased to continue the tradition of charitable giving to each community where the train will stop,” said KCS president and chief executive officer Patrick J. Ottensmeyer. “This project brings people together, helps build relationships in the community and supports our corporate vision and values.”
Special thanks to the major sponsors who helped make this year’s charitable contribution possible, including APL Logistics Americas Ltd, Bartlett Grain/Savage Enterprises, Deanne Porter and Patrick Ottensmeyer, Husch Blackwell LLP, Kansas City Southern Historical Society, Michael and Marlys Haverty Family Foundation, Precision Waste Solutions, L.L.C., RailPros, Sirius, Cisco Systems, Inc., The Kansas City Southern Charitable Fund, Wabtec Unitrac Railroad Materials and Watco Companies. Additional sponsors are listed on the KCS website.
The train will stop in 22 communities in eight states on 27 dates. At each stop, visitors can board the train, visit with Santa and his elves and tour the inside of three cars of the festive six-car train. Each event is free and open to the public.
Led by KCS’ Southern Belle business train, the Holiday Express train includes a smiling tank car “Rudy”; a flatcar 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 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 experience that communities throughout KCS’ U.S. service territory enjoy today.
— A Kansas City Southern news release. Nov. 8, 2018.
Rode the beginning on the GWWR prior to the KCS’ purchase of the line. Served as an elf after the KCS took over. Have visited many times. All has been fun.
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KCS should be commended with all the other railroads whose employees go above and beyond the call of duty to bring holiday cheer to kids, young and old, each year. Regretfully,, the trains can’t always serve the entire territory in which they operate. Still no reason to critisize.
Related topic: for those interested in Soo #1003’s operation Nov.23rd. see my posts on 9 Nov. under Lhota’s resignation headline.
No visit in Louisiana south of Shreveport…..