Last Holiday Express in Port Arthur
KCS's Holiday Express was created in 2001 by employees who refurbished a number of railcars into holiday exhibits that could tour the KCS system every November and December. Along with allowing members of the public to come see and tour the train, KCS would make donations to the Salvation Army in every city & town the train stopped in.
After the CPKC merger, there was some concern over the train's fate since CP already had their own Holiday Train and equipment. But for the first two Christmases since the merger, while CP's Holiday Train toured the northern part of the system the former KCS F9's and passenger cars continued to run the Holiday Express on the former KCS lines. Unfortunately, the Holiday Express was retired after 2024 and CP's Holiday Train would tour former KCS rails in 2025.
Here the last run of the Holiday Express sits in Port Arthur, the Gulf Coast Port that Arthur Stillwell founded as the end of his original dream for what became Kansas City Southern. The display cars, tours, and Santa are at the end of the train by the depot in the distance. The original KCS depot in Port Arthur was razed in 1969, but was beautifully recreated in the 2000s.
CPKC Holiday Express
KCS FP9A #1
KCS F9B #3
KCS FP9A #2
Port Arthur, TX
December 12th, 2024
Last Holiday Express in Port Arthur
KCS's Holiday Express was created in 2001 by employees who refurbished a number of railcars into holiday exhibits that could tour the KCS system every November and December. Along with allowing members of the public to come see and tour the train, KCS would make donations to the Salvation Army in every city & town the train stopped in.
After the CPKC merger, there was some concern over the train's fate since CP already had their own Holiday Train and equipment. But for the first two Christmases since the merger, while CP's Holiday Train toured the northern part of the system the former KCS F9's and passenger cars continued to run the Holiday Express on the former KCS lines. Unfortunately, the Holiday Express was retired after 2024 and CP's Holiday Train would tour former KCS rails in 2025.
Here the last run of the Holiday Express sits in Port Arthur, the Gulf Coast Port that Arthur Stillwell founded as the end of his original dream for what became Kansas City Southern. The display cars, tours, and Santa are at the end of the train by the depot in the distance. The original KCS depot in Port Arthur was razed in 1969, but was beautifully recreated in the 2000s.
CPKC Holiday Express
KCS FP9A #1
KCS F9B #3
KCS FP9A #2
Port Arthur, TX
December 12th, 2024