This morning I read an article in the Chicago Tribune about the proposed building of a Railroad Hall of Fame In Galesburg, IL. While I could not seem to cut and past the article from the Tribune I did manage to do so from a recent (March 17) article from the local Galesburg newspaper. I certainly hope this project ends up being built. I would also like to see a Rochelle type railroad park built at the same time. This would attract even more of us railfans. Jim
[b]FROM THE GALESBURG NEWSPAPER:
Other than the effort that brought the railroad to Galesburg more than 150 years old, there has not been a more ambitious, potentially community-changing idea than the proposed National Railroad Hall of Fame project that is described in today’s edition of The Register-Mail.
Today the community gets its first glimpse of a dream - the construction of a world-class museum right here in Galesburg. The proposed National Railroad Hall of Fame has the potential to draw tens - maybe hundreds - of thousands of visitors a year from all across the country. It could change Galesburg forever, just like “Reindeer,” the first locomotive to come through town, did in 1854.
More than 12 years ago, a group of businessmen came up with a list of ideas to help the community. The railroad hall of fame was one of those ideas and a non-profit organization was formed.
Bob Bondi, who owns the Bondi Building on Main Street, became the organization’s chairman and almost single-handedly kept the project alive. He lobbied Congress for nearly 10 years in an effort to get resolutions designating Galesburg as the “official site” for a national shrine to the people who made railroads a vital part of our heritage and economy.
The designation finally came in April 2004. The Congressional resolutions meant the local group had to figure out what it wanted the hall of fame to be. How big should it dream?
I think it could be great. There are plenty of reasons for railfans to go to Galesburg even when it isn’t Railroad Days but this could add extra incentive. My only reservations are 1) $60 million seems like a heck of a lot of money, especially when the locomotive and rolling stock exhibits at the railroad museum near the Galesburg Depot really do need to be under cover and be restored somewhat; it would be nice to use this funding to do something about that 2) the location is rather far from any trains – the nearest tracks are BNSF in fact. It would be near the highway but I am not sure that is so important – the whole idea is to get people to shop and eat and stay overnight presumably. Actually the proposed location is pretty close to the border with East Galesburg. 3) I am still a bit uncertain about who is going to be honored in this hall of fame. A bunch of New York bankers who put up the money for all these railroads? Yawn.
Anyway, here is hoping it is something really great!
Dave Nelson
I wonder what makes Galesburg the chosen place ? Of all the famous railroad places i am thinking of places like Altoona etc. I never thought of Galesburg as having an impact on railroading. As for the famous railroaders , most of us are just doing our jobs , quietly and without fanfare, how many nominees can we think of here (short of the financiers ) that qualify as famous railroaders ( remember that Kate Shelly was not a railroad employeee)?
And how many more suitable places are there for such a shrine? Perhaps the railroad capital , Chicago. Or perhaps a better place would be near Honesdale Pa. where one of the first locomotives on the continent first made smoke.
Perhaps we should also include infamous railroaders, there certainly are many more of them !
Randy
When I think of museums, I think of places where old locomotive are resotred by hand then out on display, not where you PAY someone else to do it all for you! Just wont be the same.
Regardless - Most RR museums have a local/regional railroad theme, even if they do have stuff from other areas/roads. A good, generic, historical site would be nice - offer a decent history timeline, and representative items.
Perhaps the Hall of Fame should include things instead of just people - many items that originated or were adopted by the railroads changed life (standard time, telegraph) - this would be a chance to present their history, in a railroad context. As for some of the infamous people that Randy mentioned, maybe this is an opportunity to tell the story straight - sans legend, romance (of the rails), etc. I’m not suggesting a scene showing a brutally murdered hobo, f’rinstance, but something can be presented that makes them less of a romantic legend.
Maybe the museum could include a hall of shame! Plenty of robber barons and “taggers” to fill those corridors!
Well Randy it was in Galesburg where an unnamed engineer told the founders of Knox college to " Go to hell I have a train to run" When they tried to keep him running on sunday!
The hall of fame is run with the Galesburg RR Museum (or will be) and a lot of old heads are in on this. Supposedly this is going to be for all railroaders ( Someone can nominate you or a loved one and your in like Flynn) But until it happens its just going to be a pipe dream. People in Galesburg want jobs not just historical places that draw tourists.
An instructor I had in college spoke to this very well - when people talk of creating jobs, what they mean is generally “industry with smokestacks.” Tourism isn’t thought of as creating jobs.
A rail-oriented attraction isn’t Disneyland, in terms of the crowds will draw, but it is still a job generator. That’s why so many places are building facilities to cater to railfans (Rochelle, Folkston, etc). They see the opportunity to bring in people who will shop, eat, and sleep in their communities. And all of those things create jobs.