UPDATE 2:30PM MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2016

Galesburg Zephyr Trip Annulled

W. Otter, president of the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, has announced that the June 25-26 jaunts of the GALESBURG ZEPHYR have been cancelled.

The commute from Union Station in Chicago to Galesburg had been planned in conjunction with the Galesburg Railroad Days, and the trip would have taken the train through Kane County.

“Our operations have experienced a tremendous amount of success throughout the years, but ticket sales for the GALESBURG ZEPHYR have been less than satisfactory. While interest in these trips has been meaningful, we’ve made the difficult decision to cancel our excursions on June 25 and 26,” Otter said.

Starting immediately and continuing throughout the next few days, the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society will be refunding ticket purchases as per its refund policy and offering all customers a 10 percent discount on an equivalent ticket for any future excursion sponsored by the organization. Customers will be able to use their unique order number to redeem this discount. Customers should start to see the refunds reflected in their account by Wednesday of this week.

“We have enjoyed over 44 years of success because we have committed ourselves to providing outstanding experiences for the general public and by treating the operation of the steam locomotive No. 765 like the business that it is,” Otter said. “Operations like these take months – if not years – of planning and logistical work.  The cost of providing these excursions is significant.

“The decision to cancel these trips in no way reflects the cooperation, interest or willingness of our various partners, who we look forward to working with again. It reflects wholly our desire to protect the financial future of our organization and the longevity of steam locomotive No. 765.”

Otter said he’s confident that with additional lead time and unique promotional opportunities, the train excursion will return to the Chicago area and “thrill thousands more with the sights and sounds of the 765 and our historic train.”

ORIGINAL ARTICLE POSTED 8AM THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2016

For the first time in more than a decade, a steam-powered passenger excursion will depart downtown Chicago Union Station on June 25 and 26 — and travel through Kane County along the way.

Nickel Plate Road steam locomotive No. 765 will operate The Galesburg Zephyr between Union Station and Galesburg, IL, for the Galesburg Railroad Days. These all-day, round-trip excursions will feature vintage passenger cars from the 1940s and ’50s and include accommodations in standard coach, deluxe coach, and first class and dome car. Passengers will enjoy a three-hour layover at the festival.

• Tickets can be ordered online or by calling 888-718-4253.
• Additional information and frequently asked questions can be read at fortwaynerailroad.org/faq.
• Information and a schedule of events and attractions for the Galesburg Railroad Days can be read at galesburgrailroaddays.org.

The Galesburg Zephyr, a 16-car excursion train, is a nod to the fleets of passenger trains that the Burlington Route operated “EVERYWHERE WEST” starting in the 1930s. The Burlington Route was an early innovator in diesel locomotives, stainless steel passenger cars and the development of the dome car with superior visibility. The train will carry two vintage dome cars from the 1950s.

In order to accommodate passengers in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs, an additional passenger stop will also be made both days at the Amtrak station in Naperville. The trips are being operated in concert with Amtrak and BNSF — a first for the railroad historical society. There will be an Amtrak diesel locomotive on the train, primarily to generate electricity for the lighting and air conditioning on the passenger cars.

“These trips represent our first partnership with Amtrak and BNSF to bring the magic of the 765 to thousands of people,” said Bill Otter, president of the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society. “Passengers aboard this trip will be the first to experience the 765 at high-speed in many years.”

Owned and operated by the FWRHS, no. 765 has operated passenger excursions and public exhibitions throughout the Midwest since 1979. The locomotive and train attract passengers from around the world for numerous sell-out excursions throughout the year. No. 765 was originally built in 1944, restored in 1979 and completely rebuilt in 2005 and is maintained by an all-volunteer crew.

SOURCE: Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society