Train Festival 2009: Update

[JANGAJONGA]

Um from what I have heard, its already, north of the boarder.

North of the border as in already on michigan? if anyone knows when it gets to toledo if they could please post. thanks.

[GTW6401]

If its already in Michigan, it would be past Toledo, which is in Ohio.

[J T]

Um from what I have heard, its already, north of the border.

North of the border as in already on michigan?

No, north of the border as in the border of the U.S. and Mexico.

[GTWFRED]

JANGAJONGA wrote:
sd70accsxt700 wrote:
Um from what I have heard, its already, north of the border.

North of the border as in already on michigan?


No, north of the border as in the border of the U.S. and Mexico.

[EJ&ESDM809]

I have been told by someone that they got tickets for the train and it says it will stop in Milwaukee on the way down to Chicago, which would mean it would not go down the racetrack and down the CP instead. Has anyone else heard about this? I really hope it takes the BNSF because if it takes the CP, I won't be able to get 4449 on the 18th.

[RailCanon]

Too many people are ill-informed or confused about this issue. Here are the facts:
The eastbound train is NOT, I repeat, NOT going through Milwaukee and IS in fact running over BNSF rails. There is a big reason for this: The 4449 cannot enter Chicago Union Station due to high clearances. Taking the engine over CP via Milwaukee would force a difficult and cumbersome detour over UP to reach the south/east end of the terminal, whereas taking the Racetrack into the city would put the engine right where it needs to be to continue the trip east in the morning, and further expidites the movement.
On the return trip to Minneapolis, there is a one day layover in Chicago, which allows the engine adequate time to be repositioned on the north end of the station, allowing the train to visit Milwaukee on the return trip.

[J T]

I have been told by someone that they got tickets for the train and it says it will stop in Milwaukee on the way down to Chicago, which would mean it would not go down the racetrack and down the CP instead. Has anyone else heard about this? I really hope it takes the BNSF because if it takes the CP, I won't be able to get 4449 on the 18th.

Well, the route has them going through Milwaukee as they head west on August 2/3, so maybe you can catch them then?

[Jeff L]

My local newspaper published an article on SP4449.
http://www.themorningsun.com/articles/2 ... 750678.txt

This newspaper just better not flub their articles on these steam engines that come to Alma like last year. In fact, another example was from the GratiotCountyHerald no more than 2 weeks ago in an article that there would be "4" steam engines coming to Alma this month. No, there's gonna be 3. SP4449, PM1225, and NKP765. I have the article and I'm mailing it to SRI. I was recently asked by the newspaper through my dad that if they could have recent pics of SP4449, which I have, to publish for the paper. I told him and the newspaper...NO!! They can take pics when it comes to Alma.

[RailCanon]

I see the article says your dad is riding the train out of Chicago. Will I be seeing you there too, Jeff?

[EJ&ESDM809]

Well good its taking the BNSF. I plan on getting i around Steward, IL just souh of Rochelle. I'd do the racetrack, but I'm worried every station on the line is going to be wall to wall with people waiting for it.

[RailCanon]

For those who haven't been to SRI, or haven't visited yet this year, here's what the site is going to look like during the festival.
http://www.trainfestival2009.com/images ... al_map.jpg

[signmasters]

Anyone know anything about parking????????????????

[JANGAJONGA]

Well alright guys the southern unit will be leaving toledo around 9PM. i will catch up with it in AA and chase it up to osmer.

[rwas]

Does anyone here know if 4449 will be taking the CP/Amtrak route west out of Milwaukee on 8/3 to Minneapolis? I am interested as we will be vacationing in Wisconsin Dells on the 3rd and it would go through there if that is the route it is taking. If not, the intended route would be appreciated. Went to SP4449 site and it doesn't get real descriptive. The kids will be swimming and I will be chasing trains. Perfect vacation. Thanks, Ron

[EJ&ESDM809]

It will indeed be taking the CP through the Dells on August 3rd. Should be a pretty nice photo opportunity crossing the bridge there.

[rwas]

Thanks, Robby. If you have any suggestions as to locations I should target (you mentioned a bridge) I would appreciate it. Never been there but will be looking forward to photographing it here in Michigan and then in Wisconsin. Is that CP line busy and are there any other lines worth searching out, class 1's or shortlines in the Dells area? Thanks in advance for your insight. Ron

[EJ&ESDM809]

The location I would go to the the Dells is the bridge over the Wisconsin River, located right in downtown Wisconsin Dells. Access is easy, park by the golf course and walk over to the bridge. The Mid-Continent Railway museum is right nearby and currently has daily operation, as is the Riverside & Great Northern, a narrow gauge steam operation just north of downtown Dells, which also operates daily. The CP can be hit or miss, it all depends on what tim you see it. A scanner is useful as train will call out locations on it. There are two more trains to keep an eye out for on the CP, 486 and 487, which most of the time will either have a trio of DM&E/IC&E SD40-2s, a trio of CP SD40-2s or a mix of those two. It is pretty much one of the only trains on a class one in 2009 almost guarenteed to have pure SD40-2 sets.

[rwas]

Robby,
Do those two trains operate daily or as needed? Gonna be there from Sunday to Tuesday and would love to get photos of them. Any idea of what time of the day they run?

[EJ&ESDM809]

486 and 487 run 7 days a week. They are supposed to run 486 in the morning and 487 after Amtrak 7 but when I was there they were both coming just before or just after Amtrak 8 came in.

About 4449, it is on its way to Minot now and appears to be doing every bit of track spped. Dang is the GPS and Twitter useful!

[astrovanman1989]

Anyone know anything about parking????????????????

i called about parking and some one over there that is a board member said people are on there own for finding parking