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Date: 2008-05
EXPERIENCE HISTORY NEAR HOME - RIDE THE FOX RIVER TROLLEYS IN 2008!
AT LEAST 18 SPECIAL EVENT DAYS SCHEDULED
The snowdrifts are gone, gas prices are through
the roof, and the kids want to get out.
There's a simple solution, and it's close to home. Take them on a
trip to the past at the museum that moves -- the Fox
River Trolley Museum, in South
Elgin!
On Sunday, May 11, the Fox River Line's historic trolleys begin
the 2008 season by celebrating Mother's Day,
with free rides for mothers, grandmothers and even great grandmothers
with a paid child's fare. Fares for Dad and the others will be the same
as last year, $3.50, and $2 for senior citizens and for children 3-11.
Children under age 3 ride free.
The Fox River Line is a monument to the Fox Valley's history. In
full flower, it was a 40-mile railroad that was built over a seven-year
period by three different companies, linked Carpentersville with
Yorkville, including a direct link between Elgin and Aurora, and opened
the Valley to public transportation. Service began between Elgin and
Geneva, including the stretch preserved today, on June 30, 1896.
Today, the museum's demonstration rail line links the Castlemuir
station in South Elgin with Blackhawk station at the Jon
Duerr Forest Preserve in St. Charles
Township, on the site of the historic Coleman Grove picnic ground.
In the early 20th century, Coleman Grove featured a dance
platform, horseshoe pits, athletic fields and even a pier on the Fox
River, from which canoes could be rented. Many visitors would bring
pails and shovels, and dig in the Fox for fresh-water clams. Today,
the Forest Preserve picnic area sits at the southern end of the Fox
River Line, awaiting picnickers not unlike 100 years ago.
As roads were paved and mass-produced automobiles filled them,
trolleys began to disappear from the Fox Valley and the rest of the
nation. The last passenger runs between Elgin and Aurora took place
March 31, 1935, but three miles of the line remained to haul freight to
a handful of customers, most notable the Elgin State Hospital. That
service continued until 1972, by which time the museum was a tenant.
It then purchased the line.
Today's Fox River Line
offers a four-mile round trip, including about three miles on the
original line, and features the only surviving car from the opening day
of its sister line, the Aurora Elgin & Chicago (AE&C) R.R. Car
20 is the oldest operating example of an interurban trolley car in
North America. The Fox River Line attempts to recreate the atmosphere
of an old-time trolley ride.
Mother's Day is just the first of a series of special events
scheduled this year at the museum. Others include:
Spring Caboose Day, June 1. The
flowers will be blooming and the trees filling out as the museum's
popular Illinois Central R.R. caboose makes its first appearance of the
season and Chicago Surface Lines (later CTA) locomotive L-202
celebrates its centennial. Bring a basket filled with goodies for a
picnic in the forest preserve.
Father's Day, June 15. It's
Dad, Grandpa and even Great-Grandpa's turn to ride free, this day only,
with a paid child's fare.
Red, White and Blue Dollar Day,
July 4. All riders pay just $1 as the museum marks America's birthday,
and the 42nd anniversary of the museum's first public operation.
Trolleyfest, Aug. 16-17, and
the Village of South Elgin's Riverfest
Express, Aug. 14-17. It's
two great celebrations, and one great time! Riverfest Express features
food, music, carnival rides, fun and fireworks; the museum's historic
trolley cars operate from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. Aug. 16 and 17 only.
Fall Caboose Train Rides,
Sept. 28 and Oct. 5. As the colors begin to change along the scenic Fox
River and in the Jon Duerr Forest Preserve, there's no better place to
watch than the cupola of the museum's Illinois Central R.R. caboose!
The Pumpkin Trolley, Oct. 11, 12, 18
and 19. Get your pumpkin by riding a Fox River Line trolley to the Pumpkin
Patch at Coleman Yard; all kids get a
small treat! Pumpkin tickets are $1 extra.
The Haunted Trolley, Oct. 25-26. The
Haunted Trolley thrills children young and old both days during the
day; no reservations are necessary and regular fares apply.
The “Halloween Hiawatha” -
the ghost story train, Oct. 25 and 26. Each evening, the
reserved-seating, extra-fare, Ghost Story trains entertain children,
their daddies, mummies and even grandmummies! Those who dare can
experience a campfire, hot chocolate and s'mores along the shores of
the Fox, will hear ghoulishly delightful ghost tales. Halloween
Hiawatha fares are $10, with several trains each evening, but reserve
your spots early; the trains will sell out.
Although the museum is open to visitors Sundays and holidays from
May 11 through Nov. 2, and Saturdays June 28-Aug. 30 and Oct. 11-25,
there is one more special event.
The Polar Express, Dec. 6, 7 and
13. Chris Van Allsburg's best-selling book, “The Polar Express,” comes
alive for a sixth consecutive holiday season aboard the museum's
trolley cars. Board the extra-fare, all-reserved Polar Express at
Blackhawk station in the Jon Duerr Forest Preserve, on Illinois 31 in
St. Charles Township, for a ride north to meet Santa and experience the
magic of the season. Fares are $10, with several trains each evening.
Chris Van Allsburg's book will be available for $18. Reservations
again are a must; the past five years, all space sold out weeks in
advance and on some trains as early as July.
Tickets for Halloween Hiawatha and Polar Express trains will be
available only from the museum's Web site, and will go on sale in
June. No tickets for Halloween Hiawatha and Polar
Express trains will be sold day-of-event, and there will be no refunds
or exchanges unless a train is canceled.
The Fox River Trolley Museum is inexpensive, close to home, a real
slice of history - and it's fun.
The museum is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to
perpetuating the memories of Chicago's once-burgeoning electric
railroad industry. Cars in operation or on display represent all three
of the major Chicago interurban (inter-city) electric railways as well
as Chicago's “L” and streetcar lines. All museum workers are volunteers
dedicated to recreating a bygone era in mass transportation.
The museum, at 361 S. LaFox St., on Route 31 in South Elgin, is
open on operating days 11 a.m. until 5 p.m., except as noted. Regular
fares remain at $3.50 for adults, $2 both for senior citizens and for
children ages 3-11. Children under 3 ride free.
For additional information, or to charter a train, call (847)
697-4676.
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