(Kansas City Southern issued the following news release on November 6.)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In its sixth annual run, Kansas City Southern’s Holiday Express train will bring Santa Claus and his elves to visit 23 communities in six states throughout the KCS system, including Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois and Kansas. At each stop, KCS will make a contribution of Wal-Mart gift cards to the local Salvation Army to provide warm clothing for children in need. Thanks to the generous contributions of KCS’ employees, vendors and friends, KCS raised $113,170 to purchase gift cards, an increase of more than eight percent over the amount raised in 2005. Since the Holiday Express premiered in 2001, charitable giving has grown 95 percent. From 2001 to 2005, attendance has grown more than 200 percent, making it a popular holiday tradition among communities served by KCS.
In addition to monetary contributions, KCS’ employees and friends volunteer their time for train preparation, operations and playing the roles of Santa Claus and his jolly elves. In 2001, volunteers dedicated 8,000 plus hours to the rigorous transformation of retired freight cars to their present day grandeur. Led by KCS’ Southern Belle, the six-car Holiday Express includes a smiling tank car “Rudy”; a flat car carrying Santa’s sleigh, reindeer and a miniature village; a ginger bread box car; the elves’ workshop; the reindeer’s stable; and a little red caboose. At each stop, children visit with Santa Claus in the caboose before touring the three cars full of holiday displays. Festive music and lights complete the package.
Annual enhancements to the train are also part of the tradition. This year, the inside of Santa’s caboose has been transformed into a winter wonderland, frosted in cool tones of blue and sparkling white lights, encrusted with ornaments and finished with a miniature roller coaster. Subtle additions to the o-scale models, new murals and lighting changes keep the exhibits fresh and exciting for repeat visitors.
The train’s route varies each year to include some communities on the KCS system not previously visited by the Holiday Express. This year’s schedule accommodates several communities affected by last year’s treacherous hurricanes. Admission to the train is free and it is open to the public.
The Holiday Express project would not be possible without generous sponsors like Michael and Marlys Haverty, Bank of America, DST Systems, Inc., Hill Brothers Construction Co., Inc., Kansas City University of Medicine & Biosciences, TranSystems, Wal-Mart Stores and Yeretsky & Maher, L.L.C.
The Holiday Express train was built on the tradition of the former Gateway Western (GWWR) Santa Train, which made stops in small towns from East St. Louis, Ill. to Blue Springs, Mo. (GWWR was purchased by KCS in 1997.) In 2000, KCS employees noticed that the Santa Train was the only Christmas some kids had, and that some did not even have essential items like coats, hats and gloves. The employees were so touched that they committed to elevating the project to the experience that communities throughout KCS’ service area enjoy today.
Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., KCS is a transportation holding company that has railroad investments in the U.S., Mexico and Panama. Its primary U.S. holding is The Kansas City Southern Railway Company, serving the central and south central U.S. Its international holdings include Kansas City Southern de Mexico, serving northeastern and central Mexico and the port cities of Lazaro Cardenas, Tampico and Veracruz, and a 50 percent interest in Panama Canal Railway Company, providing ocean-to-ocean freight and passenger service along the Panama Canal. KCS’ North American rail holdings and strategic alliances are primary components of a NAFTA Railway system, linking the commercial and industrial centers of the U.S., Mexico and Canada.