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

This year's tours of the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train and the Holiday Express that Kansas City Southern first offered are roaming the continent's rails.  The Canadian and United States editions of the Holiday Train, with live entertainment, are already running, and coming very soon to Greater DeKalb.

Wednesday, November 27, the United States train calls at Pingree Grove, Illinois around 9 am, Byron, Illinois around noon, and Clinton, Iowa at midafternoon.  After calls at Davenport and Muscatine, the train proceeds to the end of The Milwaukee Road at Kansas City, after which the train will get on the Route of the Flying Crow.

There will be a respite of about a week to return the train to Chicago. Saturday, December 7, the train calls at Gurnee, Illinois, and Sturtevant, Wisconsin, tying up for the night in Milwaukee.  This year's train will sojourn along former Soo Line trackage to Thief River Falls before returning to the main line through Minot to Moose Jaw.

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, then westward leading, still proceeding, to Laredo.

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.