RR Days in Galesburg IL used to be a great event: equipment displays from the BN, the Santa Fe, Amtrak, GE, EMD and often the museums in Union or Monticello. And sometimes Metra equipment for rides through the yard. Plenty of great train watching both in Galesburg and in the outskirts, and a decent model train show to boot. Much changed starting with the creation of the BNSF. The non-railroad parts of RR Days -- street festivals, music, games and rides, has changed and moved around a bit over the years but I don't travel all that way to go to a street festival; that part of RR Days is really for the locals to enjoy.
This year's version seemed more frustrating and disappointing than ever. A sad looking locomotive was plucked from a dead line and parked near the depot, and the usual school bus rides around the yard were running. But there were no activities or displays near the depot, and no food service either -- none of those wonderful pork chop sandwiches as in prior years. The Thirlwell Bridge was closed so no good opportunities to get rare power parked near the service facilities, nor interesting open loads from Caterpillar and other industries. The new locale of the train show at Knox College leaves much to be desired -- it was hot and stuffy and there is exactly ONE bathroom stall available to the public in a college fieldhouse that many highschools would regard as sub-part. Many long time vendors don't seem to attend any more. But it is still a very large and varied show, and after a few years of it partly being a toy and die-cast show, it really was a train show this year.
Word on the street was that the train show may move to a different city. There were even rumors that Galesburg can't find enough folks to run the festival aspects of RR Days and it might end not with a bang but a whimper. I'd be sorry to lose it but I'm not sure I'd pay for the gas food and lodging to go to a repeat of this year.
Many Galesburg restaurants have losed in recent years, and the Covid pandemic hurt a lot too. None have taken their place. The service at the local Steak N Shake has become bad.
While the railfanning was good as ever, the Canadian wildfire smoke was much in evidence, and my telephoto lens shots all looked like they were taken on a misty or foggy day.
End of rant/report.
Dave Nelson
This is pure conjecture with no basis on any known facts.
I will presume that the festival has not been held during the 'Covid Years' and therefore that parties that had been instrumental to the success of it in past years either moved on to their eternal rewards or became interested in other activities and thus had no time in their personal calendars to allocate to the festival. It takes leadership to put on events and part of that leadeship is learning what works and what doesn't over the period of their leadeship. When a leader moves one, no matter the reason, a significant amount of institutional knowledge leaves with the former leader.
Covid could also have had a serious effect on the numbers of volunteer that are required to put on successful events.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
All too often, an event will suffer when the original cadre moves on (for whatever reason) without new blood taking their place. The reasons are many.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
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