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The town of Parksley in the U.S. state of Virginia, a small town on the Delmarva Peninsula is known for its Victorian architecture. The town was built around a railroad line that was extended south from Pocomoke City in the U.S. state of Maryland to Cape Charles, Virginia which sits at the southern tip of the peninsula. (The railroad line in the Virginia section of the peninsula is now abandoned.) It you visit the town, the very first thing that you will notice is the numerous rails cars that are resting in this town. This is the Eastern Shore Railway Museum which celebrates the railroad heritage of the town.
On the outside, you will see the Parksley Depot that was once used for passenger service. The depot was originally the Depot of Hopetown, Virginia that was brought to the museum and sits on the site of the original Parksley Depot. You will also see a section of the foundation of the old 1886 depot that was unearthed while clearing the land for the museum. You can stand in the same spot where passengers stood to wait for the train. The platform is made with bricks that were used at the train station in Ocean City, Maryland. You will see a dining car from the Seaboard Airline Railroad. You see an old maintenance shed and a guard house that was used before crossing gates came along. You see an old Pennsylvania Railroad Box Car, the Fairfax River, a Pullman sleeper from the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad, another sleeper car, a baggage car and two cabooses: one from the Nickle Plate Road and an old Wabash caboose. There is so much to see, and you have not even gone inside yet.
On the inside, you will see the gift shop, a small model train display, a maintenance car, a luggage carrier and artifacts from the days when regular rail service came to Parksley.
The Eastern Shore Railway Museum is located at 18468 Dunne Avenue in Parksley, Virginia, just minutes from U.S. Route 13 at the intersection of Virginia Route 176 and Virginia Route 316. Admission is free, but donations are greatly appreciated. The gift shop, model train display and inside areas are open from April to November, but the grounds are accessible all year round. A drive along Virginia’s Eastern Shore would not be complete without a visit to Parksley and to the spot that the town originated from.
The people were standing on the platform at the train station in Captiville. A man was walking by and saw all of the people standing there. Curious, he walked up to a man carrying two suitcases. “What is everyone waiting for?”
“Oh, the Train to Independence will be here soon. We will be leaving this crumby town.” The man smiled.
“Why leave? They give us goodies here.” The man inquired.
“You also can’t go anywhere or do anything here. You are stuck in your room all day and all night. In Independence, they have much to do, and you can go anywhere you want.” The man with the suitcases smiled.
The man was furious and walked away.
The train arrived, and the people boarded. The train pulled away.
Along the way, the train stopped in Bondageburg to pick up a small family, and it man another stop in Abusetown to pick up a young woman on crutches with a molten cast of her foot and scars on her face.
The U.S. state of Illinois is commonly called ‘The Land of Lincoln’ became it was this state where Abraham Lincoln’s rise to fame took place. The state is also famous for the city of Chicago, but it is also a state with much farmland and open space. West of the city of Peoria is an open space where you can watch animals roam free. Well, there are in enclosed spaces, but they are not stuck in a case. The Wildlife Prairie Park is a place where you can feel like you are on an open plain, but you really are in a wildlife park. You can ride a hay ride with benches known as Adventure Trek where you can ride through the bison and elk pasture. If that is not enough, you can even spend the night here. Ladies and gentlemen, they do not call this place a jewel of the North American Midwest for nothing. When you visit here, you will truly see how the park gets that name. If you enjoy seeing wildlife in large and natural habitats, you will enjoy a day, and a night, at Wildlife Prairie Park.
Some of you are saying, “Wow! This place sounds like it is a jewel. I love animals, and I enjoy seeing them at the zoo. There is a big problem. As you can see. This is a wildlife park. This park is about wildlife. This is not a railroad park. Therefore, I will not be paying a visit to this place.”
Well, Wildlife Prairie Park is a park that specializes in wildlife and not trains. Why visit this place? Yes, it is a jewel of a park and a place worth your time. As you enter the park, you will see why you want to visit.
As soon as you pay your admission, the very first thing that you will see is a railroad crossing.
