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Rails to Victory returns to Fox River Trolley Museum April 27-28

The Fox River Trolley Museum, 361 S. LaFox St. (Route 31) in South Elgin, will host its "The Rails to Victory" World War II living history re-enactment on Saturday and Sunday, April 27-28.

On Friday, April 26, they will be hosting students from local middle schools.

Ride the infamous "Dolle Dinsdag Express" into Holland on Sept. 19-20, 1944, and experience the suspense and drama of the heroism of the Allies and Dutch citizens as the Allies try to capture bridges over the Waal River during Operation Market Garden.

Continue your immersion in history by walking through a World War II military encampment or watch re-enactments of period battles.

Then cheer on the Rockford Peaches, made famous in the 1992 Tom Hanks and Geena Davis film, "A League of Their Own," at an U.S. Homefront Baseball game.

The museum will be open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, April 27 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 28.

Remember the sacrifice made by the Allies 75 years ago by taking a ride into occupied Holland on the Dolle Dinsdag Express. Get tickets for the "Dolle Dinsdag Express" at 11 a.m., 12:30, 2 and 3:30 p.m. Saturday at www.foxtrolley.org.

Passengers start their immersive journey into 1944 Holland during the Operation Market Garden Allied Offensive. Experience the Allied initial attack on the Nijmegen Bridge which was part of the Allied objectives to capture bridges that cross the Waal River needed for their advance into Germany to end the war.

Passengers will board the interurban trolleys in "Amsterdam" (Castlemuir Depot) where passengers are required to present their Dutch ID papers to the German Reichsbahn railroad conductors.

During the hourlong round-trip journey on the museum's three miles of track to Cologne Germany (Duerr Forest Preserve) and back, passengers will experience scenarios that include the Dutch Resistance, the Allied Monuments Men, German patrols, captured POWs, and the attack on the Nijmegen Bridge.

The "Nijmegen Showcase Bridge Battle" will be at 1 p.m. Sunday. Passengers continue their adventure by traveling directly to the Nijmegen Bridge on Sept. 20, 1944. View a large scale battle for control of the Nijmegen Bridge.

The Dolle Dinsdag Express is an immersive performance presented by World War II actors portraying historical characters from the war and will put passengers right into the action. Passengers will view and experience small performance stops along the trolley's route recreating a variety of scenarios that played out in Holland during the war.

Passengers should be prepared to play along with the actors to fully enjoy the experience. This performance is family friendly; however, not recommended for very young children who may be upset by load noises, theatrical gunfire, and battle re-enacting.

Rockford Peaches will play a game of All-American Girls Professional Baseball League on Sunday afternoon after the Nijmegen Battle, about 2:30 p.m.

Passenger reservations for these fundraising special excursions can be made through the museum website at www.foxtrolley.org.

All proceeds shall go to maintain the museum and its collections.

The event is sponsored by South Elgin Parks and Recreation Department, Kane County Forest Preserve District, and the World War II Historical Re-Enactment Society.

There will be free entry to the museum grounds which includes battles, period military encampments, demonstrations, and a Rockford Peaches baseball game.

For information, call the hotline at (847) 697-4676 or visit www.railstovictory.com.

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