(The following story by Brett Dalton appeared on The Morning Sun website on December 8.)
PITTSBURG, Kan. — Brisk winds and cool temperatures Monday evening could not keep hundreds of local residents from taking in the Christmas tradition that is the Holiday Express from Kansas City Southern Railway.
In its eighth year, the holiday-themed train has drawn large crowds at every stop on its eight-state journey.
“We are seeing larger crowds everywhere we go,” Patti Tamisiea, KCS commissary services and Southern Belle manager, said. “We are getting record numbers.”
The six-car Holiday Express train includes a smiling tank car, a flat car carrying Santa’s sleigh, reindeer and a miniature village, a gingerbread boxcar, the elves’ workshop, the reindeers’ stable and a red caboose.
Kathy Brooks, who visited the train with her 5-year-old daughter Emily, said the wait in line to board the train was “well worth it.”
“It’s just a really nice way to come out and enjoy the Christmas season,” she said. “Plus, we wanted to bring Emily out so she could see the real Santa.”
Emily said she liked every part of the train, but her favorite was the “gingerbread people.” Her friend, 5-year-old Mariah Murray, said she most enjoyed seeing the reindeer.
Thomas Houdashelt stood in line for nearly 45 minutes to board the train with his family.
“Anything for the kids,” he said. “It’s just great to be out here and to be able to see Santa Claus. It’s a great way to really get into the Christmas spirit.”
Tamisiea said the train has become a main attraction at all of its stops because it allows families to enjoy the holiday, even if times at home aren’t as joyful in these tough economic times.
“We see children who do not have very much and we have parents constantly tell us that if it wasn’t for this train, their child would have no Christmas,” she said. “This really brings it back to the family as a reminder of what’s really important in life – and that’s being together.”
More than just an attraction for the eye, the Holiday Express is also a charitable entity. At each of its 23 stops this year, KCS will make a contribution of Wal-Mart gift cards to the local Salvation Army. Money for the gift cards is donated by KCS employees, friends of KCS and its vendors. More than $126,000 was raised this year.
“We had an 18 percent increase in the total donated from employees,” Tamisiea said. “That’s despite the economy.”
The Salvation Army in Pittsburg received 200 $25 gift cards this year, which is 51 more cards than last year.
The Holiday Express train was built on the tradition of the former Gateway Western Santa Train, which made stops in small towns from East St. Louis, Ill. to Blue Springs, Mo. 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 Holiday Express was created in 2001 after volunteers dedicated over 8,000 hours to the transformation of the retired freight train.
For more information, visit www.kcsouthern.com.