Some of you are saying, “I have been to many places where you have to cross train tracks to get to the attraction. Many railroads run alongside of parks and historic sites.”
This is true, but if you are fortunate enough, you may be stopped by a train, it is not an ordinary train. The train is the Prairie Zephyr. You have read correctly. This is the Prairie Zephyr, and the train station is to your right. Well, one of the stations is to your right. There are three stops on this line. What are you going to do? Well, of course, you are going to ride the train.
You enter the station, and you board the train. The train leaves the station. You pass by trees and see animals along the way, and then you stop at the Pioneer Homestead. From here, you return on the same track, and you arrive back at the station. It is the end of the ride, but it is not. Remember. There are three stops, and you only have been to two of them. The passengers board and deboard, and the train continues on. You pass by the train yard and pass through a tunnel. You pass by more animals, and you arrive at a playground, and you have an opportunity to go down a big slide known as the Gollywhopper Slide. After a short stop, you return to the station, and you get off the train. By the way, your train ticket allows you to ride the train all day long.
Some of you are saying, “Well, that is it. No more trains at the wildlife park.”
Ladies and gentlemen, you are wrong. While at the main train station, you can visit the railroad museum. Yes, there is a railroad museum here. The museum has a collection of toy trains. How often do you get to visit a wildlife park that is about wildlife that has a railroad museum?
Some of you are saying, “Well, you have a point. I do not know of any wildlife park or zoo that has a railroad museum. Anyway, I guess that is all of the railroads that we will see at this park.”
Not exactly.
As mentioned. You can spend a night, or many nights, at this park. Yes. There are other wildlife parks that allow you to spend a night there, but how many wildlife parks let you spend a night… in a caboose. Yes. You have the option to spend a night in a Santa Fe Railroad Caboose.
If you think that you do not have a reason to visit Wildlife Prairie Park, you now have many. Along with the train, the railroad museum, and the cabooses, you have a variety of wildlife you see. There is also laser tag, hiking and biking trails, fishing, disc golf, kayaking, and events throughout the year.
Wildlife Prairie Park is located at 3826 N. Taylor Road in Hanna City, Illinois south of Illinois Route 8, Interstate 74, and U.S. Route 150. Although the park is open year-round (open 361 days and closed only four days of the year) from 9:00am to 4:30pm (9:00am to 6:30pm from Memorial Day to Labor Day), the Prairie Zephyr runs only at certain times of the year. Although much of the park is wheelchair accessible to include the Prairie Zephyr, there are some steep paths. You can information about admission, lodging, activities, the history of the park, to look at the map of the park, and read more into their conservation efforts at https://wildlifeprairiepark.org/.
Wildlife Prairie Park in Hanna City, Illinois is a great place to visit. When you visit, you will see why. You will see why they call this place a jewel.
A special thanks to Cody Miyler, Lelonie Luft, and Calli Dicks of Wildlife Prairie Park for the pictures of the recently painted cabooses.
Many of you have heard of the town of Strasburg in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The town, a suburb of Lancaster, is famous for the Strasburg Railroad, a short line railroad that is the oldest continuously running railroad in the United States of America. There is also a small town called Strasburg in the U.S. state of Virginia. Located about seventy-five miles west of downtown Washington D.C. in the Shenandoah Valley, it is the home of the Strasburg Museum. What is the Strasburg Museum? Well, it is a museum that tells the story of life in the region around the town to include the industries like pottery and other small town industries. If you are in the area of Strasburg, Virginia, you will want to visit the Strasburg Museum.
Some of you are saying, “This is nice. I love the Strasburg Railroad in Pennsylvania. As for Strasburg, Virginia, it is not as famous as being a railroad town as the Strasburg in Pennsylvania. Therefore, you will not see me at the museum.”
So why visit the Strasburg Museum? If you say that it is not a railroad town, you would not be telling the truth. In 1861 during the American Civil War, General Thomas ‘Stonewall’ Jackson of the Confederate Army led the charge where he and his men hijacked the rolling stock of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in West Virginia. This was known as ‘The Great Train Raid’. What does this have to do with Strasburg, Virginia? The rolling stock was transported to the location of the museum and set on railroad tracks and then sent to North Carolina to be repair and to be used by the Confederate Army.
