YE WHO NOW WILL BLESS THE POOR, SHALL YOURSELF FIND BLESSING.

The Canadian Pacific Holiday Trains will be roaming North America again in the run-up to the Festive Season.  There has been a railroad merger since the trains ran a year ago.  The Holiday Train (and I have an artistic interest in how the new corporate image will be applied to the boxcars) that runs in the United States will make a swing along the new Kansas City Southern metals during its tour.  I'm not sure about the first couple days; the tour will begin at Hermon, Maine (Northern Maine Junction, in railroad terms) and get to Montreal West and tie up in Jackman??

Never mind that.  Sunday, November 26 has the train at Pingree Grove, Illinois around 9 am, Byron, Illinois around noon, and Clinton, Iowa at midafternoon.  That's enroute to the end of The Milwaukee Road at Kansas City, after which the train will get on the Route of the Flying Crow.

The following Sunday, December 23, the train calls at Gurnee, Illinois, and Sturtevant, Wisconsin, tying up for the night in Milwaukee.

Kansas City Southern used to operate a Holiday Express train with a similar purpose, and that will also run this Festive Season, making calls along the Meridian - Vicksburg - Baton Rouge lines that Kansas City Southern acquired to connect with the big eastern railroads.

These trains run to provide entertainment and an opportunity to make cash or in-kind contributions, to the local food banks along the Holiday Train's routes, and to the Salvation Army where the Holiday Express calls.

Mark your calendars and make a note in your shopping list.