Our Midwest Train Adventure

For those of us who love trains at the Ohio Railway Museum, that passion doesn't stop at our own gates. Sometimes, you just have to hit the road to see what other amazing railroad history is out there. That’s exactly what a group of us did on a recent trip through the Midwest. We wanted to see cool trains, meet new people, and learn from other museums. This is the story of our four-day adventure.

Day One: The Journey Begins

Our trip started with a long drive. After many hours, we were ready for a break. Our first stop was the Monticello Railway Museum in Monticello, Illinois. We arrived in the evening, so the museum was closed. But that didn't stop us! Even from the outside, we could see their amazing collection of historic trains. It was a great chance to stretch our legs and get excited for the days ahead. We recommend visiting them if you’re ever in the area. Before we left, we left a little surprise for their crew to find, just a fun way to say hello from one museum to another. After our stop, we drove to our hotel in Galesburg, Illinois. Galesburg is a town famous for its railroad history, so it was the perfect place to rest. We were all excited for a full day of train-watching.

Day Two: Galesburg, Burlington, and a Surprise Visit

Some of us woke up before the sun on day two. The train action in Galesburg is just too good to miss! We headed to the 10th Street bridge, a perfect spot to see the BNSF rail yard. We were hoping to see some freight trains, but we got more action than we expected! A locomotive, BNSF No. 647, had a problem with a broken piece of rail. We watched in amazement as the BNSF crew worked hard to fix the track and get trains moving again.

Next, we went to the Amtrak station. We saw three passenger trains: the Carl Sandburg, the Southwest Chief, and the California Zephyr. After that, we visited the Galesburg Railroad Museum, which has a great collection of train cars and local history.

We still had daylight, so we made a new plan. We crossed into Iowa for cheaper gas and stopped in Burlington. The old train station there has a cool art deco design, and we saw a couple of freight trains zoom by. We also checked out a preserved steam engine, the CB&Q No. 3003.

After eating lunch in the car, we made an unplanned stop at the Midwest Central Railroad. We weren't sure if anyone would be there, but we found volunteers getting ready for a Halloween event. One of them, a friendly man named Jim, offered to give us a tour. He showed us their engine shop and locomotives. We spent hours talking about trains. We left with new friends and an invitation to come back anytime. It was an awesome surprise. Finally, we drove to our hotel in Silvis, Illinois, to get ready for the next day.

Day Three: Riding Behind a Giant

Day three was the day we were all waiting for. The weather was perfect for a train ride. We went to the Railroading Heritage of Midwest America (RRHMA) yard. And there it was: our ride for the day. The Union Pacific No. 6936, a "Centennial" locomotive. It's the largest diesel locomotive ever built, and it was going to pull our train!

This was RRHMA's first big passenger trip with this train, and they did an amazing job. The train rolled through Silvis, Moline, and Rock Island. We crossed the Mississippi River on the historic Government Bridge and waved to all the people and railfans watching along the tracks. RRHMA provided a nice lunch for us in Wilton, Iowa, at the old Rock Island station. Afterward, we continued west through Iowa City. Just past a town called Homestead, the train turned around for the trip back. The ride was beautiful. We saw rolling hills of corn, blue skies, and big, fluffy clouds.

When we got back, we were hungry. Our crew found a local restaurant to eat with our new and old friends. But the day wasn't over! We got a special walkthrough of the RRHMA facility that evening. We learned how they take care of their mighty locomotives. It was an astounding experience. We were happy but tired, so we went back to the hotel for another early start.

Day Four: Making New Friends

On our last day, we left Silvis early and headed to the Fox River Trolley Museum in South Elgin, Illinois. Of course, we had to stop for donuts first; couldn't show up empty-handed! This museum felt a lot like our own at ORM. They have similar track, buildings, and goals. It was great to talk with people who understand the challenges we face. We shared stories, jokes, and even swapped horror stories about difficult neighbors.

After a fun visit, we fueled up and hit the road again. Our final stop was the Illinois Railway Museum (IRM). When we arrived, we were greeted by Nick and his team of volunteers. They gave us a tour of their massive facility. Their collection is very impressive! Our crew asked lots of questions and took notes on ideas we could use at our smaller museum. We even got to ride their trains and enjoy some delicious BBQ.

Reflections

This trip was about more than just seeing trains. It was about building bridges with people who share our passion for keeping rail history alive. In the past, the Ohio Railway Museum had a certain reputation. We are out here working to change that. By meeting with these amazing groups, we are showing who we are now: a small but mighty team with a plan.

We are forging that plan through our own experiences and by learning from the great people we met on our journey. We are so grateful to everyone who took the time to talk with us and show us their operations. It’s important that we all work together to preserve this history.

As a fun thank you to all the wonderful folks we met, we left a little something behind at each museum for you to find. Let us know when you locate it. It should put a smile on your face!