Galesburg Railroad days.

[traingeek087]

This is most likely a little too early to ask, but does anyone know if Galesburg [Illinois] is having their local Galesburg Railroad days? I've gone three years in a row and really enjoyed it, but last year they didn't have it. If their not going to have it this year I will find somewhere else to go and do my railfanning.

[Anonymous]

Hello

I did some research a while back and found a date for this year's event.

I (at that time) didn't run across any websites for this year. I did find some for years past.

I am going to put a link in this thread where we had some discussion about that event and a possible gathering of forum members.


http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=1&TOPIC_ID=9921

[Anonymous]

There was a Railroad Days Festival last year. The BNSF just did not participate for the first time. They sited insurance as the reason that they pulled out. There was no railroad display at the depot. I suspect this year will be the same.

[Anonymous]

I think the Milwaukee Road #261 is going to Galesburg on Friday June 25th, I think that is the Friday before Railroad Days.

[traingeek087]

you say the 25th? I heard it was the 29?

[Anonymous]

I don't know the date for sure, but the 29th is a Tuesday and it has never started on a Tuesday before.

[Anonymous]

The latest issue of Trains Mag. has a article about the 261, page 78-79, it shows a one way trip from Chicago-Galesburg-Barstow-Rock Island. I don't know how long it will stay at Galesburg though.

[dknelson]

RR Days is June 26-27, Sat and Sun. The 261 is scheduled to come through on the 25th and will be nearby on the 27th on the old Rock Island line to Bureau IL
The Register Mail has a website. There are plans for some displays at the depot, such as track that kids can walk to recreate the scene in Stand By Me (hard to see how the BNSF would be thrilled to see a display that encourages walking ON A BRIDGE!) but it looks like at most the BNSF might offer bus tours of the outer edges of the yard. I guess the train show at Carl Sandburg College will go on. The plan is to have more of the festival part of Railroad Days be back downtown. There is going to be an antique car show, etc. There has also been some talk in the Register Mail about the proposed RR Hall of Fame and new Museum Building. That seems still up in the air.
So there will be a RR Days but not like it was in the years prior to last year.
The Register Mail did say something should be done to specifically commemorate the first train through town. What they have in mind I do not know. The 261 visit is just one day off from giving them a real RR event to celebrate. As it is I do not know if I will be going this year but I might, mostly to be around 261.
I would advise anyone interested in Galesburg to make the Register Mail website a "favorite" -- there is a lot of railroad news in that area such as the new grain spur in Galva, etc.
Dave Nelson

[CBQ_Guy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by traingeek087

This is most likely a little too early to ask, but does anyone know if Galesburg [Illinois] is having their local Galesburg Railroad days?

Of Course! Just don't ask me when yet but rest assured, Harry Grossman will be all over the internet promoting it as it gets closer (Though I never seem to notice him online the rest of the year.)

[Anonymous]

I may regret asking but who is Harry G? [B)]

[dknelson]

Harry Grossman runs the big train show in Galesburg at Carl Sandburg College and is fairly tireless at promoting it. He has done a fine job as that show has very quickly grown into one of the best in the midwest. His problem of course is when the BN and the ATSF and EMD and GE and Amtrak and the museums in Union and Monticello were all bringing in equipment to display downtown, Galesburg RR days was a huge event for railfans so every hotel room in town was filled and the train show had an enormous potential audience. With the railroad part of it being so downplayed now, the train show is now the main attraction .
Dave Nelson

[Anonymous]

Dave [:)]

Thanks for the info. [8D]

Can you add anything about this year's event? Do you know if any of the railroads will do any display? I know they cut back a bunch but we railfans are hoping they will again help do something for the event.