East Troy Electric to begin season March 27; regular operations start April 24
The East Troy (Wis.) Electric Railroad has announced its 2021 schedule of regular operations and special events, opening the year with health measures including pinpoint ionizations for air filtering, socially distant seating, and mask. The first special-event trains of the year will operate March 27, with regular operations beginning April 24. “We are eager to get rolling in 2021 and I am hopeful that we will be able to return to normal operations as the year progresses,” Ryan Jonas, president of the East Troy Railroad Museum, said in a press release “Initially we will be observing all the safety measures that let us operate safely last year, including face masks, socially distant seating, and online ticketing prior to your visit.” Bunny Trains will open the season on March 27. Regular weekend operations begin Saturday, April 24, and Sunday, April 25, with six hourly trips on Saturdays beginning at 10 a.m., and three trips on Sundays at 10 a.m., noon, and 2 p.m. While the trains will continue to stop at the Elegant Farmer store and deli, all trips must begin and end in East Troy. Other special events include four Concerts in the Park trains to Mukowonago; Dinner and new Sunday Brunch trains; Railfest/Railfan day, June 19; Chicago and Military Day, Aug. 14; and a Beer Tasting Train on Sept. 4. Visit the museum website for more information, schedules, and tickets.
Charlestown, Ind., donates ‘Silver Meteor’ observation car to preservation group
The city of Charlestown, Ind., has donated an observation car built in 1939 for the Seaboard Air Line’s Silver Meteor to a Louisville group which plans to restore the car to operating condition. The Greensburg Daily News reports the nonprofit Louisville Railway Co. estimates it will cost $10,000 to $12,000 just to move the car from the location where has been on display for 25 years, and up to $600,000 to rebuild to Amtrak standards. The city elected to donate the car because the current display location is about to be developed, and a proposal to move it to a city proved not to be feasible. A fundraiser to help save the car has been launched on GoFundMe.
