New Educational Talks Planned for South Shore Line Trains

[saguaro]

Passengers who travel on select South Shore Line trains between Downtown Chicago and South Bend will soon be able to learn about trackside landmarks and history as the train travels through the historic steel producing areas of Hammond, East Chicago, and Gary; the scenic Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore; and the ‘breadbasket’ farming regions of LaPorte and St. Joseph counties.

 

Through a partnership agreement with the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD), which owns and operates the South Shore Line, Rail Rangers Guides will be presenting programs two to three Saturdays per month. Upcoming dates in 2017 include: August 5th, August 26th, September 9th, September 23rd, October 21st, and October 28th. Additional fall and winter dates will be announced soon.

 

Eastbound programs will take place on Train #503, which departs Chicago-Millennium Station at 8:40am CT and arrives at South Bend Airport Station at 12:10pm ET. After an hour layover, Guides will present a program for westbound passengers on Train #506, which departs South Bend Airport at 1:05pm ET and arrives into Downtown Chicago at 2:39pm CT.

 

The train makes intermediate stops at five stations on the south side of Chicago, Hammond, East Chicago, three stations in Gary, Portage/Ogden Dunes, Dune Park, Beverly Shores, two stations in Michigan City, and Hudson Lake. Programs are presented at no additional charge for passengers.

 

The program is being offered by experienced Rail Rangers Guides associated with the American Passenger Rail Heritage Foundation (APRHF) according to Executive Director Robert Tabern. More information can also be found online at www.dunestrain.com or www.southshoreline.org.    

[CMStPnP]

So that is cool.   How is the double tracking of the East End of South Shore comming along?   Have they started it yet?