Rochelle Railroad Park Giftshop Being Shut-Down

[CShaveRR]

Jim--any chance of your going to Rochelle on the evening of Saturday, 5/20?

[eolafan]

As this coming Friday has a weather forecast of 80F I am planning on a trip to Rochelle for the first time this year...hope the rest rooms are open even if the gift shop is not!

[CShaveRR]

Allan,

My wife has used them, so they have to be decent. Of course, that's when there was staff on premises maintaining them.

For those coming in on the 20th but not going to the C&NWHS Convention, it would appear that Saturday evening will find convention-goers attending their banquet, slide shows, distinguished guest speaker, etc. The park should be OK.

Sunday morning, conventioneers will be taking bus tours to Global 3. No chance of sneaking in unless you've paid the fee (I haven't, either). For those who want to stay for any length of time on Sunday, I've proposed a trip on Metra from Elburn into Chicago (from departure at Elburn to return there should consume less than four hours, and the cost will be five bucks per person). After said trip, we'll probably join the post-Convention crowds at the park.

Rochelle's Railroad Days are a development with which I'm totally unfamiliar. Perhaps Ross can give us (or point us toward) some details.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by greyhounds

QUOTE: Originally posted by BNSFrailfan

Oh my God,they have restrooms,now that is scarry.
Allan.

You're afraid of toilets?

Well,you never know what you might find in a......"Public Restroom" nowadays[;)]. Allan.

[klahm]

Transitions happen. We deal with them. Change shouldn't be feared. Deterioration should be promptly noted when it occurs.

Both the former gift shop operators and the City deserve our thanks for facilitating our hobby. They satisfied my Diet Coke habit and stocked the M&Ms needed when my sugar level suffered too much from schlepping my wife to Wheaton at 7A before drifting westward to Rochelle for a half-day of fanning and photographic frustration. They had what I needed when my fresh film canisters were still on the shelf at home.

It's too early to judge what this means. 'Spose I should stock up on fanning day drinks & munchies elsewhere (but within Rochelle) until the future is better known.

[greyhounds]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BNSFrailfan

Oh my God,they have restrooms,now that is scarry.
Allan.

You're afraid of toilets?

[dknelson]

Hey the Chicago & North Western Historical Society meet in Rochelle in may is going to be well worth going to. In addition to the usual swap meet, banquet, company store, old timers roundtable, slide presentations (including one on Whitcomb Locomotive Works in Rochelle and the Chicago Great Western line that was just a few miles north of Rochelle) there will be bus trips: to the power plant just east of the RR park, to Global III intermodal yard (a RARE chance to see this facility), to the Illinois RR museum in Union, to a Metra ride on former C&NW tracks.
That plus train watching in Rochelle, the chance to photograph a still standing CNW depot in Rochelle (and a coaling tower at DeKalb or Nelson) and I think a splendid time will be had by all.
I attended the Burlington Route Historical Society's annual meet in Rochelle a few years ago and we had a great time. It was the only time I have been at the diamond after 10 pm (until 1 am --- yawn!) and there are tons of nighttime trains.
Dave Nelson

[CShaveRR]

I knew about the CNWHS meet, and had given up on going to it. We'll just have to work around them, that's all. Apparently the Rochelle hotels can accommodate most of the convention-goers, because we had no problem getting rooms in DeKalb (Rochelle's hotel[s] aren't near the tracks). I'll see if I still have their schedule of events so we can be when (and where) they're not.

[Anonymous]

Oh my God,they have restrooms,now that is scarry.
Allan.

[Chris30]

If you build it, they will come. I think that's the line from the movie Field of Dreams.

Rochelle built the park and the people have been coming every since. Not just railfans - people in general. I can understand the town of Rochelle (Rochelle Tourism & Visitor's Association) wanting to improve the park and to try to make it an enjoyable experience for everybody. Sometimes things have to be sacrificed in the name of improvement. This can turn out to be good or bad. I say give it a chance and not to immediately assume the worst. I think that the people who attend the park on a regular basis, or who live in a relative close proximity to the park, should be grateful for what the town of Rochelle has provided.

In addidtion to the park itself, Rochelle has a few other excellent spots to watch trains. My favorite is the end of Bush Grove Rd - great open views of UP's Global III yard and the surrounding countryside.

CC

[Mookie]

Eola - must remember that you are in sales...[(-D]

Ross - bathrooms!!!! I am relieved!

Brian - so we take over a local motel and then we rent a bus! Busses always find parking. And my seat is reserved (see above)

(I am sure this is supposed to be a very serious subject with our guest poster, but [:-,]
ain't gonna happen)

Mook

[blhanel]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TourismRochelle

I would like to address a few more concerns that I have seen posted lately.

There will be bathrooms, the same ones that are there now.

The Rochelle Tourism & Visitor's Association is not a government agency. We are a non-for-profit organization.

We do realize that there is a CNWHS conevntion in Rochelle May 18-21. The Tourism Board will be assisting with the registration on the 18th and we also have planned our first annual Rochelle Railroad Days to coincide with the convention on May 20-21.

