On October 18-19, 2008 the RDC Chinese QJ's will be running to help raise money for flood relief in Iowa. The QJ's will attempt to set a new record for a steam powered freight in the 21st century on Saturday Oct 18. Then in Rock Island they will split up and pull excursions to Walcott, IA (westbound) and Silvis, IL(eastbound). Plus an evening dinner train. All of the profits from these trips will go to help those impacted by the floods in Iowa in 2008.
Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.rigov.org/ (click on "train tickets" under important links). Customers will first have to establish an account before tickets can be purchased.
Tickets can also be purchased through Rock Island Parks and Recreation by calling 309.732.PARK (7275) or in person at 1320 24th Street, Rock Island, Illinois from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST Monday through Friday.
Just a note about Saturday October 18, 2008 that is a Football weekend in Iowa City with the Iowa Hawkeye playing the Wisconsin Badgers (I'll be wearing red that day) so motel rooms in Iowa City are pretty much non-exsistent. Check out Cedar Rapids or the Quad Cities.
Here are some more specifics about the weekend of steam
Trip Details
Saturday, October 18, 2008
noon Rock Island to Silvis and return
1 p.m. Rock Island to Walcott and return
2 p.m. Rock Island to Silvis and return
3 p.m. Rock Island to Walcott and return
4 p.m. Rock Island to Silvis and return
320 coach tickets will be sold per trip on the train rides toward Silvis and Walcott. Trips will last approximately 90 minutes. Tickets are available for a $40 donation. Tickets for children 12 years and under are available for a $25 donation (with purchase of adult ticket), and children 3 years and under are free if not occupying a seat. Children's tickets are only available for these Saturday excursions.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
6 p.m. Dinner train
A limited 116 tickets will be sold for this trip which includes the full-course "celebrity chef" dinner. The dinner train trip will last approximately three hours. Passengers will ride in two classic dining cars, the IAIS' "Abraham Lincoln" and BNSF's "Powder River." Dinner train tickets are available for a $150 donation.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
8:30 a.m. Rock Island to Iowa City (one-way)
The train will consist of coach and first class cars. 200 coach and 100 premium tickets will be sold for this trip which includes bus transportation back from Iowa City to Rock Island. An option will be available for riders to catch the bus in Iowa City at 6:45 a.m. to come to Rock Island to ride the train. Coach seats for this trip require a $125 donation and premium seats require a $200 donation.
All train trips will leave from downtown Rock Island in the railyard at 1st Avenue and 17th Street.
Shots from 2006 QJ trips
Keith Schmidt