No KCS Holiday Express this year, but money still raised for local folks in need

By Patrick Massey

The Kansas City Southern (KCS) Holiday Express is not making it to Mena this year, but that hasn’t stopped the Christmas-themed train from helping local people in need.

KCS announced on Monday its annual Holiday Express program had raised over $280,000 for The Salvation Army in 21 communities. Those communities include the annual Holiday Express stops in Mena, De Queen and other area cities. 

KCS announced earlier this year local communities would once again miss out on the annual Holiday Express due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, Kansas City Southern requested past visitors to make a charitable contribution to The Salvation Army. Funds raised went to support the 21 communities along the KCS network. 

KCS officials said money raised this year will once again be provided to The Salvation Army and distributed to local people in need.

“As the pandemic continues, the fastest increasing area of need is for families who will be unable to pay their rent or mortgages and face eviction. The donations The Salvation Army will receive through the KCS Holiday Express will help keep families in their homes and keep hope marching on for them into 2022,” said KCS President and CEO Patrick Ottensmeyer in a press release. 

In the past, The Kansas City Southern’s Holiday Express stopped along the company’s rail network. It brought Santa Claus and his elves to visit each community, spread holiday cheer and awe spectators with a fully lit and decorated Christmas train. Each event was free and open to the public. Guests visited with Santa in the caboose and tour three of the cars filled with Christmas displays and electric model trains. 

In addition, at each KCS Christmas train stop, a charitable contribution is made to the local Salvation Army to provide warm clothes and other necessities for children in need.

The Holiday Express was created in 2001 as volunteers dedicated more than 8,000 hours to transform retired rail cars. Today, these cars feature a smiling tank car named Rudy; a flatcar carrying Santa’s sleigh, reindeer and a miniature village; a gingerbread boxcar; the elves’ workshop; a reindeer stable; and a little red caboose.

Past events in Mena and other participating communities drew out thousands of visitors. 

There is no word about 2022 yet.

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