"You can't beat this, an A-B-A set of KCS's business FP9's visits Godfrey, IL with KCS's 5th annual "Holiday Express". These units still retain their Pyle National "Gyralight", however, when rebuilt, they recieved desktop controls." KCS East Saint Louis Terminal Sub - Pearl Street; Godfrey, Illinois December 14, 2005
"KCS Christmas Special sits idling away before going to Godfrey, Il. to entertain young and old alike." KCS Roodhouse Wye; Roodhouse, Illinois December 15, 2005
The desktop controls were installed so that any qualified KCS engineer throughout the System could be assigned to duty on the Executive Train. I spoke with the engineer assigned when the Exec Train was at the Railroad Days fair at Meridian, MS a few years ago. He told me that the Exec Train assignment was voluntary for one week, and offered as a reward for outstanding performance. He said it was one of, if not the most sought after assignment because he and the entire crew was berthed and fed on the Train with all the high muckety-mucks. He said that it was his second time, and that he loved the assignment because it was like a vacation with very little actual work. Although he was disappointed by one thing...he wished that the Fs still had their original control stands just for the nostalgia factor. [ December 18, 2005, 09:35 AM: Message edited by: Hytec ]
