Update on Homewood RR Days

[XG01X]

Final planning is underway for the big event! Sunday, May 2, 2004, from 10AM
to 4PM. Homewood Village Hall and Fire Station Complex, at the corner of
Chestnut Road and Dixie Highway in downtown Homewood, IL.

We have a great event planned, and hope everyone will come out to this FREE
event and make our first year a big one. Here are the events and activities
confirmed as of Saturday, April 17th, 2004:

-CN will be operating their "Little Obie" Operation Lifesaver children's
"train" during the entire event. Kids big and small will be treated to a ride
and
a bag of Op Lifesaver goodies.

-Union Pacific will also be onsite and doing Operation Lifesaver activities.

-METRA has confirmed that the 4-car "Illinois Central" electric train will be
operating on a normal Sunday schedule all day. This train will consist of
four of the last "chocolate and orange" M.U. cars left, and now that the station

platforms are all open, good photo opportunities should abound. Come out and
catch this "blast from the past."

-At 12 PM, we will be having a formal groundbreaking ceremony at the site of
Homewood's new railfan facility. This new platform will allow for great views
of trains operating through downtown Homewood, and will offer the same
opportunity to meet fellow rail enthusiasts that the park in Rochelle IL does.
The
site is at the south end of the PACE bus transfer facility on the east side of
the IC right of way through downtown Homewood. Tentative plans call for the
presence of a CN/IC locomotive and a very special dignitary at the
groundbreaking, although this is not confirmed as of this date.

-"Rail Raffles" throughout the day

-Swap meet and vendors

-Food & beverages by local Homewood vendors including world famous Aurelio's
Pizza.

-Railroad Art Display

-Railroad Model Display

-(3) large operating modular layouts: HO, Scale O, and Lionel

-Railroad telegraphy display and exhibition

-Children's activity area including coloring, etc.

-Fire Apparatus available for inspection

Some of our confirmed attendee groups and noted dignitaries:

Illinois Central Historical Society
National Railway Historical Society
Train Collector's Association
CN Lines Special Interest Group (information display)
Canadian National Railways
Union Pacific Railroad
METRA
Right Track Hobbies
Noted IC author Kirk Reynolds
Noted IC author Alan Lind
Noted Railfan and author Mike Schafer

This is only a partial list. We have a great day planned, and hope that you
will come out and visit with us, check out the IC mainline, see the sights,
and enjoy a day in beautiful "Home Sweet Homewood" Illinois.

NOTE: WE ARE ALSO GOING TO HAVE A SPECIAL FUND-RAISING PRINT AVAILABLE,
PLEASE STOP BY THE HERITAGE COMMITTEE TABLE AND CHECK IT OUT! IC FANS AND ALL
PASSENGER TRAIN FANS WILL WANT TO HAVE ONE OF THESE EXCLUSIVE PIECES OF LIMITED
EDITION ARTWORK! TRUST ME, IT'S BIG!!!

Every penny of funds raised will go to support rail heritage plans in
Homewood. We are a volunteer committee and NOT ONE CENT will go to any private
individual.

Need more information, or a have a specific question? Email me, Paul
Burgess, off-list at unitlne@a...

Thanks, and we'll see you in Homewood on May 2nd!

Paul Burgess
Homewood IL
Rail Corridor Committee

[Anonymous]

Kudos to you Paul and the others who have made this event possible. Unfortunately I won't be able to attend, but many of my railfan acquainances will.

One question: Is there an estimate on when the viewing platform will be open and ready for use?

Finally, I can't help but chuckle when I see the reference to the "chocolate and orange Higliners." The originals were black and orange - with black ends (for safety -- not!) Brown and orange were in the Regional Transportation Authority's color scheme when they took over the IC's electric operations and they definitely aren't same colors IC used in passenger service. Not trying to put down your group's effort of getting Metra to do anything for a railfan event, I just find the "historical" tie-in amusing.

Good luck on May 2.

[Anonymous]

how safe is the neighborhood there. day and nite