In November 2023, the Canadian Pacific Holiday Trains started their annual trips throughout the system during Christmastime, with 2023 being the first year of the trains' operation since the merger of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern, creating CPKC. The railroad operates the trains as a festive way to support families in need, donating thousands of dollars to local food banks along the route. During each event, a concert is put on by popular Canadian/US artists, along with appearances from Santa Claus. And at night, the train is fully lit with an incredible array of Christmas lights along its entire consist.

The US train's first leg of its journey took it from Canada through Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois, entering Iowa on November 26th, with stops in Clinton, Davenport, and Muscatine. Departing Muscatine before 9 PM, the train would continue on to Ottumwa, a similar schedule compared to its previous runs through the area in 2018 and 2022. This meant the train would make a late evening arrival into Ottumwa, to layover in preparation for its event the next morning at 10 AM. My family and I stationed ourselves at the West Second Street grade crossing as the train approached shortly after 11 PM. From this vantage point, we can see the train descending the remainder of Rutledge Hill, before crossing West Second Street, and curving down across the BNSF mainline, then across the Des Moines River to the CPKC yards on the other side. This turned out to be a fantastic spot to view the Holiday Train in all its lit splendor, and with some snow on the ground after our first winter storm system, it was yet another wonderful Christmas train run-by!

The previous year in 2022, I filmed the train as it quickly passed through Washington, IA, as viewed in this video:    • Canadian Pacific Holiday Train Nightt...  

My first ever encounter with the Holiday Train from 2018 is featured in my feature-length video, "CP of the Midwest: The Holiday Train & Other Trains of Winter":    • Canadian Pacific of the Midwest: The ...  

Here's hoping everyone has a Merry Christmas and a great holiday season! Subscribe to my channel for more trains in the Ottumwa area, including trains over the years on the CP, plus BNSF and Amtrak as well. I also film trains from other locations across the Midwest and beyond! @BobbyHarveyVideoProductions

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