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An elf waves to people in line to board the Kansas City Southern Holiday Express Train on Levee Street Tuesday (Courtland Wells/The Vicksburg Post)

People travel between cars as others wait in line to board the Kansas City Southern Holiday Express Train on Levee Street Tuesday (Courtland Wells/The Vicksburg Post)

People board the Kansas City Southern Holiday Express Train on Levee Street Tuesday (Courtland Wells/The Vicksburg Post)

People wait in line to board the Kansas City Southern Holiday Express Train on Levee Street Tuesday (Courtland Wells/The Vicksburg Post)

People wait in line to board the Kansas City Southern Holiday Express Train on Levee Street Tuesday (Courtland Wells/The Vicksburg Post)

Elvie Grace Bradley, 2, high fives Santa before posing for a photo during the Kansas City Southern Holiday Express Train stopping on Levee Street Tuesday (Courtland Wells/The Vicksburg Post)

Excitement filled the air last night as children of all ages waited in anticipation to board the Kansas City Southern Holiday Express train, which made its stop in Vicksburg near the Old Depot Museum across from Catfish Row.

This year marks the train’s 18th run across the country and the third time it has made a stop in Vicksburg.

Three-year-old Brady Franklin, along with his grandmother, Jackie Franklin, drove from Jackson to get a glimpse inside the train.

“I liked to see the train. It was good,” Brady Franklin said.

Jackie Franklin said the pair stood in line for about 45 minutes before they were able to board, but the wait was worth it.

“The line goes fast and at the end the children are given a ‘goody bag,’” Jackie Franklin said.

Vicksburg resident Cassandra Woods also brought her grandsons, Trace Scott and Clayton Canda, to see the train.

“This is the second year we have come to see the train. I like to bring my grand-boys to see everything. I like all the cars and all the old-fashioned scenery. It is just beautiful,” Woods said.

The last time the Holiday Express train made its way to the River City was in 2016 and that year more than 2,800 spectators came out, manager of facilities and heritage operations at Kansas City Southern and also known as the Head Elf, Grant Elliott said.

“And I expect that easily tonight,” he said.

People come from all over to see the Holiday Express train, Elliot said.

With a 22 community — eight state journey — thousands will board the six-car train, which includes smiling tank car Rudy, a flatcar carrying Santa’s sleigh, reindeer and a miniature village, a gingerbread boxcar, the elves’ workshop, the reindeer stable and a little red caboose, all dressed in lights.

“We actually met a family three or four nights ago that had traveled over six hours. They make it a tradition to travel somewhere on our schedule that they have never been, creating a vacation around the Holiday Express,” Elliot said.

As a public relations goodwill project, the Holiday Express train gives back to communities through which they operate, Elliot said, and this year more than $175,000 was raised to distribute to the local Salvation Armies at each stop.

“This year we raised more money than we have ever raised in the 18 years of the Holiday Express,” he said.

Gift cards are distributed to the individual Salvation Armies based on their population, he said, adding, “We don’t disclose the number of gift cards distributed at each community.”

Maj. Steve Welch of the Vicksburg Salvation Army said the gift cards are given to families who have requested assistance at Christmas and who have applied at the Vicksburg Salvation Army Office. Gift cards may also be distributed to those on the Angel Tree who are not adopted, Welch said.

The train tours started at 4 p.m. and lasted until the last person in line was able to board the train.

About Terri Cowart Frazier

Terri Frazier was born in Cleveland. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Vicksburg. She is a part-time reporter at The Vicksburg Post and is the editor of the Vicksburg Living Magazine, which has been awarded First Place by the Mississippi Press Association. She has also been the recipient of a First Place award in the MPA’s Better Newspaper Contest’s editorial division for the “Best Feature Story.”

Terri graduated from Warren Central High School and Mississippi State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations.

Prior to coming to work at The Post a little more than 10 years ago, she did some freelancing at the Jackson Free Press. But for most of her life, she enjoyed being a full-time stay at home mom.

Terri is a member of the Crawford Street United Methodist Church. She is a lifetime member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary and is a past member of the Sampler Antique Club and Town and Country Garden Club. She is married to Dr. Walter Frazier.

“From staying informed with local governmental issues to hearing the stories of its people, a hometown newspaper is vital to a community. I have felt privileged to be part of a dedicated team at The Post throughout my tenure and hope that with theirs and with local support, I will be able to continue to grow and hone in on my skills as I help share the stories in Vicksburg. When asked what I like most about my job, my answer is always ‘the people.’

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