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Kansas City Southern’s (KCS) corporate symbol is an important part of the company’s identity. The image is derived from a 19th century painting by French artist, Xavier Prinet. The KCS symbol represents the company’s focus on transportation and commerce, and its connection to the American heartland.
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Kansas City Southern’s History
Kansas City Southern (KCS) (NYSE: KSU) is a transportation holding company that owns and operates The Kansas City Southern Railway Company (KCSR), a regional freight railroad in the United States and Mexico. KCSR connects commercial and industrial customers in the central United States with railroads in the Gulf Coast region, Midwest, Mexico, and northeastern Mexico.
The company’s founding
Kansas City Southern’s origins dates back to the early 1880s when Arthur Stilwell built the first portion of a transportation empire that would eventually connect Kansas City, Missouri with the Gulf of Mexico.
Stilwell’s original vision was to create a transportation route from the Midwest to the Gulf of Mexico that would allow goods and materials to flow freely between the two regions. To accomplish this, he built a series of railroads that eventually stretched from Kansas City to New Orleans, Louisiana.
In 1909, Stilwell’s empire was absorbed into the newly created Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad Company (MKT), which operated under the name “Katy” until 1995. The Katy was one of the first railroads in North America to adopt corporate colors, choosing green and white as its official hues.
Kansas City Southern remained part of the Katy until November 30, 1992 when it was spun off as an independent company. The new company began using a stylized version of the Katy’s “frog” logo, which remains in use today.
The word “Southern” in Kansas City Southern’s name refers to its status as a railroad operating in the southern United States. The word “Kansas” pays homage to the company’s Midwestern roots, while “City” references Kansas City, Missouri – one of the major cities served by Kansas City Southern railway.
The company’s expansion
Kansas City Southern (KCS) (NYSE: KSU) is a transportation holding company that owns and operates The Kansas City Southern Railway Company (KCSR), a North American Class I railroad. KCS also owns and operates KCSM, a US-based short-line railroad with operations in Mexico’s central and northeastern regions.
KCSR provides freight transportation services over a rail network of approximately 6,400 route-miles serving the central United States from Kansas City, Missouri south to Laredo, Texas and from northeast Texas west through Shreveport, Louisiana to east-central Oklahoma. KCSR’s rail system connects commercial and industrial customers in the Midwest and Southeast with ports on the gulf coast of Mexico. In addition to intermodal traffic, KCSR carries bulk commodities including petroleum products, chemicals, metals and minerals, agricultural products and coal.
In 2017, KCS was ranked as the 6th best short line railroad in North America by Short Line Railroading magazine.
The Meaning of the Symbol
The shield shows the company’s locomotives passing through a sunburst, which is meant to represent the company’s reach from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean. The company’s name is written in a curved, modern font above the shield.
The symbolism of the colors
The colors of the Kansas City Southern Railway’s corporate logo represent the five countries served by the railroad – the United States, Mexico, Canada, Panama and Cuba. The company’s primary focus is on providing freight transportation services, but it also offers passenger rail service in some areas.
The company’s headquarters are in Kansas City, Missouri, and it has operations in ten states in the United States and three provinces in Canada. In addition to freight services, the railroad provides intermodal transportation and logistics services.
The symbolism of the shape
The KC Southern Railway logo is widely recognized and often emulated, but its exact meaning is not widely known. The most obvious symbolism is that of the three arrows pointing in unison towards a common goal. This signifies the company’s collaborative approach to business, in which all employees work together towards a shared goal.
The three arrows also represent the three main divisions of the company: Operations, Marketing, and Sales. Each arrow points to a different aspect of the business, but all three are equally important in achieving success.
The shape of the logo itself is based on a shield, which represents strength and protection. This is fitting for a company whose business is based on transporting goods safely and efficiently.
The color scheme of the logo is also significant. The blue represents trustworthiness and reliability, two qualities that are essential for any transportation company. The silver trim adds an element of sophistication and elegance, reflecting the company’s commitment to providing excellent service.
Overall, the Kansas City Southern Railway logo is a simple yet powerful symbol of the company’s core values and attitude.
The Significance of the Symbol
The use of symbols is a way of denoting something of great importance. A very famous and well-known example is the use of the Christian cross. This is a very popular symbol that is used to represent Christianity and the faith itself. The cross has a very important meaning and is a very powerful symbol.
The connection to the company’s history
The shield used in the Kansas City Southern logo is a representation of the coat of arms of the family who founded the company. The original coat of arms was designed in England and has been passed down through the generations. The colors on the shield represent different aspects of the family’s history and values. The blue represents loyalty, the red represents strength, and the gold represents prosperity.
The connection to the company’s expansion
In recent years, the company has expanded its operations into Mexico and Canada, and the new logo is reflective of this growth. The inclusion of both the American and Mexican flags is a nod to the company’s commitment to serving both countries, while the stylized eagle pays homage to the company’s roots in the state of Kansas.
