Holiday train coming to Joplin

(From City of Joplin)

The Kansas City Southern’s Holiday Express train is coming to Joplin on Monday, December 15. The six-car train will bring Santa Claus for a visit with kids, and will pull into the Joplin Union Depot, 201 North Main Street, around 4 p.m. They will open to the public shortly after their arrival, and remain open until 8:30 p.m. or until Santa has seen all the children attending this event.

The Holiday Express is complete with cheerful displays, lights and music. Children can climb aboard the train, visit with Santa and receive a bag of seasonal goodies. This event is free and open to the public. Additionally, KCS will make a donation to the local Salvation Army during their visit.

To access the Union Depot, the public should enter from “B” and North Main Street.
According to Kansas City Southern’s website, the Holiday Express train is led by KCS’ Southern Belle business train, and 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.

For more information please call 417.625.4789 or log on to www.visitjoplinmo.com.