KCS Holiday Express Returning to Texarkana Dec. 11

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NOTE This article is a year old. The KCS Holiday train did not stop in Texarkana for 2015.

Now looking forward to its 14th annual run, KCS’ Holiday Express is a six-car train that brings Santa Claus and his elves to communities throughout the U.S. network at scheduled stops. These events are free and open to the public. No tickets are required.

The train will arrive in Texarkana at 4 p.m. on December 11 at the KCS yard.  Parking is at Tiger Stadium where you catch a shuttle to the train.  There is no on site parking.

The Holiday Express also has a charitable component. At each scheduled stop, The KCS Charitable Fund makes a contribution of gift cards to the local Salvation Army to provide warm clothing and other necessities for children in need. Over the past 13 years, thanks to the generous contributions of KCS’ employees, vendors and friends, the Holiday Express has donated well over $1 million in gift cards to this cause.

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 ginger bread boxcar; the elves’ workshop; the reindeer stable; and a little red caboose.

The Holiday Express was created in 2001 after volunteers dedicated over 8,000 hours to the rigorous transformation of the retired rail cars. Festive music and lights complete the package.

The Holiday Express train was built on the tradition of a Santa Train, which ran on a railroad purchased by KCS in 1997. The former Santa Train 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. KCS employees were so touched that they committed to elevating the project to the experience that communities throughout KCS’ U.S. service area enjoy today.

http://www.kcsouthern.com/en-us/AboutKCS/Documents/2014/2014_Holiday_Express_Schedule.pdf

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