RRHMA participates in Midwest events

Railroading Heritage of Midwest America participated in two Midwest railroad events in June, part of fulfilling our mission to promote public understanding of the history of railroading in the Midwest.

On June 3-4, RRHMA had several pieces of equipment on display at Union Depot Train Days in St. Paul, Minn. These included Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 #261, which was steamed up for the event. Cab tours were offered both days with large crowds waiting to see the locomotive despite warm temperatures. Also on display was Milwaukee Road E9 #32A. Train Days visitors were able to tour four passenger cars from RRHMA’s fleet: Cedar Rapids, Super Dome 53, baggage 2450, and private car Caritas. The Caritas had just been repainted in Milwaukee Road colors and made its debut at Train Days.

Three days after Train Days ended, Super Dome 53 and Caritas departed St. Paul on Amtrak’s Empire Builder for Chicago. #53 was headed for a charter run from Chicago to Oakland, Calif., while Caritas was headed to the Windy City to participate in Franklin Park (Ill.) Railroad Daze. Caritas was on display June 10-11 in Franklin Park along with two Metra commuter coaches, freshly rebuilt Metra SD70MACH No. 503 and MP36PH-3S No. 405 painted in Milwaukee Road “Heritage” colors, and diesels from Union Pacific, BNSF, Norfolk Southern, Kansas City Southern and Canadian Pacific.

Upon Super Dome 53’s return from the west coast, the Super Dome and Caritas were to participate in special operations for Metra before returning to St. Paul on the Empire Builder in late June.