Kansas City Southern Historical Society in Shreveport area, Louisiana
Rail preservation groupHistorical society with no museum building; annual convention
The Kansas City Southern Historical Society is a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the history of the Kansas City Southern Railway, the line that built depots and junction towns across western Louisiana.
- Preserves Kansas City Southern history
- Detailed locomotive and car rosters
- Folio 43 blueprint collection
- Annual members' convention
- 2026 convention held in DeQuincy
Kansas City Southern Historical Society at a glance
- Hours
- No public museum hours
- Admission
- No museum to visit; membership available
- Seasonal events
- KCSHS Convention
- Best for
- KCS rail fans, modelers and researchers
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
- WhereShreveport area, Louisiana(opens in a new tab)
- Emailkcshs@kcshs.org
- Websitekcshs.org(opens in a new tab)
Follow Kansas City Southern Historical Society
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Taking the kids to Kansas City Southern Historical Society? Bring Rally along.
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Rally Takes the Train
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Keeping the record of the Kansas City Southern
The Kansas City Southern Railway shaped much of western Louisiana, building lines and depots that gave towns their start. The Kansas City Southern Historical Society, known as KCSHS and listed as a nonprofit in Shreveport, exists to preserve that history and share it with railfans, modelers and researchers.
Much of its work lives online and in print. The society publishes a brief history of the KCS, its early mergers and construction, a full list of company presidents, divisions and mileposts, train symbols and a glossary. Its downloadable rosters, compiled and updated by Frank L. "Dutch" Shultz, Jr., cover KCS locomotives and related railroads, including the Southern Belle passenger train's engines and cars, and Karl Bernard compiled a historic diesel roster through 1997. The society also keeps Folio 43, a set of blueprints, and the story of the song written about the Southern Belle. Members gather every year at a convention; in 2026 it met in DeQuincy, Louisiana, home of a restored 1923 KCS depot.
Where KCS history can be seen
The society does not run a museum building, so its collection is reached through its website, publications and convention. To stand inside Kansas City Southern history, visit the DeQuincy Railroad Museum in the 1923 KCS depot, or the 1916 KCS depot in Leesville that now houses the Museum of West Louisiana.
Don’t miss
- KCS locomotive rostersDownloadable lists covering EMD switchers, GP and SD road units, F units, Alcos and Fairbanks Morse diesels, with a note that the KCS liked slugs.
- Folio 43 blueprintsA collection of KCS blueprints offered by the society for modelers and researchers.
- The Southern BelleThe KCS passenger train has its own roster pages and even a song, both covered by the society.
For kids, visit a KCS depot
The society's materials suit older rail fans and modelers more than small children. Families with young train lovers will do better at a KCS depot museum, such as DeQuincy, where kids can see a steam engine, cabooses and model trains.
Plan your visit: tips for Kansas City Southern Historical Society
- Email kcshs@kcshs.org with history and roster questions.
- Download rosters free from the society's website.
- Official railroad business goes to the railroad, not the society.
- Pair your interest with a visit to the DeQuincy KCS depot.
Members who keep the KCS story
KCSHS is a nonprofit run by its members, whose volunteers compile rosters, write history pages and organize the yearly convention. Rail fans can support it by joining, attending the convention, buying items the society offers for sale, and sharing photos and information through its Facebook page.
Rail museums within reach of Shreveport
Across the Texas line, the Historic Jefferson Railway is about 41 miles away, and the Cotton Belt Depot Museum in Texarkana is about 66 miles north. To the south, the Southern Forest Heritage Museum in Long Leaf is about 125 miles away. See our list of train museums in Louisiana for more.
- Texas & Pacific Railway MuseumMarshall, TX · about 39 mi
- Historic Jefferson RailwayJefferson, TX · about 41 mi
- Cotton Belt Depot MuseumTexarkana, AR · about 66 mi
- Historic Depot MuseumHenderson, TX · about 69 mi
- Historic Southern Pacific DepotNacogdoches, TX · about 85 mi
- Texas State RailroadPalestine / Rusk, TX · about 122 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
Reading about the Southern Belle made me think of everyone who once packed a bag for that train. Rally packs light in our book: his turtle toy, his green bone and his yellow ball, and nothing else matters to him. My mom gave him that little suitcase moment, and it is still my favorite page to read aloud. Our coloring pages include Rally ready to go.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.
Get the free coloring pages
A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)More for train families
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- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Kansas City Southern Historical Society?
We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.
Sources
- Kansas City Southern Historical Society official website(opens in a new tab)
- Kansas City Southern Historical Society on Facebook(opens in a new tab)
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Kansas City Southern Historical Society: 20 questions
What is the Kansas City Southern Historical Society?
The Kansas City Southern Historical Society, or KCSHS, is a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the history of the Kansas City Southern Railway. It is listed in Shreveport, Louisiana. The society shares history pages, rosters, blueprints and a glossary online, and it holds a yearly convention for KCS enthusiasts.
Is there a Kansas City Southern museum in Shreveport?
The Kansas City Southern Historical Society does not run a museum building with public hours. For KCS history you can walk through, the DeQuincy Railroad Museum in the 1923 KCS depot and the Museum of West Louisiana in Leesville's 1916 KCS depot are the closest places to visit.
