Thousands of people walked though Santa’s Holiday Express on Friday as the Kansas City Southern train rolled into Vicksburg with the Jolly Old Elf himself.
The line to enter the Christmas-themed stretched from its entrance about 100 yards south of the Old Depot Museum up Levee Street to back parking lot of the Lower Mississippi River Museum. Kansas City Southern conductor Heath Gilmore estimated that 4,000 people toured the train and visited Santa.
“Their eyes lit up when seeing the exhibit. It’s an awesome opportunity for it to come to Vicksburg,” said Melissa Townsend, who brought her sons, Everitt and Landriu.
The Holiday Express hauls Santa to Vicksburg every two years. It’s one of 21 stops the train makes as it crosses the county raising money for local Salvation Army affiliates.
“The train is great to bring the community together,” said Vicksburg Salvation Army Capt. Srikant Bhatnagar.
Most of the six cars that make up the Holiday Express had model trains zipping around on tracks inside. People of all ages crowded around the glass casing to see the lifelike miniature towns full of tiny people and snowmen.

“It’s pretty fun. Kids and adults like it,” Gilmore said.
The rain itself was also covered in Christmas lights and painted and holiday scenes. One car portrayed all of Santa’s reindeer that will make the worldwide trip with him on Christmas Eve.
“I just love seeing the smiling faces,” said one of the elves that Santa brought with him. “If we touch one child or one life we’ve done good.”
People inside the train could be heard singing along to Christmas music playing in the background. Moms and dads walked with awed children through the train.
“I like it. It reminds me of my childhood with the Thomas the Train look it has,” said Autumn Wines, 15. Autumn stood with her family in line waiting to see Santa.
The line to see Santa was just as long as the line to see the train. Robin Currie stood in Santa’s line with her daughter Amber.
“I want a Kindle, an American Girl bike and a pet trailer,” Amber said.
Many of the kids in line knew exactly what they wanted from Santa and were anxiously waiting to tell him.
“It’s one of the best things I do through the year,” said John Ferry, a KCS employee.