NEW! MIDWEST STEAM BONANZA 

   THE 2010 GREAT RAILFAN TOUR

August 27 to September 5, 2010

Tour from $2449.00

Tour Sold Out, Waitlist only.

Join us on this late summer tour which is jam-packed with transportation adventures in the upper Midwest. Your tour manager is Wil Doak, President of Rail Travel Center and a Midwesterner himself. Our tour begins in Minneapolis MN and ends in Chicago IL. During the tour we visit parts of four states: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois, enjoying various modes of transportation, sightseeing, friendly folk and the bounty of foods this area has to offer.

Transportation highlights include rides on the Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway, a boat cruise on the St. Croix River, riding the light rail (Hiawatha) system in Minneapolis, charter rides on the Excelsior and Como-Harriet streetcars, a cruise on the steamboat Minnehaha, riding the new Northstar Commuter Rail in Minneapolis, a lunch cruise on Lake Superior, a visit to the Duluth Depot with a ride on the North Shore Scenic RR’s Lester River line, a ride on the Wisconsin & Great Northern RR, and a visit to the fine Illinois Railroad Museum. For a contemporary experience we enjoy the scenic Amtrak EMPIRE BUILDER route along the shores of the Mississippi River from Red Wing MN to La Crosse WI.

There are two other major transportation highlights on this tour: a day-long visit to the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion in Mt. Pleasant IA, with its profusion of steam powered equipment (steam trains, threshers, cars, trucks, etc.) and its operating electric interurban railway; and a two-day cruise on the Riverboat Twilight on the Mississippi River from Le Claire to Dubuque IA and return. Stays at some historic hotels and visits to notable homes in the area add to this great tour. All aboard!

Please note: The ability to climb some stairs and walk several blocks at a time are necessary to fully enjoy this tour program.

Day One, Friday, August 27 (D) Independent arrivals into Minneapolis; Welcome Dinner. Participants can arrive in Minneapolis MN by air or Amtrak. Our Welcome Dinner is scheduled at the historic Old Milwaukee Road Depot in the downtown, which has been renovated to house two hotels, restaurants, a history center, and a water park. Our hotel for the next three nights is the beautiful Depot Minneapolis Renaissance Hotel located in the Milwaukee Road station complex.

Day Two, Saturday, August 28 (B, Brunch) Osceola & St. Croix Ry.; cruise on St. Croix River. We begin with a drive to Osceola WI, where we board the Minnesota Museum of Transportation’s Osceola and St. Croix Railway for a lunch ride down the St. Croix River Valley to the town of Marine and return. This diesel-powered line follows former Soo Line rails, crossing the beautiful St. Croix River enroute. Enroute we ride in First Class seating with an included brunch. This is followed by a very scenic river cruise viewing the glacial rock formations and potholes of the Dalles of the St. Croix River before returning to Minneapolis.

Day Three, Sunday, August 29 (B, Brunch) Hiawatha light rail; Excelsior Streetcar; steamboat Minnehaha; Como-Harriet Streetcar; James J. Hill House. This busy transportation day begins with a ride on the Hiawatha light rail system from our downtown station (about a three block walk from our hotel) to Bloomington MN. A short drive brings us to our chartered ride on the Excelsior Streetcar at the Minnesota Streetcar Museum near Lake Minnetonka. Following our ride we board the true steamboat Minnehaha for the cruise across the lake to Wayzata. This wooden boat was one of six “streetcar boats” that operated on the lake between 1906 and 1926. Four of the boats were sunk in the lake in 1926 when the streetcar business became non-profitable. The Minnehaha was raised from the lake in 1980, restored, and put into public service again in 1996. Following our cruise we have an included brunch at the lake.

We make another short drive to Como for our charter ride on the Como-Harriet streetcar before crossing the Mississippi into St. Paul and visiting the James J. Hill House, the home of the “Empire Builder”, who built the Great Northern Railroad. This opulent home includes an art gallery, stained glass and 22 fireplaces.

Day Four, Monday, August 30 (B, L) “Northstar Commuter Rail”; Vista Fleet lunch cruise; Duluth Depot and Lake Superior Railroad. We begin this morning with a departure on the sleek new double-decker cars of the “Northstar Commuter Rail” route from Minneapolis to Big Lake on the former Northern Pacific Ry mainline. Then we reboard our coach for the drive to Duluth MN. Upon arrival, we have a noon lunch cruise on Lake Superior (largest of the Great Lakes) with the Vista Fleet, viewing the busy harbor and learning the history and geology of the area.

We then visit the Duluth Depot which includes living history; the Lake Superior Railroad Museum; and Depot Square, which recreates Duluth in the early 20th century. The collection of the Railroad Museum is exceptional, ranging from a huge articulated steam engine from the “Iron Range” mine lines (arguably one of the most powerful railway engines ever built) to historic passenger cars and early diesel engines. The exhibits are displayed under the grand arch of the train-shed of Duluth’s former Union Station.

During our visit we make a round-trip on the Lester River route of the former Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range RR in a chartered Budd RDC car. This scenic line closely follows the lake as it winds northeast. Our hotel tonight is the lovely Radisson Hotel Duluth Harborview located near the Duluth Depot.

