SILVIS, Ill. — Railroading Heritage of Midwest America will operate two days of fundraising trips Sept. 20-21 with Union Pacific DDA40X No. 6936, with proceeds benefiting nonprofit organizations promoting rail safety, as well as the organization restoring two Chinese-built 2-10-2 locomotives that have previously been part of fundraising efforts.
The “Quad Cities Rocket” trips will operation on the former Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific main line between Silvis and Wilton, Iowa, on Sept. 20, and between Silvis and Bureau Junction, Ill., on Sept. 1. Passengers will travel on consists including four Union Pacific “Streamliner” coaches from the RRHMA fleet and five open-window, heavyweight coaches from the Iowa Interstate Rairoad.
Tickets for the Saturday trip, the City of Wilton, are $139 for Streamliner coaches and $129 for the heavyweight P70 coaches, and include a box lunch. The Sunday City of Bureau Junction trip are $109 for the Streamliner cars and $99 for seats in the P70 coaches, including a catered lunch.
The Saturday, Sept. 20, trip will head west from Silvis to Wilton, where it will stop for a box lunch and photos. The train wil be turned there and head west to Homestead Junction, near South Amana, Iowa, to be turned before heading back to Silvis. The Sunday, Sept. 21, trip will head east from Silvis to Bureau Junction, where the train will be turned and then stop for a barbecue lunch and photos before returning to Silvis.
The trips will coincide with the Union Pacific Railroad Historical Society’s annual meeting in Rock Island, Ill., Sept. 17-20. Funds will benefit Operation Lifesaver Inc. and other nonprofit safety groups, and the Central States Steam Preservation Association, which is rebuilding two QJ Class 2-10-2 locomotives that previously powered trips on the Iowa Interstate to support first responders and lineside communities.
Additional information and tickets are available at the RRHMA website.
