Western Railroad Discussion > KCS Holiday Express at Noel, MO

After a 5 hour pursuit of the KCS Holiday Express from Heavener, OK to Noel, MO with PQM on Saturday (12-8), we took a few shots of the decorated train cars in Noel. The daylight pics are roster shots of five of the cars as they arrived in Noel. The after dark shots were during the time when the train was open to the public. Mr. and Mrs. Claus were in residence outside the train this year instead of being inside the red caboose as in years past, so those who just wanted to do the Santa thing were in a separate line from those who wanted to tour the train. As always, there are hundreds of things to see inside the three cars.

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more

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still more

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That's all, folks! Thanks for looking.

Bill Gillfillan
Tulsa, OK

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Great shots Bill, thanks for sharing.

Ed Schopperth/Papillion NE

That's the best Santa train of those I've seen so far this year.

Interesting that KCS used ex-IC hacks, and yes, that is the most imaginative Christmas train! === === = === JLH

highgreengraphics Wrote:
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> Interesting that KCS used ex-IC hacks, and yes,
> that is the most imaginative Christmas train! ===
> === = === JLH

The IC cabeese came to the KCS by way of the Gateway Western, which is where the concept of the Holiday Express originated. From the KCS website: "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. 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."

Bill Gillfillan
Tulsa, OK

That's interesting, too. The ex-IC cabooses were/are a good choice given their large end platform size. === === = === JLH

I'm looking forward to Thursday night so I can shoot them sitting down in Drexel, MO. It's a good day when you get to shoot the Belle.

Pump