Trolley museum lines up 2008 activities
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, 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 ages 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 line 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.
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 is nearly two miles long, including about 1-1/2 miles of the original line. It features the only surviving car from the opening day of its sister line, the Aurora Elgin & Chicago Railroad. 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 on its four-mile round trip.
Mother's Day is just the first of a series of special events scheduled this year at the museum.
Others include:
• Spring Caboose Day is June 1. The flowers will be blooming and the trees filling out as the museum's popular Illinois Central Railroadcaboose 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 Railroad 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. 25-26. 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, and hear ghoulishly delightful ghost tales. Halloween Hiawatha Ghost Story Train fares are $10, with several trains each evening, but reserve your spots early; the Ghost Story Trains sell out each year.
Although the museum is open to visitors Sundays and holidays 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 Route 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. 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 Ghost Story and Polar Express trains will be available only from the museum's Web site, and will go on sale in June. No tickets for Ghost Story and Polar Express trains will be sold on the day of the event, and there will be no refunds or exchanges unless a train is canceled.
The Fox River Trolley 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 El 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 age 3 and younger ride free.
For additional information, or to charter a train, call (847) 697-4676.