Holiday Fun in the Country...Sunday in El Campo, Monday in Wharton....

City preparing for arrival of KCS’s Holiday train



Holiday Express
The Kansas City Southern Railroad invites youngsters to visit its Holiday Express, which will be at the Southern Pacific Railroad Depot, 100 N. Sunset St., from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7. The depot will open at 3 p.m. Youngsters will have a chance to visit with Santa, his elves and get holiday treats as part of their visit for this special stop at the depot. Admission is free.
Courtesy Photo
By BARRY HALVORSON
bhalvorson@journal-spectator.com
Published:
Tuesday, December 1, 2009 6:30 PM CST
While Santa Claus had come to Wharton once, riding in style on a fire engine during this year’s Chamber of Commerce Holiday Parade, kids and parents will still need to be on their best behavior as he plans to make a second visit to check up on the local population.

And for his second visit, St. Nick will again be arriving in style, this time aboard Kansas City Southern’s Holiday Express Train. A KCS tradition, Wharton and El Campo are being included this year, the first Christmas season since the local line was re-established this summer. The train will be in El Campo on Sunday, Dec. 6 at Evans Park and the move to Wharton on Monday, Dec. 7 at the Railroad Depot, 100 N. Sunset Street. Access to the Holiday Express train is free and open to the public.

Led by KCS’s Southern Belle business train, the six-car Holiday Express train 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.

As part of the preparation for the arrival of the train, the Wharton City Council approved closing a portion of Sunset Street during the duration of the visit to allow for vendors to set up. In addition, the city will be barricading West Spanish Camp street on both sides of the railroad tracks for safety reasons.

Assistant to the City Manager Jackie Jansky, who is serving as the city’s liaison for the event, said that a portion of the fence at the Depot will be removed and ramps set up for those wanting to tour the Holiday Express. She said set up for the event will begin around 3 p.m. with the tours starting around 4 p.m.

“They have a tentative ending time of 8 p.m., but they have told us they will continue to offer tours until everyone has an opportunity,” she said. “And we’ve scheduled local entertainment at the Depot for those waiting for their turn. We’ll also be putting up lights and have some holiday cutouts decorating the grounds to make it seem more festive.”

Depot Committee Chairman William Locke said that in addition to the entertainment, there will be a number of vendors providing concessions and other items during the evening. Proceeds will go toward the continued maintenance of the Depot. He added that the building will be open for access to the restrooms and the railroad museum. He said he is also trying to arrange for a model train layout to be on display.

The hour before the set up and start of the event is to allow local volunteers to get ready. Jansky explained the train is stocked with elf and other festive holiday costumes for volunteers helping with the tour.

“We’ve contacted the Lions and Rotary Club to help recruit volunteers,” she said. “The one rule is that you have to be 18 years old or older to be a volunteer.”

Locke said he his hoping for a good turn out for the event as a way to encourage making Wharton County an annual part of the Holiday Express tour.

The train will also make stops at the KCS Intermodal Shipper Facility in Kendleton Thursday, Dec. 3; at Business Hwy. 59 and Burroughsville Road in Victoria Friday, Dec. 4 and at Wells Street in Edna on Saturday, Dec. 5. All stops are scheduled for 4 p.m.

This year’s KSC Holiday Express Tour actually starts today with the initial stop being in Shreveport, La. befor hitting Wylie, Jefferson, Leesville and Port Arthur before heading to the local area. The train will make a total of 22 appearances before ending its run on Dec. 19 and 20 with a two-day stop in Kansas City, Mo.

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

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 KCSR’s service area enjoy today.

Editor’s Note: More information, including train schedule and pictures can be found under Holiday Express in the General Public section of www.kcsouthern.com.