Some of you are saying, “Now I have learned something new, but the museum is about the region around the town and not about trains.”
Ladies and gentlemen, you are wrong again.
Strasburg, Virginia was a railroad town that was served by the Southern Railway, The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and the Manassas Gap Railroad. (All of the railroads in Strasburg are under the ownership of the Norfolk Southern Railway today.) It may not be as famous as the town in Pennsylvania, but this town does have a deep history with the railroad. As you approach the Strasburg Museum, there is something that you will notice. Yes, it is next to a railroad crossing, but many places are next to a railroad crossing. The first thing you will notice is the building. What it special about the building? The building is an old pottery factory that was, in 1913, converted into a train station for the Southern Railway with freight and passenger service. You walk around the old station, you will see an old caboose and an old baggage car both from the Southern Railway.
You enter the museum through the gift shop. You then enter the main hall. You see the different displays on life in the region to include a room dedicated to pottery and an exhibit dedicated to the railroad history of Strasburg, Virginia.
Some of you are saying, “Is that all?”
The answer to that question is no. You do have the caboose and baggage car. The caboose is your typical caboose that you can walk through and climb into the cupola. Then you have the baggage car. In the baggage car is where you will find a model train display.
Some of you are saying, “Oh great. Another model train display where you see the model trains go round and round and round and round.”
Ladies and gentlemen, this is not your typical model train display. It is only operational on Saturday, and there is a timed entry. Why? If you only enjoy model trains that just go round and round and round, this is not for you. If you enjoy something completely different, get ready for an experience. You enter the baggage car, and you see the model train display set up with its buildings and other structures. You watch the trains, but then it gets dark. No. It is not a power outage. It is taking you into the display itself. The moon even comes out for the evening, but it is really afternoon.
The Strasburg Museum is designated as a National Historic Landmark. It is located at 440 East King Street (Virginia Route 55) in Strasburg, Virginia east of U.S. Route 11. It is open from May to October on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10:00am to 4:00pm. Parking is on site. Please note that the museum only accepts cash. Also, the main hall has two floors of exhibits and the upper floor is not wheelchair accessible. You can get more information on the museum and the history of Strasburg, Virginia at https://strasburgmuseum.org/.
Strasburg, Virginia may not have the Strasburg Railroad, but it does have the Strasburg Museum. It has much history on display. Make the trip.
The U.S. state of Indiana is commonly called the Crossroads of the United States of America. How does the state get the name? The three longest routes in the nation, U.S. Route 6 (known as the Grand Army of the Republic Highway), U.S. Route 20, and U.S. Route 30 (known as the Lincoln Highway named for Abraham Lincoln), pass through the state along with interstate route 70, 80, and 90. Being a crossroads state, it is not a state that many travelers put on their list of must visit states, but be advised that there are many great place to visit in this state. It is commonly known for the sport of basketball with Larry Bird being from the town of French Lick. It is also home to one of the biggest races in the world: the Indianapolis 500. In the early years of Indiana, it was mostly prairie with no mountains in the state. A way to experience life in Indiana is to make your way to Conner Prairie.
What is Conner Prairie? It is a living history museum location in the Indianapolis suburb of Fishers. When you visit Conner Prairie, you will experience life in the early days of Indiana.
Some of you are saying, “This is nice. It is great that they created a place where you could experience the early days of Indiana. There is one problem. This is not a railroad museum. Therefore, you will not be visiting this museum.”
Why visit Conner Prairie? You are right when you say that it is not a railroad museum, but that is not a reason for you not to visit.
Conner Prairie is a living history museum. What is a living history museum? It is a museum when many of the workers are dressed in period dress. What is period dress? It is when you dress in a particular period. At Conner Prairie, it is mainly the nineteenth century. As you enter, the very first thing you will notice is a hot air balloon. Well, it is a hot air balloon that looks like a balloon from 1859, and you can take a ride in this balloon for an extra fee. The museum grounds is divided into communities. You have the 1816 Lenape Indian Camp displaying how the settlers lived with the local Indian tribes. You have the 1836 Prairie Town where you can see how they lived in 1836 from the general store to the doctor to making pottery.
