(The following appeared on the Kansas City Star website on December 10.)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Holiday Express Train rolls into Blue Springs today bringing Santa for a visit.
The six-car train includes a smiling tank-car “Rudy,” a flat car carrying Santa’s sleigh, reindeer, a miniature village, the elves workshop and a red caboose, open for tours and a talk with Santa.
The train is expected to arrive about 4 p.m. downtown at Main and 11th streets. There is no admission charge.
At the nearby Public Safety Building at 1100 S.W. Smith St., there will be crafts and hot chocolate, starting at 3:30 this afternoon with activities to 6:30 p.m. Kansas City Southern Railway workers began the tradition in 2000, based on the former Gateway Western Santa Train that made stops from East St. Louis to Blue Springs. Kansas City Southern purchased Gateway Western Railway in 1997.
Event sponsors include the railroad, area companies, Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce and Blue Springs Parks and Recreation.
At each stop the railroad makes contributions of Wal-Mart gift cards to the local Salvation Army to provide clothes for children in need.
The train is traveling through eight states, making stops in 21 communities served by Kansas City Southern Railway.
The Holiday Express will be at Union Station in Kansas City from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 20 and from noon to 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 21.