(The following article by Eric Coley was posted on the Marshall Democrat website on December 12.)
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — Monday evening’s Kansas City Southern annual Holiday Express train excursion to Marshall was attended by hundreds of area residents.
In its fifth annual trip to Marshall, the KCS Holiday Express put smiles on the faces of parents and children who braved cold, wet conditions, and a little mud along the tracks.
The reward? A chance to see Santa Claus and his elves.
“I think the mud was OK,” said Julie Gilpin of Marshall, commenting on the less-than-perfect ground conditions. “I was just glad that it wasn’t bitterly cold. My son, Jackson, and I had a really good time. It was the first time we’ve gone and we were both excited.”
Gilpin said the KCS employees went out of their way to make the happening a special occasion.
“The KCS employees were wonderful,” she said. “They spoke to the people all the way through the train and were very helpful.”