You have other areas in the museum, but then you come upon the 1863 Civil War Journey that tells the story of Indiana’s role in the American Civil War. It is designed after the town of Dupont, Indiana. It has a general store and a Union Army Camp that was attacked. You have a schoolhouse and a farm. Then you have the old train station. Yes, you see the old train station from Dupont with a railroad line next to it. Sadly, there is no train on the tracks, and the train station is mainly a snack shop and restrooms, but it tells the story of how the railroad played a role in Indiana’s participation in the war.
So, there you have it. You have a reason to visit Conner Prairie. Well, as you walk around, you will have many reasons to visit Conner Prairie other than seeing the train station. You will need plenty of time to visit this place, and you will be doing a lot of walking.
Connie Prairie is located at 13400 Allisonville Road in Fishers, Indiana, a northern suburb of the state capital city of Indianapolis. It is open most of the year. Parking is on site, and, although it makes you feel like its in the 1800’s, it is completely wheelchair accessible. You can get more information on admission, directions, events, on the history of Conner Prairie, and the museum’s future projects at https://www.connerprairie.org/.
As you think about the state of Indiana and basketball and the Indianapolis 500, think about Conner Prairie. You will be glad that you did.
The U.S. state of Illinois is a state known for many things. It is commonly called ‘The Land of Lincoln’ as it is the state that made Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth President of the United States of America, famous. Although he was born in the U.S. state of Kentucky and spent part of his childhood in the U.S. state of Indiana, it was in Illinois, particularly in the capital city of Springfield, where his rise to fame began, and it is where he is buried. U.S. President Ronald Reagan was also born in this state. It is famous for its largest city, Chicago, the Hub City of the continent of North America that is famous for its professional sports teams and it food like pizza and hot dogs. One of the nation’s famous routes, U.S. Route 66 began in Chicago, and you can drive this route today across the state and see some of its iconic sites. The John Deere Tractor Company is based in this state, and tractors are also designed here. Beyond the Chicago Metropolitan Area, much of this state is rural with farms, but there are also other cities like Peoria, and it is in Peoria where you will find the Wheels O’ Time Museum.
What is the Wheels O’ Time Museum? Well, the name pretty much says what the museum is about.
Some of you are saying, “Wow! The Wheels O’ Time Museum is about wheels through time. The problem is that this is not a railroad museum. Therefore, I will not be bringing my wheels to this museum.”
You are right. It is not a railroad museum, but the very first thing you will see as you arrive at this museum is Rock Island Railroad Locomotive Number 886. What is the locomotive doing? It is pulling a train that consists of a combine car number 2617 from the Milwaukee Road, a caboose from the Toledo, Peoria and Western Railroad, and two Pullman Cars.
In case you are wondering, there is more to see as far as the railroad fan is concerned.
The Wheels O’ Time Museum is a museum about wheels mainly from the twentieth century. It is housed in five structures. The first building is a building with a very specific name. What is the building’s name? It is called the Main Building. The first thing you see in the Main Building is the gift shop. It is a small gift shop, but it is here where you pay your admission. Then you enter the main hall. It is here on the first floor where you will see many classic cars. Hence the name ‘Wheels O’ Time Museum’. With all of these classic cars on display, this is just a small part of the museum. Yes, it is just a small part of the museum.
As you see the classic cars, the first floor also have different display rooms. One of them is called ‘Rivers and Rails of Peoria’. In this room, you will see the history of the railroad and the riverboats of the region. A model of Locomotive Number 80 from the Toledo, Peoria and Western Railroad is on display.
Is that all as far as the Main Building? No. There are more rooms on the upper level. One of the rooms has two model train displays. There is also a mural featuring a steam train and a race car.