How do I contact the Kansas City Southern Historical Society?
Email the society at kcshs@kcshs.org with history questions or comments, or message its official Facebook page. The society does not list a phone number for members of the public. Questions about official railroad business should go to the railroad itself, not the society.
Is the KCS Historical Society part of the railroad?
No. The society says it is not an official representative of the railroad's current parent company, Canadian Pacific Kansas City, or its affiliates. It can often help people find historical information about the KCS, but questions on current railroad business should go directly to the railroad.
Where can I find Kansas City Southern locomotive rosters?
The Kansas City Southern Historical Society offers downloadable spreadsheet rosters on its website, compiled and updated by Frank L. "Dutch" Shultz, Jr. They cover KCS locomotives and related railroads, plus the Southern Belle's locomotives and cars. A historic KCS diesel roster through 1997, compiled by Karl Bernard, is also listed.
What diesel locomotives did the Kansas City Southern run?
The society's roster pages cover EMD switchers, GP road switchers from the GP7 through the GP40, SD units including the SD40-2, SD40X, SD45, SD50 and SD60, EMD F units, Alco diesels that were mostly switchers, and Fairbanks Morse units. The society notes that the KCS liked slugs.
What was the Southern Belle train?
The Southern Belle was a Kansas City Southern passenger train. The historical society keeps a locomotive and car roster for it and also covers the song written about the train. Check the society's website for the history pages and roster details.
When is the Kansas City Southern Historical Society convention?
The society holds a convention for KCS enthusiasts, with a weekend of history, railroading and fellowship. The 2026 convention was held June 5 and 6 in DeQuincy, Louisiana. Watch kcshs.org and the society's Facebook page for the next convention's location and dates.
How do I join the Kansas City Southern Historical Society?
Membership is offered through the Join KCSHS page on the society's website. Members support the society's history work and convention. For questions about dues or benefits, email kcshs@kcshs.org. New members are welcome whether they are longtime railroaders, modelers or simply curious about the KCS and its history in Louisiana.
What is Folio 43 from the KCS Historical Society?
Folio 43 is a set of Kansas City Southern blueprints that the historical society offers through its website. It is of particular interest to modelers and researchers who want accurate drawings. Email kcshs@kcshs.org for details on what is included.
Does the Kansas City Southern Historical Society sell merchandise?
Yes. The society has an Items for Sale page on its website. Purchases support the group's work preserving KCS history. Check the page for what is currently available and how to order. Buying from the society is an easy way to support it even if you cannot make it to the convention in person.
Where can I see a Kansas City Southern depot in Louisiana?
The DeQuincy Railroad Museum occupies the 1923 Kansas City Southern depot, a Mission Revival building listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and it has free admission. In Leesville, the KCS built a depot in 1916 that now houses the Museum of West Louisiana.
Can kids enjoy Kansas City Southern history?
The society's rosters and history pages suit older kids and adults. Younger train fans will have more fun at a KCS depot museum. The DeQuincy Railroad Museum, for example, has a steam engine, Pullman coach, two cabooses, a model railroad and a playground next door.
Where can I research Kansas City Southern history?
Start with the Kansas City Southern Historical Society's website, which has a brief history of the KCS, its early mergers and construction, presidents, divisions and mileposts, train symbols, a bibliography and a glossary. Email kcshs@kcshs.org if you need help finding something specific.
What are KCS train symbols?
Train symbols are the codes railroads use to identify regular trains. The Kansas City Southern Historical Society has a page on KCS train symbols as part of its historical information, along with divisions and mileposts. It is a handy reference for modelers and railfans reading old timetables or photos.
Does the Kansas City Southern Historical Society have a Facebook page?
Yes. The society links to its official Facebook page from its website, at facebook.com/kcshs.org. It is a good place to follow convention news and share KCS photos and history with other members and fans. Reviews are especially useful for modelers and railfans looking for footage of KCS locomotives, routes and passenger trains.
Does the KCS Historical Society review railroad videos?
Yes. The society's website includes a video reviews section, alongside its bibliography and links. These can help rail fans choose films about the Kansas City Southern. Check the website for the current list. The convention moves around, and the 2026 gathering in DeQuincy put members right next to a restored KCS depot museum.
Does the Kansas City Southern Historical Society offer tours?
The society does not offer public tours or regular visiting hours. Its convention is the main gathering for members. For a place to visit, plan a stop at a KCS depot museum such as the DeQuincy Railroad Museum.
How old is the Kansas City Southern Historical Society website?
The society's website carries copyright dates running from 1997 to 2026, so it has been sharing KCS history online for many years. Its pages include history, rosters, blueprints and convention news. Email kcshs@kcshs.org for questions about the society's own history.
What train museums are near Shreveport?
The Historic Jefferson Railway in Texas is about 41 miles from Shreveport, the Cotton Belt Depot Museum in Texarkana is about 66 miles, and the Historic Depot Museum in Henderson, Texas is about 69 miles. In Louisiana, the Southern Forest Heritage Museum in Long Leaf is about 125 miles south.
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