The City of Rochelle does own some property on the south side of the tracks that we are planning on turning into additional parking in the future. Unfortunately, I am not sure when the City will let us use that land to start the project.

If any of you have any further questions please send me an email and I will answer them for you.

Ross Freier, Director
Rochelle Tourism & Visitor's Association
[e-mail]

Oh-oh...

Hey guys, we might have a tough time finding parking spots/seats when we get there the 21st...

[Anonymous]

I would like to address a few more concerns that I have seen posted lately.

There will be bathrooms, the same ones that are there now.

The Rochelle Tourism & Visitor's Association is not a government agency. We are a non-for-profit organization.

We do realize that there is a CNWHS conevntion in Rochelle May 18-21. The Tourism Board will be assisting with the registration on the 18th and we also have planned our first annual Rochelle Railroad Days to coincide with the convention on May 20-21.

The City of Rochelle does own some property on the south side of the tracks that we are planning on turning into additional parking in the future. Unfortunately, I am not sure when the City will let us use that land to start the project.

If any of you have any further questions please send me an email and I will answer them for you.

Ross Freier, Director
Rochelle Tourism & Visitor's Association
[e-mail]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Chris_S68

Word on the Illinois Yahoo group is that the city of Rochelle, in their infinite wisdom, has refused to renew the lease on the park's gift shop. I live in the area and, while I admit I don't frequent the park, I have, on occasion, stopped at the shop. Supposedly has something to do with bringing the park more in-line with other park district properties while making it more "kid friendly", whatever that is.
This is a pretty sad example of politicians' short-sightedness and being completely out of touch.

Chris

[eolafan]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

QUOTE: Originally posted by eolafan

Oh my God, I now have an aweful vision of being greeted at the door by some zit faced kid who says "Hey Dude, what's happening?" or some 90 year old Grandmother who answers my questions by saying "What a quaint hobby you folks have" or "Have you a few minutes (translation, about an hour) for me to tell you about my late husband who was with 'the railroad".

Careful with the 90 year old grandmother.....

And it was my Dad and he is never late.

[:X]

Hey Mookie, don't give me that "grandmother" stuff, I have seen your picture and you're definetly not a 90 year old grandmother. My apologies to your "never late" Dad.[:D]

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by eolafan

Oh my God, I now have an aweful vision of being greeted at the door by some zit faced kid who says "Hey Dude, what's happening?" or some 90 year old Grandmother who answers my questions by saying "What a quaint hobby you folks have" or "Have you a few minutes (translation, about an hour) for me to tell you about my late husband who was with 'the railroad".

Careful with the 90 year old grandmother.....

And it was my Dad and he is never late.

[:X]

[eolafan]

Oh my God, I now have an aweful vision of being greeted at the door by some zit faced kid who says "Hey Dude, what's happening?" or some 90 year old Grandmother who answers my questions by saying "What a quaint hobby you folks have" or "Have you a few minutes (translation, about an hour) for me to tell you about my late husband who was with 'the railroad".

[Anonymous]

There is always someone out there who will complain. I wish I had the chance to see the Rochelle Railfan Park in person. Allan.

[dknelson]

I hope the professional "tourist industry" types do not decide to eliminate the old magazines, old maps, old timetables, etc aspect of the shop -- the very thing that can look like a rather ragged rummage sale to an outsider is what brings the real railfans back into the shop over and over. I was able to acquire some really neat stuff under the prior management (plus they had some notion of what they had for sale) and I'd hate to see an antiseptic variety of bland coffee table books, wooden train whistles, Thomas baby bibs, etc etc
Also the prior management KNEW when interesting units were due to come through, were a good source of railfan info for the surrounding area, and would look out for stuff for you and inform you if it came in. Hiring shop keepers is no substitute for hiring real railfans.
Having said that, an awful lot of shelf space was devoted to used model trains (often overpriced compared to what the same items would cost at the Dupage swap meet) and the inventory did not seem to change much from visit to visit. And it was fair to question just where some of the larger railfan stuff for sale was really coming from.
It is also important to make sure the restrooms are clean and maintained. We don't want to go back to abusing the local bush and shrub population as we did prior to the construction of the railroad park :)
Just my two cents worth.
Dave Nelson

[cspmo]

I read train news article, it sounds like a improvement, anyway I go to Rochelle to see trains not the giftshop.

[DrummingTrainfan]

I wouldn't totally block Thomas out of the gift shop (but of course it shouldn't take the whole thing) because I've heard some people say that Thomas originally got them into trains.

Although, I think it'd be nice if they didn't close the old shop until the new one opens (unless of course the new one will go where the current one is).

[Anonymous]

I hope that the city at least gives the Mirandas their jobs back if a new gift shop is opened. I sincerely hope it doesn't turn into some stupid Thomas store, but I agree the addition of food and a train layout would be good. How soon is it likely that the gift shop will reopen or a new shop be opened?