The next building is ‘The Firehouse’. It is built to look like an old firehouse. What is the main feature of the Firehouse? It has two fire trucks and more classic cars. It has classic bikes, a replica of the ‘Spirit of St. Louis’, the first plane to fly across the Atlantic Ocean, and a replica of a local Peoria radio station. It also has model trains, railroad dishes, and other railroad memorabilia encased in glass.
Then you have the ‘Generations Building’. It is the newest building on the property, and the name comes from the World War II generation which is commonly called ‘The Greatest Generation’. It features tractors, jeeps, and a U.S. Air Force plane from that era, but it also features two model train displays. The display on the lower level shows a train at a construction site. The upper level has a LEGO train display.
Then you have the Farm Building. Yes, it features farm equipment, but it also features railroad maintenance equipment to include a hand car.
The other structures at the museum is the Ford Building which displays cars from the Ford Motor Company and the LeTourneau Steel House, a small single family home.
The Wheels O’ Time Museum is located at 1710 W. Woodside Drive in Dunlap, Illinois just off of Illinois Route 40 north of Peoria. It is open from May to October from Wednesday to Sunday from 12:00pm to 5:00pm Central Standard Time. Parking is on site, and most of the museum is wheelchair accessible. You can learn more about the museum to include admission and to lean about the displays at https://wheelsotime.org/.
The state of Illinois is much more that Chicago and Abraham Lincoln and John Deere. It is the home of the Wheels O’ Time Museum. When you arrive, it may take you back in time.
What is the Age of Steam Roundhouse? In the early years of railroading, roundhouses were needed to service the steam locomotives. From the first roundhouse in Baltimore in the U.S. state of Maryland, now the home of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum, to roundhouses across the United States of America, they were a very essential part of the movement of the railroad. When the steam locomotives which had to be serviced after one hundred miles of operation were replaced by the diesel locomotives that could run hundreds of miles of operation before they needed maintenance, the railroad roundhouse became obsolete. Although most of the old roundhouses were preserved like the Mount Clare Roundhouse in Baltimore, many were demolished. With many of these roundhouses in small towns, the closure of the roundhouses meant fewer jobs in the small town causing many small towns to decline. The era of the railroad roundhouse was no more.
With the railroad roundhouse obsolete, there will be no need to build a roundhouse ever again. A man named Jerry Joe Jacobson did not think so. Who is Jerry Joe Jacobson?
Originally from Lancaster in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, a city famous for the Amish lifestyle and is home to the famous Strasburg Railroad, the oldest continuously operating railroad in the United States of America, Jerry Joe Jacobson made his way to the U.S. state of Ohio where his work on the railroad began with passenger excursions in the area around the small town of Sugarcreek. It was here where he built a roundhouse.
Some of you are saying, “Wow! He built a roundhouse, and that roundhouse is just a museum that just collects rolling stock, and people go and see the locomotives and old passenger and freight cars.”
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Age of Steam Roundhouse. Jerry Joe Jacobson founded the Age of Steam Roundhouse with a collection of steam locomotives. Yes, it is a museum, but it is also an actual working roundhouse. As mentioned, it is an actual working roundhouse. Yes, locomotives and rolling stock are serviced here. During your visit, you may be fortunate to see restoration of a locomotive or freight car.
There are many railroad museums across the nation. Some of these railroad museums are housed in old roundhouses. What makes the Age of Steam Roundhouse special is that it is a newly built roundhouse with vintage steam locomotives from different railroads as well as diesel locomotives, old passenger cars, freight cars, and cabooses. The founder, Jerry Joe Jacobson, passed away in 2017, and he is entombed in a mausoleum just a short walk from the roundhouse.
The Age of Steam Roundhouse is located at 213 Smokey Lane Road SW south of the town of Sugarcreek, Ohio off of Ohio State Route 93. Different guided tours are offered on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from April into November with events throughout the year. (Please note that due to safety reasons and the fact that this is a working facility, all tours are conducted by a tour guide. Self-guided tours are strictly prohibited.) Parking is on site, and the facility is wheelchair accessible. You can get more information on tours (there are different tours offered), admission, events, read more into the life of Jerry Joe Jacobson and into the Jerry and Laura Jacobson Foundation, Inc. at https://ageofsteamroundhouse.org/.
