Trolley museum's 'Rails to Victory' marks WWII anniversary

Remember the veterans of America's Greatest Generation and mark the 70th anniversary of "V-E Day" - Victory in Europe in World War II - with its "Rails to Victory 2015" weekend, set for Saturday and Sunday, May 30-31, at the Fox River Trolley Museum.

The museum, at 365 S. La Fox St., on Route 31 in South Elgin, will transport you back in time to the 1940s and a very different wartime world.

Experience a World War II military encampment, view period mock battles on the banks of the Fox River, and ride special trains that take you "behind the lines" and re-enact the suspenseful and dramatic cat-and-mouse game between the French Resistance and occupying Nazi troops; riders will view and experience small performance stops along the trolley's route re-enacting wartime conditions.

There will be a U.S. Home Front baseball game featuring the Rockford Peaches, made famous in the 1992 film "A League of Their Own." A period bicycle ride is scheduled at 10:30 a.m. Sunday on the Fox River Trail bicycle path between the museum and the Jon Duerr Forest Preserve picnic grove; all period vintage bicycles are welcome, military and civilian. And a Showcase Battle is scheduled at 2 p.m. Sunday on museum grounds.

Access to the battles, the baseball game and the encampments is free and open to the public. The "Rails to Victory" Occupied France Trolley Tour rides are $16.50 apiece for all ages, with advance purchase available at the museum's Castlemuir ticket office, on Route 31 in South Elgin. Groups of up to 45 can be accommodated on one train.

Special trains will operate Saturday, May 30 only, at 10:30, 11, 11:30 a.m. and at 1:30, 2, 2:30 and 3 p.m. On some trips, the museum's 92-year-old Fox River Line car #304 may operate.

Passes and tickets for other museum operations will not be honored. Sunday trolley operations will be at regular fares of $4 for adults, $3 for seniors and $2 for children 3-11 except during the Showcase Battle.

For details, call (847) 697-4676 or visit www.railstovictory.com, or foxtrolley.org