My turn--where is it?

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

People who know me will know the answer to this one right away. We’re looking for a city.

There were two “steam” railroads in town, now reduced to one that recently changed hands–for the better, I’ve been told.

Both of the railroads had the city’s name in their title at one time–in fact the city’s name was the entire name of one of them for a brief time.

One railroad ran north and south, the other ran east and west–but when it came to the “west” part, there was a bit of unusual help.

The town is now home to a display steam locomotive that is a bit bigger than anything that was ever operated into the city.

Five clues here–that should take you about five minutes, Dale!

2

[;)][;)][;)]…[tup]

3

Eola, Illinois?

4

After reading the clues I got Monon stuck in my head, and I can’t get it out.

-“Clueless north of Seattle”

5

Need a couple more hints?

I mentioned “steam” railroads. This place was also served by an interurban line, which also had the city’s name as part of its own.

During the Depression, the interurban disappeared, and the route to the west floated elsewhere. By this time the city’s name was long gone from the titles of both railroads.

Since the two people I espected to get it haven’t, I’ll fully explain these hints after somebody does. Mookie may know. A hint involving her or her relatives might give it away.

6

Union, Illinois?

7

No–the interurban through Union was the Elgin & Belvidere. One of the two steam railroads was anchored some distance northeast of Union, though. Actually, they both were.

8

Madison, Wi?

Had Milwaukee in my head but its a little hard to go east of there on a rail line.[4:-)]

9

Was this “City” featured on a Discovery or History Channel special not long ago??[swg]

//edit// or should I have said a special about “something” that came to that “City”
basically every day??

10

Galena Ill ?

11

Mutt, you may be on the right track.

Senshi, you’re warmer than you realize–don’t let that thought “slip” away.

12

Lake Geneva?

13

Carl, is the city, by chance, where you lived and grew up?[%-)]

14

Green Bay, WI

Mark

15

I would like to say Green Bay, but this rules it out, doesn’t it ? Green Bay had three “steam” railroads, the C&NW, CMSP&P and the GB&W. Hasn’t service gone downward under CN, as opposed to WC ?

16

Well, I do know one place it’s not…in Philadelphia, PA. As a matter of fact I don’t think it’s on the eastern side at all. lol [:D]

So, I’m going to guess here and narrow it down to the Midwest somewhere…around um…Missori or Illinois???

17

Afternoon Sarah,

It must be in Wisconsin, near one of the Lake Michigan ports that had rail ferries to Michigan.

18

I believe this quote from the original post…

“The town is now home to a display steam locomotive that is a bit bigger than anything that was ever operated into the city.”

…refers to UP 4017 (a Big Boy) on display at the National Railroad Museum.

Mark

19

I had thought Green Bay too at first, but as far as I know these was only one railroad that had Green Bay in it’s name, and that was the GBW. Unless I guess if you were to count the Kewaunee, Green Bay and Western, although that was absorbed by the GBW. As Dale mentioned, the city also had more than just two Steam Railroads. The MILW, CNW, and the GBW, and I belive the KGBW had steam at one point too (although not positive on that).

Noah

20

All we need now is the name. [sigh] Sarah, you should have gotten this.