It is called the Age of Steam Roundhouse to remind everyone of the era of steam railroading and the steam locomotive. As you are taken on the tour, you will be taken back in time.
The small town of Prince in the U.S. state of West Virginia is a small town in the southern region of the state on the New River inside the New River Gorge. This small town owes its existence to the coal industry and a passenger train station that was built by the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, and it remains an active train station today with service from Amtrak. As you drive through the town on West Virginia Route 41, you come upon the U.S. Army PV2 Harold Richard Plumley Memorial Bridge crossing over what is now the CSX railroad line. Many of you are wondering who Harold Richard Plumley is, and you are wondering what is special about him that they would name a bridge after him.
Harold Richard Plumley was born on March 22, 1934, in the town of Prince, West Virginia. As a child and a young man, he spent much of his time around the railroad. On his way to school, he would walk through the Strecherneck Tunnel, a railroad tunnel built by the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, and it is still in use by the CSX Railroad today. He later became an employee of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway working around the New River Gorge. In 1952, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He would depart the town of Prince by train from the old train station. Sadly, it was the last time his friends and family would see him… alive.
Harold Richard Plumley fought in the Korean War, and he fought in the Battle of Outpost Harry where he was killed in battle on June 11, 1953. His remains was brought by train to the same train station that he departed from when he went to war.
Years later, efforts were organized to have the bridge named in honor of Harold Richard Plumley. A bill to have the bridge named for Plumley was erected in Charleston, the state capitol of West Virginia, by a delegate named William Ridenour. The bill passed unanimously in both the State House and the State Senate.
On Thursday, October 25, 2023, a ceremony was held in the town of Prince, West Virginia. The United States Army Private Harold Richard Plumley Memorial Bridge was dedicated. In attendance was William Ridenour, a representative of West Virginia Senator Joseph Manchin, Harold Plumley’s brother and two sisters, reporters from two local television stations, and members of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Historical Society.
The U.S. Army PV2 Harold Richard Plumley Memorial Bridge is located on West Virginia Route 41 in Prince, West Virginia on the west side of the town crossing the CSX rail line. It is eight miles northeast of Beckley and U.S. Route 19 and Interstates 64 and 77, and twelve miles south of U.S. Route 60 and Babcock State Park. (It is the home of the world famous Glade Grist Mill.) Other than an automobile, the only other way the town can be accessed is by Amtrak. Please note that there is no parking at the bridge itself.
Many of us wish each other a Happy Memorial Day, but to those who lost their friends and family who were serving in the United States Armed Forces, it is not a happy day as they spend the rest of their lives without them by their side. Let us spend this day remembering those men and women who sacrificed their lives so that we could live ours. Harold Richard Plumley was among those who gave his life for his country. May we forever be grateful for his service.
Please note that the photograph of Private Harold Richard Plumley is courtesy of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Historical Society who owns the copyright and has granted permission to use this photo for the article.
Harrisburg, the capital city of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, is not known a city that is on many lists of cities to visit, but it should be. One of the city’s famous suburbs is Hershey which is known as the Chocolate Capital of the World and is where the Hershey Chocolate Company was founded by Milton Hershey, and the company is still headquartered there today. What about the city itself? Of course, the State Capitol is here, but it also has great museums like the National Civil War Museum and the Pennsylvania Fire Museum. The downtown area rests along the Susquehanna River, the longest unnavigable river in the United States of America with its beginnings in the U.S. state of New York passing through the east central region of Pennsylvania past Harrisburg before it continues into the U.S. state of Maryland and into the Chesapeake Bay. South of the city, there are four dams which forms the scenery around Harrisburg today. One of the things formed by the four dams is City Island located in the middle of the river. What is special about City Island? Well, it is a playground for the city, and the Harrisburg Senators, a professional minor league baseball team affiliated with the Washington Nationals, have their stadium here. If you visit Harrisburg, you will be totally amazed with a visit to City Island.
Some of you are saying, “This is wonderful. I love chocolate. The city of Harrisburg is probably a great city. As for City Island, it is just an island in the river that is just another tourist destination. Therefore, I will not bother visiting this island.”
What is special about City Island in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania?
When you arrive in the city of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, particularly if you arrived crossing the Susquehanna River, the very first thing you will notice is that many railroads pass through here. The electrified section of Amtrak has a terminus here. There are many railroad arch bridges across the river, and the famous Rockville Bridge, located in the suburb of Rockville, is just north of the downtown area.
This brings us to City Island. What is special about City Island? As mentioned, the baseball stadium home of the Harrisburg Senators is on the island. The Walnut Street Bridge, an old steel truss street bridge that is now a pedestrian bridge, connects people with downtown and the western suburbs. It is the home of the ‘Pride of the Susquehanna’, a riverboat that is a pleasure to ride as you get great views of the river as well as the downtown region. It has a miniature golf course, a carousel, and it is the home of the Harrisburg Beach Club. As you enter City Island, there is an important crossing you must make. What is that crossing? The first thing you will see is the City Island Railroad.
City Island is walkable for most people and is mostly wheelchair accessible, but the City Island Railroad is a great way to see the island. It is a miniature train pulled by a replica of an American Civil War era steam locomotive. A ride on the train takes you around the stadium. It takes you past the miniature golf course and beach club. You pass by the dock of the Pride of Susquehanna. Most important, you get great views of the river during your entire ride.
The City Island Railroad begins at the Walnut Street Station which is a short walk from the parking lot and Walnut Street Bridge. If you visit City Island, it will be a great compliment to your visit.
The City Island Railroad runs mainly in the summer months. It is located on City Island which is accessible from the Market Street Bridge which crosses the river between downtown and the western side of the river. Admission is required to ride the train. There is parking available. It is mainly free, but you may pay for parking during stadium events.
The city of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania has many great places to see. The City Island Railroad is worth your visit. You will be glad you did.
The city of Savannah in the U.S. state of Georgia is a city that has much history. Fort Jackson, located on the Savannah River east of the historic downtown area is a big part of that history. It was the second defense from an attack from the Savannah River after Fort Pulaski, and the fort played a role in the War of 1812. The fort is named after, of course, James Jackson, a British born officer who served in the American Revolutionary war and was later the governor of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the oldest standing brick fort in the state of Georgia and one of the oldest on the East Coast of the United States. If you are ever visiting Savannah, you will want to make some time to visit this National Historic Landmark.
Now some of you are saying, “You know. I am amazed to hear about Fort Jackson. You see the history of the fort as a fortification for battle, and I see how it helped defend the ships going in and out of Savannah, but I am wondering where the railroads are at this fort.”
Fort Jackson was a fort built to defend Savannah from a sea attack. It has much history as a fort itself, but you will not find any railroad history here at all. In matter of fact, the fort itself has no history with the railroad at all.
Why visit Fort James Jackson if it has no history with the railroad? You will see the answer to the question as soon as you arrive.
The first thing you will see when you arrive at Fort Jackson is the Visitor Center. What is so special about the Visitor Center? Many historic sites have visitor centers that show the history of the particular site. What is special about the Fort Jackson Visitor Center? The answer is that before it was the Fort Jackson Visitor Center, the structure was called the Tybee Depot. Yes, it was located in downtown Savannah. (This train depot was separate from the main train station that is now the Savannah Visitor Center.) The Central of Georgia Railroad ran passenger trains from downtown Savannah to Tybee Island, an island on the Atlantic Ocean that was a resort town. When the railroad no longer served Tybee Island, the depot was preserved and eventually brought to Fort Jackson to become the visitor center.
You now have a reason to visit Fort Jackson. Once you see the visitor center, you will want to see the fort as well. The fort is located at 1 Fort Jackson Road just minutes from the historic district. It is a place worth seeing.
John Cowgill: Stories of the Railroad 