Max340
Well-Known Member
I don't know how many of you read Trains Magazine. They have an article this month on the Kansas City Southern's Holiday Train.
This was a tradition started by one of the companies that KCS bought up in the 1990's. Currently, its such a large prohject that the train will travel about 2000 miles, and have 23 stops in 22 town this year. It consists of a "Holiday train, with a mock up of a steam engine, a couple of flat car displays, a couple of box cars full of goodies, a caboose with a display, and a caboose with Santa himself, along with the real life wife playing Santa's wife. This is pulled by a couple of F units, and has cars from the executive train in order to house the 45 crew and volunteers. The executive train is fully staffed with chefs and porters to take care of the volunteers and crew members from the railroad.
It started out as a holiday train, and a box car held donations from the railroad employees. While waiting to see Santa, crew members would circle through the crowd looking for kids without winter clothes, and discreetly ask if they would like to try on some mittens, or a coat etc.
It grew into a project that distributes Wal Mart gift cards, gets people in the towns to donate hot chocolate, clothing items and such, while the crew bags up small gift bags for each visitor to Santa. The crew rely heavily on the local Salvation Army stores to help them pinpoint needs in each community.
The kids often come from poverty stricken homes, even in the best of times. All lists brought by kids are put into a large box on the train. One child simply asked for three packs of lead for his mechanical pencil. Another child simply asked that they might have a Christmas, since they usually had nothing. For some reason, this little girl left an address on her list. The crew quickly took up a collection, went and bought "Christmas", and delivered it to the address.
The real story doesn't stop there. This is all planned year round by the director of special operations. Trains mag asked him about the cost. He claimed he didn't really know the cost. Apparently he and the President of the KCS both feel it is something that allows the railroad to not only show the pride of its employees, but to be able to give back to the community. Cost is not a concern, even this year.
This was a tradition started by one of the companies that KCS bought up in the 1990's. Currently, its such a large prohject that the train will travel about 2000 miles, and have 23 stops in 22 town this year. It consists of a "Holiday train, with a mock up of a steam engine, a couple of flat car displays, a couple of box cars full of goodies, a caboose with a display, and a caboose with Santa himself, along with the real life wife playing Santa's wife. This is pulled by a couple of F units, and has cars from the executive train in order to house the 45 crew and volunteers. The executive train is fully staffed with chefs and porters to take care of the volunteers and crew members from the railroad.
It started out as a holiday train, and a box car held donations from the railroad employees. While waiting to see Santa, crew members would circle through the crowd looking for kids without winter clothes, and discreetly ask if they would like to try on some mittens, or a coat etc.
It grew into a project that distributes Wal Mart gift cards, gets people in the towns to donate hot chocolate, clothing items and such, while the crew bags up small gift bags for each visitor to Santa. The crew rely heavily on the local Salvation Army stores to help them pinpoint needs in each community.
The kids often come from poverty stricken homes, even in the best of times. All lists brought by kids are put into a large box on the train. One child simply asked for three packs of lead for his mechanical pencil. Another child simply asked that they might have a Christmas, since they usually had nothing. For some reason, this little girl left an address on her list. The crew quickly took up a collection, went and bought "Christmas", and delivered it to the address.
The real story doesn't stop there. This is all planned year round by the director of special operations. Trains mag asked him about the cost. He claimed he didn't really know the cost. Apparently he and the President of the KCS both feel it is something that allows the railroad to not only show the pride of its employees, but to be able to give back to the community. Cost is not a concern, even this year.
