Press release from the 2011 Train Festival organizers:
Steam Locomotive to make 5000 mile round trip to Train Festival 2011
(November 30, 2010) – July 2011, Rock Island, Il will host America’s Largest Celebration of Railroading in 2011. It is only fitting that one of the largest operating steam locomotives in the world is scheduled to attend Train Festival 2011. The 425 ton steel monster, Santa Fe steam locomotive no. 3751, is planning to make the nearly 5000 mile round trip from Los Angeles to Rock Island, Il.
Train Festival 2011 organizers in partnership with Amtrak, BNSF Railway, California Zephyr Railcar Charters and the San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society are planning to bring the no. 3751 back to the Midwest. The no. 3751, built in 1927, visited Chicago in 1992, it has not made a long trip of this nature since then. This will be the first time tickets will be available for purchase to ride behind the locomotive in the Midwest.
The no. 3751 steam locomotive is scheduled to pull an upscale excursion made up of privately owned first class passenger cars from the Los Angeles area to Rock Island. An excursion will be operated on Friday July 22, 2011 from Rock Island to Bureau, Il and return as part of the festival. Tickets are on sale on the Train Festival 2011 website for this excursion. [www.trainfestival2011.com] Santa Fe steam locomotive no. 3751 will spend the remaining time on display at Train Festival 2011 in downtown Rock Island, Il. After the event, the no. 3751 will operate an excursion back to Los Angeles. Details for tickets on the excursions to and from Los Angeles will be announced soon. Check the Train Festival 2011 website for more details.
This addition of Santa Fe steam locomotive is just one of as many as 8 steam locomotives to attend Train Festival 2011 as well as many vintage diesel locomotives. Train Festival 2011 will also include train excursions, riverboat cruises, model trains, a miniature railroad, train merchandise and much more.
**This trip is subject final approval from BNSF