Day Five, Tuesday, August 31 (CB, L) SS Meteor Museum; Wisconsin & Great Northern Railroad. The S.S. Meteor, a former Great Lakes freighter, is the last “whaleback” ship in the world and is open for touring at our first stop today. These vessels were nicknamed “whaleback” because of their rounded hulls. The Meteor was launched in 1896 and worked on the Great Lakes until 1972. The museum also includes exhibits on shipbuilding and Great Lakes shipwrecks. We then drive south to Spooner. At noon we have a luncheon trip on the Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad, traveling round-trip from Spooner to Springbrook with lunch included. We then continue by motorcoach to lovely Red Wing MN, where we stay at the historic St. James Hotel. This 1875 Victorian property is located downtown near the Mississippi River and close to restaurants and shopping.

Day Six, Wednesday, September 1 (L) EMPIRE BUILDER; Villa Louis. This morning we ride Amtrak’s EMPIRE BUILDER from Red Wing to La Crosse WI. This trip follows the Canadian Pacific’s former Milwaukee Road route directly along the west shore of the Mississippi River for virtually the entire trip. Tall bluffs rise above the waters; and we can see the lock and dam structures that ensure navigation for large barges on the “Father of Waters”. At La Crosse we reboard our motorcoach and drive to Prairie du Chien. After an included lunch, we visit Villa Louis, the 19th century home of a wealthy family of fur traders and investors in railroads, steamboats and land. This museum presents decorative arts (including William Morris and the British Arts & Crafts movement), a fur trade museum, and gardens. We continue by motorcoach to Le Claire IA, located on the Mississippi River. We overnight at the Holiday Inn Express by the river with riverview rooms.

Day Seven, Thursday, September 2 (All) Cruise on the Riverboat Twilight. This morning we depart on the Riverboat Twilight, heading upriver to Dubuque IA. Built in 1987, the boat replicates the lavish Victorian riverboats of the 19th century. It has three decks, tall stacks, comfortable lounges and dining rooms, and is heated/air conditioned as necessary. Please note some walking and stair climbing are necessary on the vessel. All meals and snacks are included as we travel the changing face of the river: sometimes marshes, sometimes cliffs, and even “locking through” on the river. We can visit the pilot house, shop in the gift shop, or be entertained with an afternoon show. Upon arrival in Dubuque, we are transferred to the Grand Harbor Resort, located on the river. We overnight here.

Day Eight, Friday, September 3 (All) Return cruise on the Riverboat Twilight. We are at leisure until late morning, when we re-board our boat. Our hotel is walkable to the National Mississippi River Aquarium and Museum (tickets are included in our cruise fare), a wonderful attraction which depicts three centuries of life on the Mississippi. Also walkable from our hotel is the Fenelon Place Elevator, a nearly 300-foot long inclined railway which offers a panoramic view of the Mississippi from the top. In the afternoon and early evening we sail down the river, past bluffs and hills, prosperous river towns and through several locks and dams. Upon arrival in Le Claire, we are transferred back to the Holiday Inn Express, where we spend two more nights.

Day Nine, Saturday, September 4 (CB, D) Midwest Old Threshers Reunion; Farewell Dinner. From mid-morning to mid-afternoon we visit the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion, an annual event in Mt. Pleasant IA. In a sense this event is like a great “state fair”, only circa 1910, when the cutting edge of technology was powered by steam! Here can be found nearly every type of power and mechanical device imaginable. The grounds themselves can be toured by steam train (Midwest Central Railroad), an electric trolley system (Midwest Electric Railway) or in rubber tired trolleys pulled by tractor. Events include a Cavalcade of Power Parade (steam cars, tractors, threshers, early autos) and a steam engine and tractor pull, both in front of the grandstand. Steam-powered demonstrations include operating threshers and huge operating stationary steam engines of the sort that once powered great mills and factories. In addition to mechanical displays there are areas for horses, antique doll displays, fine arts and crafts for sale, saloon shows, music and a vast number of food pavilions. We depart about 4:00 p.m. and return through Davenport IA, where our Farewell Dinner is at the Machine Shed, in keeping with the theme of the day. Cuisine here features Iowa specialties such as thick-cut stuffed pork chops.

Day Ten, Sunday, September 5 (CB) Illinois Railroad Museum; tour ends. This morning we drive to Union IL and visit the wonderful Illinois Railroad Museum. This is one of America’s largest railway museums. Treasures include a fully restored Chicago, Aurora and Elgin “Electroliner” interurban streamliner (which once routinely operated at 90mph between Milwaukee and Chicago); streetcars and interurbans from throughout the Midwest; the former Burlington Route “Nebraska Zephyr” streamliner from 1938; and steam engines ranging from industrial switchers to huge mainline power. The museum has a six-mile long electrified mainline on which trains can reach realistic speeds, and we can enjoy multiple rides during our stay. Over Labor Day weekend the IRM typically offers trips on electric, steam and/or diesel trains throughout the day. In mid-afternoon we drive to O’Hare Airport for connections to flights departing after 6:00PM; then to the downtown Chicago Amtrak station to drop tour participants for trains departing after 7:00PM, at which time our tour ends. Post-tour nights can be arranged in Chicago at either the airport or in the downtown area through your travel agent or our partners at Gateway Travel.

TOUR PRICES include all rail, coach, light rail, trolley and boat fares; all hotels and admissions; meals listed as included above; tour manager services; and luggage handling. Not included are other meals, connecting travel to Minneapolis and from Chicago, and items of a personal nature such as alcoholic beverages and souvenirs.

$2449.00 per person, double occupancy

$2899.00 single occupancy

Single occupancy rooms on this tour are sold-out, but we will waitlist singles. Only 2 double occupancy rooms are still open.

Conditions and Booking Information (the fine print)

Call Toll-Free: 800-458-5394

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Last modified: June 29, 2010