Fox River Trolley Museum celebrates 2 birthdays

The Fox River Trolley Museum is celebrating two birthdays this Independence Day. Not only is July 4 Independence Day, it is the 42nd anniversary of the day the museum began public operations. All riders on all July 4 trips at the museum will be charged just $1.

The museum is already close to home, a slice of history and fun. On July 4, it's more affordable than ever,

The museum calls its July 4 event Red, White and Blue Dollar Day. Riders will make the four mile round trip on its scenic line bordering the Fox River and running through the Jon J. Duerr Forest Preserve for just a fraction of its everyday low fares.

The core of the museum's operations is over historic trackage of the Aurora, Elgin and Fox River Electric line. Museum operations began July 4, 1966, and coexisted with the freight service for six years, said Bruce Moffat, museum member and rail historian.

Railroad owner Robert DeYoung operated freight service on weekdays, and the museum operated its trains on weekends, Moffat said. The museum paid its "rent" in the form of trackwork and other maintenance on the railroad.

The railroad is one of the oldest continuously-operating interurban railway lines in the United States. It began operation between Elgin and Geneva on June 30, 1896. The railroad linked Elgin and Aurora with frequent, inexpensive electric railway service from 1901 until 1935. From 1901 until 1924, it ran between Carpentersville and Yorkville, a distance of more than 40 miles. From 1935 until its purchase by the museum in 1972, the railroad concentrated on freight service linking the Illinois Central Railroad with the Elgin State Hospital and other industries in the South Elgin area.

Although at one time, freight customers included a meat packing plant, a tannery, a gravel pit and the Village of South Elgin, freight service in later years consisted almost exclusively of coal for use at the State Hospital's power plant, Moffat said. In 1972, when environmental regulators ordered the plant to burn natural gas instead of coal because of pollution, coal shipments ceased and DeYoung sold the railroad to the museum. In 1978, the museum abandoned the trackage between today's Castlemuir depot and the State Hospital.

The museum's line was once part of a larger network of electrically-operated railroads that operated throughout the western suburbs. The museum rosters more than 25 pieces of historic railroad, streetcar and interurban electric railway equipment, most of it with ties to Chicago.

Other upcoming special events include:

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; all kids get a small treat! Pumpkin tickets are $1 extra.

The Haunted Trolley and the "Halloween Hiawatha," the ghost story train, Oct. 25 and 26. The Haunted Trolley thrills children young and old both days during the day; no reservations are necessary and regular fares apply.

Both evenings, the reserved-seating, after hours Halloween Hiawatha entertains children, their daddies, mummies and even grandmummies! Those who dare can experience a campfire along the shores of the Fox with ghoulishly delightful ghost stories. Halloween Hiawatha fares are $10 for all riders. Reservations are required; last year's trains old out early. Reserve your space early by writing the museum at P.O. Box 315, South Elgin, Ill., 60177 or by visiting the museum's Web site at www.foxtrolley.org/events.htm. No phone reservations will be taken, and no tickets will be sold the day of the event.

Although the museum is open to visitors Sundays and holidays from May 13 through Nov. 4, and Saturdays June 30-Sept. 1 and Oct. 13-27, 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 fifth consecutive holiday season aboard the museum's trolley cars. Board the 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, beginning at 5 p.m. Fares are $10 for all riders. Reservations again are a must; the past three years, all space sold out weeks in advance. Reserve your space early by writing the museum at P.O. Box 315, South Elgin, Ill., 60177 or by visiting the museum's Web site, at www.foxtrolley.org/events.htm. No phone reservations will be taken, and no tickets will be sold the day of the event.

Except where noted, fares are $3.50 for adults and $2 for both senior citizens and children ages 3-11. Children under 3 ride free.

The Fox River Trolley Museum is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit organization located at 361 S. LaFox St., on Route 31, in South Elgin. Riders can board at the museum's Castlemuir depot, on Route 31 in South Elgin, three blocks south of the State Street stoplight, or at the picnic grove of the Blackhawk Forest Preserve, just off Route 31 in St. Charles Township. For information, or to charter a train, call (847) 697-4676.