[Kevin P. Keefe]

Someone asked if Trains magazine's commitment to the railroad park will continue. Absolutely, as far as we're concerned. If the city wants our support, they've got it.

We have enjoyed our partnership with both the city and the previous gift shop operators. If the city contemplates a new gift shop operation, that's up to them. Our principle interest is the park itself, the fabulous railroad action, and our pledge to keep the webcam up and running. And we'll keep those brochures and maps in stock, too.

We have a news story on all this in today's News Wire. Check it out.

--Kevin Keefe, publisher, Trains

[aricat]

I have visited the Rochelle Railroad Park on two occasions; once in 2000 , the other in 2002 and found it outstanding. The gift shop was a very large part of why the park is so sucessful.Many non-railfans find the gift shop an interesting place to visit; especially female ones. The gift shop kept my wife sister-in- law and neice quite happy while I watched trains. I was able to stay at least three hours. My wife surprised me with to vintage Great Northern timetables purchased at the gift shop. The gift shop will be missed. I was hoping to take my Grandson there so that he can enjoy train watching. I hope that Rochelle will reconsider and keep the gift shop open

[Anonymous]

Tharmeni,
The reason "that I'm not at liberty to discuss..." is because it was a contract between the City of Rochelle and the previous people who ran the gift shop. It would not be very nice or ethical of me to divulge any of that information, nor would I. The issues of the contract are between the two parties involved only.

Ross Freier, Director
Rochelle Tourism & Visitor's Association
[e-mail]

[Tharmeni]

Hey, Ross....due to conditions "that I'm not at liberty to discuss..."

Where is open government in Illinois??:??????

[samfp1943]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TourismRochelle

There seems to be a lot of erroneous information out there so I want to let you know what is really going on. The City of Rochelle has decided to give management of the Rochelle Railroad Park to the Rochelle Tourism & Visitor’s Association due to reasons that I’m not at liberty to discuss. Neither the Rochelle Chamber or Park District have anything to do with the Railroad Park, nor have they ever.

The Rochelle Tourism Board is planning to continue to have some form of a gift shop at the Railroad Park and hopefully also to add a railroad museum, maybe a train layout and have some type of food and beverages available. I assure you that we plan to improve upon what is currently there, not to take anything away from the park. It may take us some time for these plans to come to fruition, but it will happen.

Thank you all very much for your concern of the Rochelle Railroad Park and your patronage as well. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me at [e-mail].

Ross Freier, Director
Rochelle Tourism & Visitor's Association

Ross:
Thanks for stepping up to the plate; many of us who have never been to Rochelle, have really warm feelings for a community that has hosted this facility as long as it has.
Hopefully, the newest version will continue the spirit of hospitalility that the facility has fostered among the railfan community.
The good will that this facility has created among as large a group [the railfan community] that is as diverse and widespread as it is, would be something that the City of Rochelle, and for that matter the railfans themselves would have a hard time quantifing. So we thank you for what the City of Rochelle has created and allowed to exist for this long, and hope that, the forsight that originally gave us such a unique venue, will continue, and lead to a more improved version as you have promised.
Sincerely,
Sam Prest
Parsons,Ks.

[Mookie]

I am just happy it will all be there for my excursion out there in May. Most Visitor/Convention/Tourism boards work very hard to make visitors happy so I applaud the openess and look forward to visiting the park!

Mook

[Soo2610]

As someone said earlier, there is more to this story than is being said. All I know is that on previous visits to the railroad park the gift shop when open was very hospitable, warm food and drinks were available during cold weather and the restrooms were always clean and warm. Rochelle did put this park in for railfans at their expense and I guess we will just have to wait and see what happens. Wonder what trains take is on this? They have a lot invested at Rochelle and have been surprisingly quiet on these developments so far.

[Poppa_Zit]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TourismRochelle

To those of you posting recently, thank you for understanding and being patient. The Tourism Board wants only the best for the Railroad Park and would welcome any suggestions for improvements from all of you.

Ross Freier, Director
Rochelle Tourism & Visitor's Association
[e-mail]

Thanks for asking, Ross. Based on the hearsay that's been swirling, I suspect that there may be more to this story than what we're hearing -- and is probably better off left that way. I never suspected the City of Rochelle was doing anything that would degrade the railfan experience your community offers.

How about installing some unobtrusive lighting of the diamonds -- maybe below ground or berm lighting that would illuminate the trains crossing the diamond without interfering with the neighborhood? Maybe working off a motion sensor or track signal to be turned on only when a train comes through?

By the way, a hearty thanks to you and the folks of Rochelle for doing what you do. I'm out there at least once every 10-14 days (at all hours of day and night) and have been made to feel very welcome by a majority of the people in town. I always buy a tank of gas at the BP on Route 51, and grab some fast food from the options available along Route 38. I have also dropped my wife off to do some shopping while I am taking pictures. So tell your merchants that the Rail Park is generating some revenues that otherwise would go to some other locale. The Rail Park is exactly 62 miles from my home, and it is a pleasant ride all the way on the tollroad. I look forward to returning.