Random Image
dollarsaver
Holiday Express Train Visits Victoria
Local
Written by Stephanie Kusy   
Santa Claus, his elves and a Christmas train made a stop in Victoria.
The Kansas City Southern train stopped in Victoria Friday at 4 p.m. as it makes its way through 22 communities and eight states this month.

This is the first time the six-car Holiday Express Train has been to Victoria. It's unsure when it will be back again, which is why thousands showed up for this free event.

"I've waited out here for long enough, I'm like I'm not going to go home now," said 12-year-old Lindsey Moreno.

Lindsey and her little sister's friends came bundled up, excited to see what they would find. Decorated with Christmas cheer on the outside, train sets traveled around a miniature village on the inside. Kids even got to meet Santa.

"If you would have told me that in Victoria we'd be in the middle of a snow storm when we got here, I would not have believed it," said Willis Kilpatrick, KCS director of operations.

Kilpatrick said he didn't believe he would see such a large crowd -- more than 3,000.

He said for some kids this may be the only Christmas they have. Kansas City Southern raised more than $100,000 to purchase gift cards to give to the Salvation Army.

"We give them these certificates with the idea that they know they can make somebody else's Christmas in the community a little bit brighter this year," said Kilpatrick.

the train will visit Edna on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. The train will make its way to El Campo on Sunday and Wharton on Monday.

If you would like to try to get the train to come back next year, send an email to the Kansas City Southern  CEO's email address -- Michael Haverty at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or David Starling at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .