(cheering and applause).
- "How Great Thou Art," one of m
y favorite hymns
and such a great part of this
performance.
- So much so that I have to re
mind you
that I love Sandi Patty, I love
Kristin Chenoweth,
and the two of them together,
well, that's just music and he
aven for me. [laughs]
- What an incredible end to an incr
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I'm Chelsea-Lyn Rudder here wit
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event
at the United Methodist Church
in Washington, D.C.,
with "How Great Thou Art: A Sa
cred Celebration."
Enjoy new performances of class
ic hymns
and choral music performed by P
atti LaBelle,
Kristin Chenoweth, Sandi Patty
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hestra.
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S station
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and Kristin Chenoweth's album,
"The Art of Elegance."
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- [Announcer] Join us for the
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Experience classical choral s
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and hymns brought to life with
the American Pops Orchestra
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Any amount is welcomed and appr
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We thank you so much for your s
upport.
- We certainly do.
- [Announcer] Thank you for jo
ining us
for this star-studded concert
event
at the United Methodist Church
in Washington, D.C.,
with "How Great Thou Art: A Sa
cred Celebration."
Enjoy new performances of class
ic hymns
and choral music performed by P
atti LaBelle,
Kristin Chenoweth, Sandi Patty
and others,
featuring the American Pops Orc
hestra.
It's your investment in this PB
S station
that brings incredible performa
nces like this
into your home.
When you make a sustaining cont
ribution of $6 a month
or an annual contribution of
$72,
we'll say thanks with the CD o
f this amazing concert
you're watching right now,
plus exciting bonus tracks not
included
in the broadcast version.
Or when you become a $10 monthl
y sustainer
or make your annual gift of $1
20,
we'll say thanks with two amazi
ng CDs,
the landmark album, "Bel Homma
ge"
by the legendary Patti LaBelle
and Kristin Chenoweth's album,
"The Art of Elegance."
Or when you make a sustaining
contribution of $15 a month
or an annual contribution of $1
80,
we'll say thanks
with the "How Great Thou Art:
A Sacred Celebration" concert
on CD and an exclusive retro PB
S Bluetooth speaker.
Support musical experiences on
this PBS station
by reaching out to the number o
n your screen
or visiting us online to give
right now.
Thank you.
) ♪ CHOIR: Amen.
♪ Amen.
♪ Ah-ah-ah-ah, men.
♪ (chorus vocalizing)
♪ Amen.
NARRATOR: Support for this prog
ram is provided by,
Adrienne Arsht,
The Dwight D. Opperman Foundati
on,
Virginia McGehee Friend,
David M. Rubenstein,
Christine Schwarzman.
This program was made possible in
part by
contributions to your PBS station
from viewers
like you, thank you.
) ♪
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ator: Join the growing family of su
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) [ Train whistle blows ]
♪♪
-♪ Get on board ♪
♪ We're ready to go
♪
♪ See the world
from the scenic railroad ♪
♪ From the snowcapped
mountains to the sunny coast ♪
♪
♪ On the "Great Sceni
c Railway Journeys" ♪
♪♪
-Greetings. I'm Robert Van C
amp, creator and producer
of the "Great Scenic
Railway Journeys" series.
For the last 30 years,
I've been riding the rails
and taking you on some a
mazing adventures across North Am
erica
and as far away
as New Zealand and Australia.
Today I'm here at
one of the oldest
and most historic railro
ads in North America,
the East Broad Top.
They are just one of
many railway adventures
we'll take you on
on our upcoming 30th
anniversary special.
-We begin our annive
rsary special
traveling on the pride
of Canada -- VIA Rail.
We will venture through
the majestic Canadian Rockies
and experience al
l the luxury and services
this cross-country trip
offers.
Then we'll head to
the foothills of Pennsylvania
and visit the historic
East Broad Top Railroad
for a taste of A
merica's industrial past.
Here, we'll show you
all the wonders
of this national histori
c site,
which is a living time c
apsule and a true American treasu
re.
From there, we'r
e right around the corner
from another historic
Pennsylvania railroad --
the Reading and
Blue Mountain Northern.
We'll depart from th
e historic Jim Thorpe Depot
for a journey th
rough the beautiful
Lehigh Gorge State Park.
Next, we'll head to the m
agnificent woods
of North Wisconsin.
You'll experience the va
riety of excursions
the Wisconsin Great Nort
hern offers,
including their famed ov
ernight bed-and-breakfast train.
Our next stop features
some breathtaking ocean views
as we venture to the
Pacific Northwest
and take a steam journey
on the Oregon Coast
Scenic Railroad.
We'll also visit the Till
amook Air Museum
and see its collection
of military and other aircraft
housed in the largest wo
oden blimp hangar of its kind.
Then, an up-close look
at the American bald eagle,
along with a true
culinary feast
awaits in West Virginia.
We'll travel alon
g the South Branch
of the Potomac River
and see all the wonders
the Potomac Eagle Sc
enic Railroad offers.
The mountains of Maryland
is home to the
largest steam engine operating
in the East Coast.
We'll join the Western M
aryland Scenic Railroad
on a round-trip journey
from Cumberland to Frostburg,
pulled by the "Be
ast of the East,"
Locomotive 1309.
From Maryland, we hea
d to Santa Fe, New Mexico,
to journey on one of
the newest railway ventures
in the United States --
Sky Railway.
It offers entertaining t
rips full of adventure
and stunning scenery
as you pass through the
magical "Land of Enchantment."
We end our railway adven
tures
in the beautiful Rock
y Mountains of Colorado.
First stop, the Royal
Gorge Route Railroad.
They provide a five-star ser
vice and legendary scenery
as you travel through
the stunning beauty
of this natural wonder.
From there, we head to D
enver to board the Rocky Mountai
neer
for a two-day trip
to Moab, Utah.
It's a journey filled
with top-level service and food,
along with some
of the most picturesque views
of the Rockies and Red R
ocks.
All this and more as
we celebrate
some of North America's
best railway adventures
on our 30th anniversary spec
ial.
The Streamliner Era trai
ns of the 1950s
and '60s have long disap
peared
from the North American
landscape, except for this one.
And we're about to t
ake you on it
on a journey clea
r across Canada.
-Welcome aboard, Mr. Van
Camp. -Thank you.
[ Train whistle blows ]
-Welcome, everyone.
We are on Train Number One,
the legendaryCanadi
an, almost 5,000 kilometers.
[ Cheers and applause ]
-You need a train, of co
urse, to experience railroad mag
ic.
But the real trick
is to put yourself
on the grandest stage po
ssible.
Look no further than Can
ada.
-Canada is such a vast c
ountry, and there's so much to s
ee,
and this is an easy way
to do it.
-Easy, thanks to VIA Rai
l, Canada's national railroad.
Hop aboard, and you can
go from the Atlantic
to the Pacific,
across the plains,
through the Rockies,
from sunrise to sunset
on a narrow ribbon of ra
il
through some of the most
majestic scenery in the world.
-I think it's wonderful
to go through Ontario
and see the wilderness
and wake up on the prair
ies the next morning,
and then this morning, w
ake up to see the mountains.
It's just awesome.
-Just how incredible
is this trip?
Well, first of all,
you're traveling
through the second-large
st country in the world
on board the pride of Ca
nada.
-The train that we're on,
The Canadian,
is an iconic train.
It's one of the iconic
train trips around the world.
-The train is so famous,
it's been featured
on Canada's $10 note,
which instills a sense
of national pride here.
-As a Canadian,
I'm really proud of this train
because it shows the bea
utiful history of our country
and the potential of
our country
to continue to go to
these remote places,
reach out and share this cou
ntry with other people.
-Well, I boarded in Toro
nto, my hometown.
And I have to say,
I had a moment
of emotional pride when
I saw the name on the train,
The Canadian.
-People come from around
the world to rideThe Canadian.
It's a stainless-steel
time capsule that encloses you
in a world of beauty,
history, and imagination.
-This is the most fantas
tic ride on the continent.
The train itself is beau
tiful,
and the views outside
are incomparable.
Every time you look o
ut the window,
there's another marvel
to explore.
You go on journeys in yo
ur mind
while you're on a journey
on the train.
You imagine what it was
like hundreds of years ago
crossing the country.
-VIA Rail offers packages
and services
that can keep you on thi
s train for up to 12 days,
and to help keep
you comfortable,
they have many sleeping
options for you to choose from.
There's four types of
living accommodations
on this train in
the touring class.
So you have a lower
and upper berth,
which is semiprivate for
one.
Then we have a private b
edroom for one, which we refer to
as a roomette, wh
ich has your own bathroom
and your own sink and a
bed that comes out
from either the ceiling
or the wall.
Then we have bedrooms fo
r two.
Has an adjoining room next t
o it with a movable wall.
And if you take that wal
l down,
it becomes a suite
for two or for four.
Or you can have four
people in it
and in the daytime,
just leave the wall open,
put the beds away, and y
ou have four large chairs to sit
in,
and you have two private
windows to watch the journey.
-I'll tell you, this
trip has been unbelievable.
But my favorite class of ser
vice by far is the Prestige servi
ce.
This is what folks come
for.
It is completely sold out
years in advance.
And there's a reason why.
-The Prestige service,
which is really our
luxury brand,
which is the full bedroom
for two with a private shower,
private bathroom, an
d a full double bed,
which comes out as a Mur
phy bed out of the wall
with a very, very large
picture window in front of it.
Prestige not only has bi
gger rooms, private shower,
private bathroom, an
d all the other amenities --
It also has appetizers
that are served.
There's a concierge serv
ice with Prestige as well.
The food is better,
the alcohol is included,
and it's just an ove
rall luxury-brand product.
-I'm just proud about,
you know,
trying to provide ex
cellent customer service
to the passengers.
I feel like they des
erve excellent --
You know, it's a tri
p in the lifetime
for a lot of these peopl
e, so you just want to make sure
that they enjoy it
and have a great time.
-And Jake has lots of he
lp,
with a brigade of
talented co-workers
that ensure passengers
experience the very best
this trip has to offer.
-Bon voyage, tout le mon
de!
Have a wonderful trip
on Train Number One. Cheers.
-Cheers. -Cheers.
-We have today 26 crew m
embers.
And we have porters
making the beds,
taking care of t
he accommodations.
We have chefs and cooks
cooking all the meals --
breakfast, lunch, dinner.
And then we have two acti
vity coordinators
making sure we catch
all the highlights of each trip.
So we have to make it
the best trip for them.
-The staff make the trip,
really.
I mean, we always say,
you know,
we're selling the scener
y, which we don't own,
we're selling the journe
y, and we're selling the experien
ce."
And the staff is what
makes the experience.
If it's a trip of a life
time,
the last thing you want
is to have poor service.
And we thrive on great s
ervice,
and that's what keeps
bringing people back.
-And we have our maple c
hicken
with rosemary and thyme
under the skin.
-Another element that se
ts this journey apart
is the culinary feast
it provides.
-The food is amazing.
It's delicious.
It's -- There are lots of
options -- vegetarian, meat.
So you can choose, like,
what is best for your diet.
It's great. -The
taste of the food,
the presentation have all
been excellent.
The staff has made it
as if it's my home,
and they've welcomed me,
and it's just great.
It's the best food
I've had in a long, long time.
[ Sizzling ]
-Food prepared and cooked
in a 1950-era dining car.
One thing that has not c
hanged since then --
the fact that you are mo
ving.
Well, the challenge is,
like,
when the train is
going really fast,
you know, and you're coo
king and carrying some hot stuff,
it's kind of -- You know,
you have to be able to d
o it with being jerked around.
-The challenges
in tight quarters,
along with serving hot m
eals at 100 kilometers an hour,
has somehow drawn his te
am closer together.
A tight-knit family here.
-I love the family facto
r.
There's no teamwork
like on the train.
You won't find that
in a restaurant because...
You won't.
-A team with a common go
al,
making your 4,400
-kilometer journey
from Toronto to Vancouver
a memory that will last fore
ver.
-This train is a classic.
It's gorgeous. An
d especially now at a time
when we're trying to
really appreciate retro beauty,
this train has really go
t it.
-It's -- It sort of stan
ds for what a Canadian is.
It's -- You know, it
's been here a long time.
And we give good service.
It's just a beautiful tr
ain that I hope lasts forever.
It'd be nice for our chi
ldren to be able to go on this t
rain
in another 50 years
and see it the way it is.
It's excellent.
-There are very few plac
es in the world
where you can literally
step back in time.
And I'm at one of them --
East Broad Top Railway
here in Rockhill Furnace,
Pennsylvania.
It is a living time capsule
that the Smithsonian itself described
as one of the most intact
19th-century
industrial sites in the coun
try.
Nestled in the lush foot
hills of South Central Pennsylva
nia
lies a diamond in the ro
ugh, a railroaders' heaven,
where you are truly affo
rded a glimpse
into our rich railroadin
g past.
[ Train whistle blows ]
♪♪
-It's just an amazing pl
ace
where time is frozen.
There's so few places
where you can see
what a railroad used to be l
ike.
And so much of t
he original buildings,
the original equipment,
it's all still here.
-East Broad Top is the o
ldest operating narrow-gauge rai
lroad
in the United States.
Started back in 1872,
the railroad has hauled
everything from pig iron, coal,
ganister rock, timber, U
.S. mail, and, of course, people
.
They'd come from all cor
ners of the earth.
-The enormous volume
of traffic
that it carried at its p
eak in the 1920s, '30s, '40s.
It was a big railroad in
every way except for its gauge.
It had modern equipment,
modern locomotives, and heavy t
raffic
that was crucial in World Wa
r II to the national defense.
-The East Broad Top
steam whistles echoed
through these parts
until the mid-1950s,
when the coal business
finally gave out.
-In 1956, the railroad
shut down, and it was simply
pretty much a matter of
people laying down their tools
and going home an
d locking the doors.
So it was pretty much
captured in time.
-Like many railroads
at that time that shut down,
it was sold to a
salvage company,
destined to be scrapped.
But this one didn't get torn
up.
After the owner of the s
alvage company visited the site,
seeing all the hi
storic equipment
and buildings still inta
ct,
he just couldn't bring h
imself to tearing it all down.
-The legend is that
the locomotives were --
He heard the locomotives tal
king in the roundhouse that --
you know, who would be
the first one to be scrapped.
And Number 12 said it
was the oldest
and said that she'd go f
irst.
And Mr. Kovalchick came
in,
which is Joe's dad,
Nick Kovalchick,
and just didn't have
the heart to do it.
That's the story that
Joe tells,
but I think they saw
the significance of it.
-In February of 2020,
the Kovalchick family pa
ssed the torch to a new owner,
the EBT Foundation, for
them to carry on the vision --
a full restoration of th
is National Historic Landmark.
-You're preserving
a part of history.
A part of history th
at's not sanitized.
It's dirty work.
Everything's, you know,
got a layer of soot
or dust or grease on it.
Yeah, it's -- it's authe
ntic.
-Charles Wooten is part
of an army of over 1,800 volunte
ers,
all part of the Friends
of the East Broad Top.
Their group plays a key
role in helping restore this railroad
back to its 19th-century
glory.
-Rebuilding structures,
reroofing structures,
rebuilding windows.
Basically anything th
at the buildings need,
we've got either the exp
ertise,
or we find the expertise
to get it done.
-My God, with the small
staff we've had,
what we have done is tru
ly nothing short of monumental.
Mains are running cold.
We're good.
-David and his team have
their own monumental task --
to bring back to life
one of EBT's steam engines.
The last time Number 16 oper
ated was back in 1956
when the railroad shut d
own.
It was put in the roundh
ouse behind me
with the other locomotiv
es,
not sure if it would be scra
pped or ever see service again.
Fast-forward 67 years,
and thanks to the loving eff
orts of the EBT to restore it,
she's now back under ste
am for all of us to enjoy.
It took just over 2 1/2
years to complete the rebuild.
-Steam is what makes
the East Broad Top
the East Broad Top.
in many ways.
People have been waiting
a long time
to see steam return
to the East Broad Top.
This is really that --
that moment
that people have
been waiting for.
-Watching this locomotive
in action
is truly a sight to beho
ld.
The steam engine is just
one of many things
the East Broad Top Railr
oad has brought back to life.
They also have over t
wo dozen structures
that have been in or are
in the process of being restore
d,
along with a fleet of
rolling stock,
including passenger cars,
diesel locomotives,
and gas-electric motorcars.
One of the most fascinat
ing parts of the collection
is housed inside the dep
ot.
-We are in the E
ast Broad Top Railroad
passenger station vaults.
These are a series of
bound volumes
that came from the offic
es in Philadelphia
after the railroad closed
in 1956.
Above me, the voucher regist
ers, transfer registers,
everything that
you could imagine. An
d the financials and organization
al records
are found right here.
The archives is an estim
ated 5,000 linear feet of materia
ls,
and these include bound volu
mes, ledgers, maps and drawings,
train orders, and all of
the organizational records
of the East Broad Top Ra
ilroad.
♪♪
-Everything comes to lif
e here at East Broad Top Railroad
,
including their machine
shops, that are powered through
an amazing array of belts
from a stationary steam
engine that's nearly 200 years ol
d.
-Yeah, it's very simple
to engage the machine.
It just slides the belt
from an idler pulley
to the drive pulley.
And it's just as
simple as moving the lever.
♪♪
[ Train whistle blows ]
-Truly, East Broad Top
is a sprawling museum in motion,
no better appreciated
than hopping on board
one of its vintage trains.
The railroad offers
beautiful rides
through pastoral
Central Pennsylvania,
its postcard beauty pris
tine and untouched...
just like all of the East
Broad Top shops and buildings.
The 9-mile round trip
is so rewarding,
both on and off
the narrow tracks.
-It's pretty incredible.
You just don't get to see
stuff like this come back
from the dead.
And that's really what i
t is.
Most of this stuff gets
scrapped, and that's it.
It's a picture in
Grandpa's scrapbook.
But it's a piece of local
history.
It's a piece of American
a.
This was such a huge part
of America becoming what it is.
And, yeah, I love it.
I'm here for it.
-On a cool winter day
through the bare branches,
Number 16 blasts clouds
into the sky.
Another successful resur
rection by the East Broad Top Ra
ilroad.
This is truly a
one-of-a-kind place
and a one-of-a-kind expe
rience.
-There's very few places
where you're continuously
doing something new
at a 150-year-old historic site.
We have the benefit here
of having new old things
happen a lot.
We have lots of firsts.
Today was a first, and w
e'll be expanding the railroad
to places that haven't s
een a train since 1956.
New cars, more locomotiv
es.
There's so much that's
gonna come down the pipeline.
♪♪
THE NATIONAL RAILROAD MUSEUM IN GREEN BAY IS ONE OF THE LARGEST
RAIL MUSEUMS IN THE UNITED STATES, WITH OVER 70 PIECES OF
ROLLING STOCK, SEASONAL TRAIN RIDES AND INDOOR AND OUTDOOR
EXHIBITS. THE ILLINOIS RAILWAY MUSEUM,
LOCATED IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS, TRANSPORTS YOU TO THE GLORY AGE
OF RAIL TRAVEL ABOARD ROLLING TIME MACHINES.
VISITORS OF ALL AGES ENJOY EXPLORING ITS HISTORIC
COLLECTION AND CAN EXPERIENCE A RIDE ON A LOVINGLY RESTORED
TRAIN. YOUR ENGINEER''S LEVEL GIFT
INCLUDES FAMILY PASSES FOR BOTH MUSEUMS.
AND, INCLUDED WITH YOUR MUSEUM PASSES, YOU WILL RECEIVE THE
ANNIVERSARY SHOW 3-DISC SET, THE NEW 8TH EDITION GUIDEBOOK, AND
THE DOWNLOADABLE COMPUTER DIRECTORY.
INTERESTED IN DINING ON THE RAILS WITH THE WISCONSIN GREAT
NORTHERN RAILROAD? MAKE A GIFT OF $360 OR AN
ONGOING $30 MONTHLY CONTRIBUTION AT OUR CONDUCTOR''S LEVEL, AND
YOU''LL HAVE THE CHOICE OF AN ELEGANT DINNER FOR TWO OR A FUN
MEAL FOR FIVE ON THE PIZZA TRAIN.
THE WISCONSIN GREAT NORTHERN RAILROAD OFFERS THE COUNTRY''S
FIRST PRIVATE DINING SERVICE, WHERE YOU CAN ENJOY YOUR OWN
ROOM AS YOU''RE SERVED AN APPETIZER PLATE, A CUP OF SOUP
AND THEN YOUR CHOICE OF ONE OF THREE PRESELECTED ENTREES.
A LITTLE LATER YOU WILL DELIGHT IN A GENEROUS SLICE OF A GOURMET
DESSERT. ALONG THE WAY YOU WILL ENJOY THE
BEAUTY OF THE AREA AS YOU PASS BY FARM FIELDS, DEEP WOODS, AND
THE SCENIC NAMEKAGON RIVER. IF YOU WANT TO BRING THE KIDS,
THEN SELECT THE PIZZA TRAIN PACKAGE.
IT''S ONE OF THE RAILROAD''S MO ST
POPULAR, FAMILY-ORIENTED TRAIN RIDES EACH SEASON.
YOU CAN BRING UP TO FIVE GUESTS AND CHOOSE FROM PEPPERONI,
SAUSAGE OR CHEESE PIZZA BAKED FRESH IN THE DINING CAR ON THE
TRAIN. INCLUDED WITH YOUR TICKETS YOU
WILL ALSO RECEIVE THE ANNIVERSARY SHOW 3-DISC SET, THE
NEW 8TH EDITION GUIDEBOOK, AND
E DOWNLOADABLE COMPUTERDIRECTORY.
CAN''T MAKE UP YOUR MIND ON WHICH PACKAGE TO CHOOSE?
THEN GET THEM ALL AT OUR PRESIDENTIAL LEVEL WITH A GIFT
OF $420, OR AN ONGOING CONTRIBUTION OF $35 PER MONTH.
YOU WILL RECEIVE THE FAMILY PASSES TO THE NATIONAL RAILROAD
MUSEUM AND ILLINOIS RAILWAY MUSEUM AND A CERTIFICATE FOR THE
WISCONSIN GREAT NORTHERN RAILROAD''S DINNER OR PIZZA
TRAIN. INCLUDED WITH YOUR TICKETS IS
THE ANNIVERSARY SHOW 3-DISC SET, THE NEW 8TH EDITION GUIDEBOOK
AND THE DOWNLOADABLE COMPUTER DIRECTORY.
AND, AS AN EXTRA THANK-YOU GIFT, WE''LL INCLUDE THE GREAT SCENIC
RAILWAY JOURNEYS DRINK TUMBLER. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN
RECEIVING JUST ONE OF THE EXCLUSIVE GREAT SCENIC RAILWAY
THANK-YOU GIFTS, CONTRIBUTE AT OUR PASSENGER LEVEL AND YOU CAN
CHOOSE FROM THE ANNIVERSARY SHOW 3-DISC SET, THE NEW 8TH EDITION
GUIDEBOOK, OR THE DOWNLOADABLE COMPUTER DIRECTORY WITH A
ONE-TIME CONTRIBUTION OF $120,
AN ONGOING GIFT OF JUST $10PER MONTH.
THE ANNIVERSARY 3-DISC DVD SET
CLUDES THE SHOW YOU''REWATCHING NOW, ALONG WITH AN
ADDITIONAL 40 RAILWAY ADVENTURES PLUS BONUS FOOTAGE NOT SEEN IN
THE BROADCAST, INCLUDING A SIT-DOWN INTERVIEW WITH THE
CREATOR AND PRODUCER, ROBERT VAN CAMP, AND PAST SHOW HOST, DAVID
HOLT, AS THEY PROVIDE INTERESTING FACTS ON THE HISTORY
OF THE SERIES. IF YOU WANT TO DISCOVER,
RESEARCH AND READ ABOUT THE MANY SCENIC RAIL JOURNEYS IN NORTH
AMERICA, PLEASE ASK FOR THE NEW 8TH EDITION GUIDEBOOK.
IT''S A COMPLETE AND UPDATED DIRECTORY TO OVER 500 TOURIST
RAILROADS, RAILWAY MUSEUMS, AND RAILROAD-RELATED ATTRACTIONS.
THIS BOOK INCLUDES DETAILED WRITE-UPS, PICTURES, ROUTE MAPS
AND ROLLING STOCK, ALONG WITH FULL CONTACT DETAILS ON EACH
LOCATION.
TERESTED IN VISITING ALL THELOCATIONS THE BOOK ON YOUR
PC, MAC OR TABLET? ASK FOR THE NEW DOWNLOADABLE
COMPUTER DIRECTORY. IT FEATURES THE SAME LOCATIONS
AS THE BOOK, BUT OFFERS EVEN MORE DETAILED INFORMATION,
VIDEOS, PICTURES, AND INTERACTIVE MAPS, PLUS DIRECT
WEB LINKS TO OVER 500 LOCATIONS, INCLUDING DAY OUT WITH THOMAS
AND POLAR EXPRESS EVENTS NATIONWIDE.
STHAW FOR
YOUR CONTRIBUTION
AND YOUR
SUPPORT OF PBS WISCONSIN
WHEN YOU
MAKE A DONATION
AND REQUEST ONE
OF THESE THANK
YOU GIFT
PACKAGES.
>> WELL,
WELL, MICHELE, I
TELL YOU,
30 YEARS OF
RIDING THE
RAILS. IT'S
SO GREAT TO
BE BACK HERE
IN WISCONSIN CELEBRATING
THIS GREAT
PROGRAM. WE'VE
GOT SOME
GREAT WAYS
FOR YOU T
O SHOW
YOUR SUPPORT
AND GET
ON THOSE
TRAINS. >> WE
SURE DO.
THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR COMING.
WE APPRECIATE IT. I'M MICHELE GOOD
WITH WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO.
30 YEARS!
WHAT DRIVES YOU
TO KEEP
DOING THIS?
>> >> IT'S YOU,
OUR MEMBERS.
YOU MAKE
IT POSSIBLE.
EVERY TIME ONE
OF YOU
CALLS IN
AND MAKE
THA T PLEDGE OF
SUPPORT, IT'S A VOTE O
F SUPPORT.
I CAN'T
THANK YOU
ENOUGH. I NEVER
IMAGINED THAT I'D
BE CELEBRATING 30
YEARS OF
THIS
OGRAMMING AND PBS
WISCONSIN ALONG
WITH THREE
GREAT VENUES
RIGHT HERE I N
YOUR OWN
REGION. >>
AND 30-YEAR
ANNIVERSARY. >> WE'VE
GOT UNIQUE THANK
YOU GIFTS.
WE'VE UPDATED A LOT
OF STUFF YOU
SEE THERE. WE
HAVE GREAT
TICKETS TO GO TO
THE ILLINOIS
RAILROAD MUSEU
M AND
THE
NATIONAL RAILWAY
MUSEUM ALONG WITH
THE FAMILY
PIZZA TRAIN.
FAMILIES JUST LOVE
IT.
U'VE RIDDEN TRAINS. U WERE
TELLING ME
EARLIER ABOUT
THERE'S JUS
T ABOUT
IT. >>
I T'S
ROMANTIC. IT'S A
CLICHE, BUT
IT REALLY
IS THE
ROCKING OF THE TRAIN.
IT TAKES YOU BACK
TO AN ENTIRELY
DIFFERENT TIME. >>
YEAH. >>
AND THE
THING THAT YOU
WERE JUST
TELLING ME
WAS EVERY
GIFT THAT WE HAVE
HER E
IS EXCLUSIVE
TO LISTENERS
-- OR
TO VIEWERS
OF WISCONSIN PUBLIC
TELEVISION. >> IT'S
THAT NPR
THING.
'RE ALL IN
THE SAME
FAMILY. >> WELL,
WE APPRECIATE THAT.
AND WHEN
YOU MAKE A
GIFT AT
ANY LEVEL
RIGHT NOW
DURING THIS
BREAK OR DURING
THIS ENTIRE
PROGRAM, YOU
CAN REST
CONFIDENT IN
THE KNOWLEDGE
THAT YOU ARE A
MEMBER AND
YOU'RE HELPING
BRING THIS PROGRAM
INTO THE
HOMES ALL OVER
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
IN ADDITION TO
THE WONDERFUL
GIFTS WE HAV
E AS A THANK
YOU, YOU
ALWAYS GET
"AIRWAVES," OUR
PROGRAM GUIDE. THIS I
S GREAT.
IT'S BEHIND-THE-SCENES.
WE KIND
OF PUL
L BACK
THE VEIL
SO YOU
CAN KNOW
WHAT'S GOING
ON HERE
AT PBS WISCONSIN AS WELL
AS BEHIND THE SCENES ON
SOME OF
YOUR FAVORITE SHOWS.
THERE'S A GREAT G RID SO
YOU CAN
WRITE DOWN WHAT
YOU WANT TO
SEE. NO
NEED TO
FIGHT OVE
R WHO'S
GOING TO
WATCH WHAT WHEN.
YOU ALSO
GET MEMBERSHIP
IN PASSPORT,
OUR ONLINE LIBRARY OF
ALL OF
YOU R
FAVORITE PROGRAMS. ALL THAT
WHEN YOU
BECOME A MEMBER RIGHT NOW.
1-800-236-3636. >> AND AS YOU
SAW, ONE OF
OUR PACKAGES
I S TO GO
TO THE
TWO GREATEST RAILROAD
MUSEUMS IN
THE THE
REGION. A
LOT OF
YOU REMEMBER
NICKEL LAST.
HE COMES
IN EVERY
TIME WE
COME ON.
I
WAS AMAZED
WHEN I
WENT TO
YOUR LOCATION AND
SAW THE
VASTNESS OF WHAT I
WOULD CALL
70 YEARS O
F PASSION.
THEY STARTED
IN 1953
COLLECTING EQUIPMENT AND
YOU TO
ME HAVE
ONE OF THE
FINEST COLLECTIONS
IN NORTH AMERICA
OF OUR
RAILROAD HERITAGE.
TELL U
S WHAT PEOPLE
CAN EXPERIENCE WHEN
THEY GO
TO A MUSEUM. >> THANK YOU
FOR THE COMPLIMENTS.
ILLINOIS RAILWAY MUSEUM IS
CELEBRATING ITS 70T
H ANNIVERSARY
THIS YEAR,
AND WE'RE
STILL ACCUMULATING. >> I
KNOW. I
READ THE
NEWS. YOU
GOT ANOTHER
CAR. YOU
GOT ANOTHER
ENGINE. IT'S JUST
GREAT. >> SOME
PEOPLE SAY
IS THERE
ANYTHING
LEFT TO GET?
>> THERE ALWAYS
IS. >>
YEAH. YEAH.
IT SEEMS
LIKE STUFF
KEEPS COMING
UP. BUT
WE'RE STILL
AT IT.
WE'RE STILL DOING
THE EVENTS
THROUGH THE
YEAR. WE
DO A
CHRISTMAS TRAIN. WE
DO THOMAS THE
TRAIN IN
JULY AND THAT. BUT
COLLECTING IS WHAT
WE DO.
>> WHAT
CAN PEOPLE
EXPERIENCE NOW
WITH THESE FAMILY
PASSES? THEY CAN
TAKE THE
WHOLE FAMILY. >>
MY RECOMMENDATION IS
TO COME ON
THE WEEKENDS
BECAUSE THAT'S
WHEN WE
RUN THE
STEAM ENGINES.
SO THE
CHANCES THAT
P EOPLE
ARE GOING TO
BE ABLE
TO RID
E BEHIND
STEAM IS
REALLY GOOD FOR
THE WEEKEND. >> WE
KNO W
THE STEAM
IS A BIG
DRAW. >> IT IS.
>> IF
YOU ENJOY
WHAT YOU'RE SEEING AND YOU WANT TO
CELEBRATE WISCONSIN PUBLIC
TELEVISION, PBS, THIS IS THE
TIME TO DO
IT. YOU'RE
CELEBRATING ALL
THE GREAT
PROGRAMMING. I
CALL IT
THE 360
DEGREES OF
PROGRAMMING. WE HAV
E ANOTHER
GREAT GUEST
HERE WITH
ANOTHER GREAT
ATTRACTION. TOWARDS GREEN
BAY. >> YEAH.
YEAH. >> MICHELE?
>> I'M JOINED
BY JUSTIN
TENPENNY, MARKETING
DIRECTOR FOR
THE
NATIONAL RAILROAD
MUSEUM .>>
GREEN BAY. >>
SO IT'S
CLOSE. WE
CAN GO
ANYTIME W E
WANT. >> YES. >>
TELL US
A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT
SOME OF THE
THINGS FAMILIES
CAN DO. >> YEAH.
OUR MUSEUM IS
GREAT FOR
FAMILIES WITH
ALL THOSE
TRAIN LOVERS, YOU
KNOW, WHETHER
IT'S A PARTNER
OR A CHILD.
THEY CAN
EXPLORE ALL OF
THE TRAINS
THAT WE HAVE.
WE HAVE
OVER 07
70
PIECES OF
ROLLING STOCK. YOU
CAN WALK
THROUGH EISENHOWER'S
COMMAND CENTER
FROM WORLD WAR II.
YOU CAN SIT
IN THE
CAB OF T
HE BIG BOY,
EXPLORE THE
ARROW TRAIN. >> CAN YOU
RIDE IN
ANY OF THE
TRAINS? >> WE
DO OFFER
S EASONAL
TRAIN RIDES.
THE TRAIN
RIDES GO
AROUND OUR GROUNDS.
THEY TAKE TWO
LAPSE AROUND.
IT'S REALLY
GREAT. THEY START
IN THE
SPRING AND
GO THROUGH EARLY
FALL. >> ARE YOU
OPEN IN
THE WINTER?
>> YEAH. WE
ARE OPEN ALL
YEAR LONG
BETWEEN JANUARY
AND MARCH.
WE ARE CLOSED
ON MONDAYS.
OTHERWISE WE
WELCOME YOU
ANYTIME OF THE YEAR. >>
THAT'S GREAT.
WITH ONE OF
THE GIFTS,
I'M NOT
SURE WHICH ONE IT IS,
FOR $35 A
MONTH AS A
SUSTAINER, YOU CAN
VISIT THE
MUSEUM WITH
THE TICKETS
THAT WE
WILL GIVE
YOU WHEN YOU
MAKE YOU
R DONATION
AT 1-800-236-3636
.
>> I
LOVE GOING
UP INTO
THE GREAT
WOODS AS
THEY CALL IT.
YOU LIVE IN SUCH A
BEAUTIFUL AREA OF THE
COUNTRY. WISCONSIN GREAT NORTHERN
IS ONE OF
MY FAVORITE
PLACES TO GO. IF YOU
WANT TO
RELIVE DINING ON
THE RAILS,
SLEEPING ON THE
RAILS AND THEY HAVE
THEIR PIZZA
TRAIN. WE'RE
GOING TO BUNDLE
ALL THE
MUSEUM FAMILY PASSES,
WE'RE GOING TO
GIVE YOU
YOUR OWN
PRIVATE DINING
ROOM FOR TWO
FOR YOU
AND A SIGNIFICANT OTHER
TO ENJOY
THE GREAT
WOODS. IT
IS JUST
SUCH A BEAUTIFUL AREA.
THE FOOD IS
GREAT. GREG
AND M
ARDEL AND
THEIR SON
DO A GREAT
JOB. YOU'RE GOING
TO FEE
L LIKE
FAMILY WHEN
YOU GO
UP THERE.
THAT'S AT THE
$30 LEVEL.
NOW, IF YOU WANT TO
GET THE
PIZZA TRAIN,
YOU'RE PICKING
ONE OR
THE OTHER
HERE, IF YOU
WANT TO
TAKE UP TO
FIV E FAMILY
MEMBERS, I'M TELLING
YOU, THIS
SO
POPULAR. THEY
ACTUALLY MAKE
THEIR PIZZAS
FRESH ON THE
TRAIN NOW.
THEY HAVE A
KITCHEN CAR
WHERE THEY
DO THEIR
DINING EBBS
EXPERIENCE. YOU HAVE A
GREAT TIME
ENJOYING A DAY IN
THE SCENERY, GOING
OUT THERE
TO THE
RIVER, ALL
THAT BEAUTIFUL WOODS
AND FARMLAND
THAT YOU
SAW EARLIER.
IT I S
JUST A FAMILY,
FAMILY FUN
TIME. AGAIN, AT
THAT $30
SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP
OR ONE-TIME GIFT
OF $360, YOU
HAVE YOUR
CHOICE OF THE DINNER
TRAIN OR
THE PIZZA
TRAIN AND
YOU GET
THE PASSES
TO BEEGHT
!
BOTH MUSEUMS.
YOU GET
OVER 50
RAILROADS IN
THE DVD SET.
THE NEW 8TH
EDITION GUIDEBOOK, A
DIRECTORY TO
EVERY MUSEUM.
WE'VE
GOT THA
T D OWNLOADABLE
COMPUTER ONE
WHERE YOU
CAN GO
TO THE
WEBSITES. OUR PRESIDENTIAL
LEVEL, WHAT A
GREAT WAY
T O SUPPORT
WITH A $420
ONE-TIME GIFT, YOU
GET IT
ALL. WE'RE GOING
TO THROW
IN OUR
ANNIVERSARY DRINKS
FOR YOU AS
WELL.
CONSIDER MAKING THAT
INVESTMENT IN WISCONSIN
PBS ,
FOLKS. WE
WOULD NOT
BE IF NOT
FOR CURRENT
MEMBERS. WE
HOPE YOU'LL
BE INVESTING
IN
E FUTURE OF
THIS GREAT
NETWORK. MICHELE, IT'S
OUR JOB
TO FUND
IT. YOU THINK
ABOUT JUST
DOING THE
BASIC MEMBERSHIP
AND GET
PASSPORT AND YOU
GET TO
WATCH ALL
THAT STREAMING
WHENEVER YOU
WANT. AND
IT'S ALL
MADE POSSIBLE BECAUSE
OF OUR
MEMBERS. SO
THINK ABOUT THE
VALUE OF
THIS PROGRAMMING FOR YOU
AND YOUR
KIDS IN
THE AFTERNOON.
I LEARN
SOMETHING NEW
EVERY TIME
I TURN ON
THIS NETWORK.
YOU HAVE
A FAVORITE
SHOW HERE
ON WISCONSIN
PBS. I
PERSONALLY LOVE
ANY TIME A
KEN BURNS
DOCUMENTARY COMES
OUT.
VIOUSLY GETTING THE
NEWS EVERY
DAY. THIS OLD
HOUSE, I
ALWAYS LEARN
WHAT I DID
WRONG AND I HAVE TO
GO BACK AND FIX IT.
MICHELE, IT'S A
CELEBRATION OF
WHO WE ARE
AS A CULTURE
AND A PEOPLE AND
THAT' S ONE
THING I
LOVE ABOUT
30 YEARS.
I CAN'T
THANK OUR
MEMBERS ENOUGH.
IT DOESN'T
MATTER WHAT
AMOUNT YOU GIVE.
IT'S THAT YOU
JUST PARTICIPATE AND BECOME
PART OF THE
PROCESS THAT
MAKES THIS
GREAT NETWORK
THAT WE CREATED,
WE, THE
PEOPLE CREATED,
MANY, MANY
YEARS AGO. >>
THAT'S VERY
TRUE. WE
HAVE THESE
WONDERFUL GIFTS
AT VARIOUS
LEVELS, BUT WHAT
IS SUPPORT IS
THAT YOU
SUPPORT THE
PROGRAM. THE
AMOUNT DOESN'T MATTER, JUST
THAT YOU
BECOME A MEMBER.
ALTHOUGH IT'S
REALLY HARD TO PASS
UP THESE
GREAT THANK YOU
GIFTS. WHAT
D O WE HAVE
COMING UP NEXT?
>> WE'RE
GOING TO HEAD
TO PENNSYLVANIA. THEN
WE'RE GOING TO
BE ON THE
WISCONSIN GREAT NORTHERN.
YOU'LL SEE IT IN
THE NEX T
BLOCK. THEN
WE'RE GOING
TO HEAD TO
OREGON TO ONE
OF MY
FAVORITE STEAM TRAINS.
THIS RAILROAD
ALLOWS DOGS.
IT'S SO
GREAT. EVERYBODY'SBRINGING THEIR
DOGS. REALLY
FUN TIME.
CONSIDER MAKING
THAT INVESTMENT
IN YOUR
PUBLIC TELEVISION
STATION. >> WE
CAN'T DO IT
WITHOUT YOU.
>> WE
HAV E
GREAT THANK YOU GIFTS
FOR YOU. I
CREATED THESE
GIFTS FOR
YOU ONLY.
WE DO NOT SELL
THEM TO THE
GENERAL PUBLIC. YOU
WILL NOT
FIND THEM
ONLINE. YOU'LL
ONLY FIND
THEM ON
THE PBS
WEBSITE. GO AHEAD
AND MAKE
THAT INVESTMENT TODAY.
WE'RE GOING TO
HEAD BACK TO THE
SHOW BUT
LET'S SHOW
YOU THOSE
LEVELS ONE
MORE TIME SO
YOU CAN
PICK WHICH
LEVEL WORKS
BEST FOR
YOU.
-Our next stop was once nicknamed
nicknamed the "Little Switzerland"
of North America
and later the "Gatew
ay to the Poconos."
I'm here in the historic
town of Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvani
a,
home to the Reading
and Blue Northern Railroad,
which gives its passenge
rs a glimpse
into the rich history
of this area.
This small town is nestl
ed between deep green forests
just 90 minutes northwest
of Philadelphia.
It was originally ca
lled Mauch Chunk --
a native name meaning
"Mountain of the Sleeping Bear."
But that changed in 1954,
when this became the
final resting place
and the namesake of Jim
Thorpe,
the first Native American
U.S. Olympic gold medal winner.
An incredible athlete wh
o also became a pro football play
er.
For many, the journey
to Jim Thorpe's yesteryears
begins here at th
e beautiful historic depot
with a train ride bl
ending past and present.
-There was actually a so
lar panel next to a telegraph po
le.
And to be able to see th
at
and see how far we've co
me with our technology,
but yet trying to preser
ve the past
and where we've come fro
m, is just so important,
and it's so important to
know
and learn the stories of
people before us
and appreciate what t
hey've been through
so that we can live,
hopefully, a richer
and fuller life.
-History is captured
outside and in on this trip.
The Reading and Blue Nor
thern fleet is a very large
and impressive collectio
n of freight and passenger equipment.
It includes diesel
and steam locomotives,
along with beauti
fully restored cars.
And a back deck perch,
a caboose -- something
that's very rare and unique
to be able to ride in
these days.
-This was our daughters'
first train ride for both of the
m.
And to experience the joy
on their faces
has been so memorable,
and to see the fall foli
age in combination
with being on this authe
ntic, historic train
has just been a
great experience.
It's gonna be a memory
that we'll take with us forever.
-Up to six passengers
can have this 1933 caboose
all to themselves.
-Families really enjoy r
iding in the caboose. The closen
ess.
You're not near other pe
ople.
They could get together,
sit on the back platform,
look out at the scenery.
They could sit up in the cup
ola, look out the windows there.
It's a completely di
fferent experience
than riding in another c
oach.
-The train's historic ca
rs are varied
and offer a welcoming sp
ot for every kind of passenger,
including man's best fri
end.
-You're very limited
on where you can take dogs.
So it was nice. Everybody
was super-friendly, welcoming.
They've gotten a
ridiculous amount of pets.
Pats, treats.
-The open-air cars are a
favorite for many on this trip.
Your senses come alive h
ere.
-You can feel the air,
you can smell it,
you can see the mountain
s, you can see the gorge,
along with, of course,
the history.
So it just brings all yo
ur senses to life.
-The equipment is on
e aspect of your journey.
The other is its employe
es.
-It's a lot of work,
but it's very rewarding.
We enjoy seeing our pass
engers having a good time.
Our employees have a goo
d time doing the job,
making people happy.
We have a car host in ea
ch car.
-Here. Hi, guys. Tickets,
please.
-Hey. How are you?
-How are you doing, guys?
-I don't have $10.
-William Solomon spent
many years
as a conductor on thi
s railroad.
After retiring, his love
of the rails brought him right
back,
this time as a car host
and ticket agent.
-It's just so much fun.
I was born in Mauch Chun
k, so I'm what's known as a Chun
ker.
So I lived here my whole
life. Just the best job in the w
orld.
I live only a mile away,
so it couldn't be any better.
Hope you enjoy your ride.
-Employees on this line
say they love what they do,
perhaps because the rail
road is a part of their past,
as well as their present.
♪♪
-I grew up in Tamaqua
, Pennsylvania,
right along the Reading
and Northern main line.
And I got to ride my bik
e to all the crossings and the ya
rd
and get to meet the guys.
And throughout my year
s of hanging out in the railroad
,
I knew I wanted it
to be a career.
I knew the right people
at the right time.
I applied, and I became
a freight conductor in 2007.
It's -- I've always want
ed to do it. I enjoy doing it.
And every day is
a new adventure.
-I work with the best cr
ew.
I mean, I couldn't get b
etter people to work with and fo
r.
And I love working
with the passengers
and just being helpful
and giving them some insights
and just having
an exciting time on the train.
-The 70-minute ride
carries you 16 miles
through lush forests,
across the towering bridge
high above the ra
mbling Lehigh River,
then towards the
Lehigh Gorge State Park
with its beauty
and wildlife.
Passengers can also expe
rience
another part of r
ailroading -- a runaround.
This is when the engine
changes positions at the halfway
point,
moving from the front
of the train
to the rear for
your return trip.
And on the way back,
watch for a different mo
de of transport --
cyclists, who can ride up
to 165 miles on this bike path,
which was once the old
Central Railroad of New Jersey.
There are many things to
do and see here in Jim Thorpe,
but one of my favorite
places to come to
is right here at the
Mauch Chunk History Museum.
They have an unbelievable
collection of artifacts
and information detailing
the history of this area.
Including a model of a s
witchback railroad
that was once a top tour
ist attraction in North America,
second only to Niagara F
alls,
all because of an innovative
way to move coal off the mountai
n.
-Uh, people would get up
to the Switchback Depot,
which is on the heights,
above where we are right now.
They would get on the ca
r, but there's no power on the ca
r
because the only thing
that's powered
on the Switchback Gravity
Railroad is the barney car.
Once the car got to the
top, the barney car would stop,
but the passenger car
would start falling
just with the force of g
ravity, picking up speed
until it was going
50 miles per hour.
Nothing on Earth went
50 miles per hour in the 1840s.
-The Switchback drew peo
ple from around the world,
including four president
s.
It's long gone now,
but trains remain a foca
l point here in Jim Thorpe...
a reminder of whe
n coal was king.
Mauch Chunk. Jim Thorpe.
Then and now.
A place where the past
and present come together
in fascinating layers.
-I think we need this.
Yeah, definitely. [
Laughs ]
I would hope to k
eep this forever --
the train, preserve the
nature around, everything.
-To experience the histo
ry of Jim Thorpe and the train,
and just to take in
all of everything that this is,
it's been a great experi
ence.
♪♪
-Our next stop is here
in Northwest Wisconsin,
where the air is so fres
h, here in the legendary Northwo
ods.
We're about to introduce
you to a determined family
that never says "we can'
t."
And over the last 25 yea
rs, they have created
some of the most unique
rail venues in North America.
-Thank you. [ In
distinct conversations ]
-Dining, lounge, and slee
ping cars
bring back fond memories
of America's railroad past,
mostly only seen in hist
ory books and old movies today.
But a family in the smal
l town of Trego, Wisconsin,
have re-created
parts of that era,
along with introducing
an array of new venues,
to catch the imagination
of current generations.
-What you'll find here
at the Wisconsin Great Northern
is absolutely unique
in the industry.
Different services,
different equipment.
Every time you come back,
I can pretty much guaran
tee it'll be a different experience.
-Different than any other
tourist railroad
in North America
when you experience all
the venues they offer,
with wine tastings an
d a historic dome car,
pizza trains for the kid
s, fine dining for the adults,
a one-of-a-kind
bed-and-breakfast,
and on the horizon are
a restoration of a streamliner
that seemed more a sky-fl
ying rocket ship
than railroad-bound.
-People want something
unique to experience.
And so that's what we're
trying to present to the public,
is a unique opportunity
that they can't get anyplace else
,
whether it be by the ser
vice we provide
or by the equipment
that we operate,
that it's different
from everybody else.
-The Wisconsin Great
Northern Railroad
has been running since 1
997.
In those early days,
it was a multitask operation
running on fumes.
-There were times when w
e just simply didn't have the mon
ey,
and she'd sell tickets
in the ticket office, hand me
20 bucks out of the till.
I'd run to the gas station
and get 15 gallons
of diesel fuel,
drive around the back si
de of the train, and pour it in.
And that was enough
to make the trip.
-Sheer persistence he
lped the railroad grow,
along with the eliminati
on of a certain word.
-There is no such word
as "can't."
You may say, "Oh, I can'
t."
Well, you just find
a way to do.
And so it might be a con
voluted way of doing something,
but you try your darndest
to find a way to get it done.
-I don't recognize th
e word "can't."
Don't tell me it can't b
e done
because we'll show you
how fast it can be done.
-Greg and Mardell's son,
Alexander,
has grown up around trai
ns his whole life,
and because of that,
he bluntly dismisses
more popular teen pursui
ts.
-Cars suck. Trains rule.
And sports are overrated.
All right. We are now co
ming into the Namekagon River
and Veazie Springs.
-Like his parents,
Alexander wears a lot of
hats on this railroad.
Tonight, he's a server
and is impressing his guests.
-He was an anomaly.
An amazing young man.
-Yeah, another day
of Alexander fan club.
-You see a little bit
of that funny, ha-ha sarcasm.
He's always learned sarc
asm. He's learned it good.
I like to describe him
as my 83-year-old farmer.
He is very straight-faced
around people
he doesn't necessarily k
now.
-Just a sponge.
He just picks up data
and information
about the various pieces
of equipment
like I can't even imagin
e.
He knows more about
the equipment than I do.
-The family stays very b
usy doing a variety of jobs
for each of its unique t
rips.
There is one constant
in all of them, though --
experiencing the splendo
r and beauty of the Great Northw
oods.
-You can't beat the view.
It's so beautiful in the fall,
especially when the tama
racks start to change.
-Through the pastoral
landscape and deep woods, guests
take in all the beauty
this trip offers.
One of the favorite spots
is so serene and peaceful,
the train comes to a stop
to allow all
to take in the natural w
onders of the Namekagon River.
-When we stopped at the w
atershed earlier,
we just thought it was l
ike someone had painted the sky
and the brush.
Like, it was just so bea
utiful with the sunset
and the moon over top.
I just love every moment
of it, honestly.
-And what could add
to these moments?
How about a meal prepared
and served in your own
private dining room?
-The dinner was amazing.
It was just beyond expectati
ons, honestly,
to get to spend time
with family here,
to look out and see
this painterly landscape
that just glistens an
d is golden with autumn light.
I just love every moment
of it.
-Fine dining is just
one of the many options here
on the Wisconsin Great No
rthern Railroad.
-Here's your pepperoni p
izza, Mr. Van Camp.
-Thank you, Jose. Th
e other is their pizza train,
and it is definitely
a hit with families.
-It's very unique. Th
e kids love it.
They get to go on a trai
n,
and they get to have
their favorite meal.
They are cheeseaholics,
being from Wisconsin.
[ Laughs ]
It's very nice to have --
have this here and keep
that in our culture.
-Speaking of culture,
the Wisconsin Gr
eat Northern Railroad
also offers a sophistica
ted wine and cheese pairing trip
aboard the Sky Parlour,
a 1956 dome car
that was once part
of the famedEl Capitan
that operated from Chica
go to Los Angeles
on the Santa Fe Railroad.
-It's definitely a ro
lling piece of history.
It's really neat to be
on something like this.
Unique experience, for s
ure. The wine was great.
The train ride experience
was awesome.
-The various train rides
run about 2 1/2 hours.
And for many guests,
they can't bear to leave.
So leave it to t
he Wisconsin Great Northern
to offer something
for them to stay --
a unique experience with
their bed-and-breakfast package,
where delighted travelers
ride and dine
and get to sleep overnig
ht in their historic cars.
-It way exceeded my expec
tations.
It was first-class all t
he way.
The staff was awesome.
Last night's supper --
The hors d'oeuvres, the
drinks, the food was awesome
all the way to the end,
to the dessert.
Then we had our
own sleeping car.
It was awesome.
[ Laughs ]
And it was a queen-sized
bed. First-class, first-rate.
-After a restful night's
sleep
in one of the beautiful
railcar suites,
guests awake to t
he wonderful smells
of a country cooked brea
kfast,
compliments of Chef Greg,
truly a Renaissance man.
Mmm.
Mmm-mmm-mmm.
-We believe that we are
continuing to create the history
of these pieces of r
olling stock.
100 years from now, hope
fully these cars will still be h
ere
and still be usable
because of our efforts.
-Of course I'm proud
of all of this.
How could you not be
proud of it?
'Cause if I weren't proud of
it, I wouldn't be a part of it.
-Thanks to Greg and Mard
ell and Alexander,
along with the rest
of their staff,
you can be a part of
something very special --
experiences that are cre
ated by a dedicated family,
preserving and presentin
g many one-of-a-kind railroad jou
rneys
deep in the Northwoods
of Wisconsin.
♪♪
Next stop takes me here,
to the Oregon Coast
in the beautiful town
of Rockaway Beach,
home to Engine Number 25.
We're gonna intr
oduce you to it,
the people that run it,
and take you through some of
the most beautiful scene
ry in this part of the country.
♪♪
[ Bell clanging ]
The Oregon Coast Scenic Rail
road is a rarity
in the tourist railroad worl
d --
a breathtaking journey
by steam along the sea.
-The absolute beauty
and the relaxation of it.
This is just what God cr
eated
out here in this beautif
ul country here of the Northwest,
and we're just enjoying
every minute of it.
-You really can'
t ask for better.
We have views of the bay,
of the ocean.
But then you turn around
and you look on the other side,
and there's mountains
that take up the skyline.
And even then, yo
u see people waving
and walking by, and it's
--
You can't ask for better.
You really can't.
-True, you can see the o
cean from your car,
but nothing compares
to skirting the sea on steam.
One of the highlights
of the trip
is the legendary sea sta
ck called The Three Graces.
-Just something about th
em
when you come around that co
rner and you see them there.
You know, Arch Rock, it's
its own enclosed ecosystem.
It has trees and plants
that are thriving there,
even though it's complet
ely cut off from the rest of the
land.
The Three Graces themsel
ves, each of
the individual rocks,
all of them are bird habitats
where birds come and
roost on them.
-Just the scenery an
d the ocean
and the -- the nice clea
r air that's out here.
Where we're from in Ariz
ona, it's over 100 degrees.
It's just nice to be out of
that in some -- some fresh air.
-This historic railroad
travels the ocean's edge
on the north Oregon Coas
t.
It's a remote area,
and, thus, its charm, fo
r you are swinging back in time.
-It definitely throws yo
u back to a time
that was more romantic,
slower-paced,
a little bit more class
and elegance.
-In 2003, the railroad
had about 2,000 riders.
Now they average over
45,000 a year.
And that number keeps gr
owing.
-We've had people from S
outh Africa, from Europe itself.
We just had somebody
from Hong Kong last week.
-Young and old ch
erish this trip.
-Smith Lake is ab
out 26 acres in size.
It's all freshwater. The
y stock it twice a year with tro
ut.
-Bruce Cardin fills them
with the history of the area.
-There you are.
Thank you. Over here.
-And conductor Lauren Lo
zier collects the tickets
from the happy passenger
s,
including some four-
legged rail fans.
-I love the dogs.
So we allow dogs in every
single car on this train,
so long as they
are happy being there,
they're not gonna be
aggressive or anything.
So that pretty much means
you can have a dog
wherever you'd like on h
ere,
and it means I get to
pet many dogs
and get to see al
l different types of dogs,
which I love a lot.
-Being able to b
ring my dog with me
not only on the train,
but there's been lots
of shops down here
that you can take him in
to.
I just like having him w
ith me,
so it was really nice
to be able to bring him.
[ Train whistle blows ]
♪♪
-Pulling you through the
magic is McCloud Railway Number
25,
a 2-6-2 configuration
"Prairie"-type steam locomotive
built back in 1925.
Its grandeur even at
tracted Hollywood.
And this locomotive
has been in several movies --
most prominent,
the coming-of-age tale
"Stand by Me."
And like any movie star,
old Number 25
commands a lot of attent
ion.
You know, a steam locomo
tive is a fascinating thing
when you sit in the cab
here.
But most people don't re
alize there's over 3,000 moving
parts
throughout the whole loc
omotive and tender.
And it takes crews ne
arly two hours
just to get it ready
for service.
-You can really see all
the mechanical components
out there moving around.
It makes noise.
It feels alive to an ext
ent.
I know a lot of people say t
hat, but, you know,
to many of us who work o
n them, they feel alive,
and they have their own
soul, their own personality.
Why it is so popular here
is, you have the engine
rolling into an e
xtremely populated area,
a touristy area
down at the beach.
They see this thing come
in billowing smoke and steam,
making all this noise.
It draws people in.
It's an attention grabber.
[ Bell clanging ]
♪♪
-Speaking of historic
attention grabbing,
when you get off your tra
in ride,
you'll want to visit
the nearby Tillamook Air Museum,
once a busy mili
tary installation,
but now home to a variety
of combat aircraft
housed in Hangar B,
a former blimp hangar
and the largest of its k
ind in the world.
-So the building itself
is a huge part of our exhibit.
It's 1,000 feet long.
It's 192 feet tall.
And the entire structure
and trussing is all wooden.
There's really nothing l
ike it.
One of our main goals
and missions is education
through interaction.
So we have a lot of inter
active displays.
We also have about
25 aircraft on display.
Some of the more promine
nt to note are the Mini Guppy,
which was a cargo aircra
ft used by NASA.
So one of our most inter
esting pieces is our F-14 Tomcat.
People really love to se
e that. It was featured in the o
riginal
"Top Gun" movie in 1986
with Tom Cruise.
-There's so much to do h
ere on the Oregon Coast.
All this running around
can sure make you hungry.
And the railroad has that
covered for you as well...
with a three-course gourmet
meal on board their dinner train.
-It just parallels
Tillamook Bay,
and then it parallels
Nehalem Bay.
And it's a beautiful rid
e going about 10, 15 miles an ho
ur.
Nice and relaxed.
-It just makes everything
slow down on the outside
because we're going
so slow on the inside.
Just to be able to,
like, slow down
and enjoy the person
in front of me,
the beautiful food,
the beautiful nature views
of the sunset and the ge
ntle rocking on the train.
[ Bell clanging ]
[ Train whistle blows ]
♪♪
Across Tillamook Bay,
Number 25's whistle
echoes throughout th
is vast wonderland.
Steam swirls through
the coastal forests of Sitka.
Summers come and go,
but personal memories
are etched upon the rocks here,
never to be abandoned.
[ Bell clanging ]
-Well, I think the more
fancy technology gets,
the more fascinating
this stuff is.
So the education factor
is really important to me
and the rest of the peop
le in our organization,
try to preserve
you know, that dying
era of our history.
♪♪
%
>> IF GREAT SCENIC RAILWAY
JOURNEYS HAS INSPIRED YOU TO GET OUT AND RIDE THE RAILS, MAKE A
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SITORS OF ALL AGES ENJOYEXPLORING ITS HISTORIC
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THE WISCONSIN GREAT NORTHERN RAILROAD OFFERS THE COUNTRY''S
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ROOM AS YOU''RE SERVED AN APPETIZER PLATE, A CUP OF SOUP
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A LITTLE LATER YOU WILL DELIGHT IN A GENEROUS SLICE OF A GOURMET
DESSERT. ALONG THE WAY YOU WILL ENJOY THE
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THEN SELECT THE PIZZA TRAIN PACKAGE.
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INCLUDED WITH YOUR TICKETS YOU WILL ALSO RECEIVE THE
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>> WHAT A
GREAT
IDEA FOR
FAMILIES. WHAT'S
BETTER THAN
PIZZA AND
TRAINS FOR
KIDS? HI.
I'M MICHELE GOOD
WITH WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO
AND I'M
HERE WITH
ROBERT VAN CAMP. WE
HOPE YOU'RE
ENJOYING THIS
PROGRAM. UP IN
TREGO, THE
AMAZING RAILROAD UP
THERE. WHAT
BETTER THAN
TAKING A TRIP THROUGH
THE NORTHWOODS.
SO BEAUTIFUL.
AND CLOSE. >>
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PAYING IT
FORWARD WHEN YOU
MAKE THAT
CONTRIBUTION BECAUSE YOU'RE
ALLOWING PEOPLE ALL OVER
THE STATE
TO WATCH
THIS GREAT
PROGRAM, THIS
HISTORY OF
EDUCATION, EVEN
IN A PROGRAM
ABOUT TRAINS. WE'RE LEARNING
ABOUT THE HISTORY
OF TRAINS.
WE'RE LEARNING
ABOUT THE
PRESERVATION
AROUND THESE
IMPORTANT PIECES
OF HISTORY.
ALL OF THAT
IS POSSIBLE THANKS
TO YOUR
SUPPORT. 1-800-236-3636
. >>
YOU WANT
TO RELIVE
THE GLORY
DAYS OF
RIDING AND DINING ON
THE RAILS, THE
BEST WAY
TO DO IT
IS AT
OUR $30
INVESTMENT. YOU CAN
HAVE THE
DINNE R
TRAIN FOR TWO
OR THE
PIZZA TRAIN FOR
FIVE. THIS IS A
GREAT WAY
TO RELIVE
IT WITH
BEAUTIFUL, HISTORIC
EQUIPMENT. I
LOVE THOSE
CUSTOM-BUILT DINING
ROOMS THAT THEY HAVE U P
THERE. IF
YOU'VE GOT AN
ANNIVERSARY COMING
UP, YOU
GOT A BIRTHDAY
COMING UP,
SOMETHING YOU WANT TO
DO WITH YOUR
SIGNIFICANT OTHER, THIS IS
THE TRIP TO
GO DO.
PRIVATE DINING
ROOM ALL
TO YOURSELF.
I'VE NEVER SEEN
IT. THIS
IS ONE OF A KIND.
GREG
VREELAND AND
MARDELL AND
ALEXANDER ARE
ALWAYS CREATING
SOMETHING NEW. THAT'S
WHY WE
WENT BACK UP
THERE AND
DID A BRAND
NEW PIECE
FOR YOU TO
SEE WHAT
THEY OFFER. SO
PLEASE CONSIDER
GETTING THAT
DINNER TRAIN. IF YOU WANT TO
GET THE
KIDS AND
DO PIZZA,
I WOULD
NEVER THINK
PIZZA AND TRAINS
WOULD GO
TOGETHER UNTIL I WAS UP THERE.
THIS I S
SUCH A FUN
FAMILY TIME.
GET YOU
R PIZZA. ENJOY.
LOOK OUT
THE WINDOWS
AND SEE
ALL THE
BEAUTIFUL WILDLIFE
THAT'S UP
THERE. THIS
IS FAMILY
FUN ,
FOLKS. SO
CONSIDER THAT
INVESTMENT. AGAIN
AT $30
SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP YOU'RE
GOING TO GET
YOUR CHO ICE OF
THE DINNER
TRAIN OR
THE PIZZA
TRAIN. YOU'RE
GOING TO GET
ALL THE
GREAT THANK YOU GIFTS
THAT WE TALKED
A BOUT,
THE 50
SEGMENTS OUT OF
MANY SHOWS,
INCLUDING THE
OW YOU'RE WATCHING RIGHT
NOW. YOU'LL
GET THE
8TH EDITION
DIRECTORY.
D YOU
GET OUR
COMPUTER DIRECTORY.
BUT IF YOU
CAN'T MAKE
UP YOUR
MIND AND YOU WANT
EVERYTHING, WE'VE
GOT THAT
FOR YOU.
WE'LL THROW IN A
DRINK TUMBLER.
YOU GET
THE MUSEUM
PASSES TO
BOTH MUSEUMS.
SO CONSIDER
MAKING THAT INVESTMENT AND
LET'S HEAR A
LITTLE BIT MORE
. NICK FROM
THE MUSEUM
IS HERE
WITH MICHELE. >>
THANKS, BOB.
NICK IS JOINING
ME FROM
THE ILLINOIS RAILWAY
MUSEUM. NICK, YOU
STARTED WORKING
ON PRESERVATION BACK IN
THE '50s.
WHAT PROMPTED
YOU ?
I MEAN,
YOU'VE BEEN DOING THI
S FOR A
LONG TIME. >>
WELL, THE
ORGANIZATION, MICHELE,
STARTED IN
1953 AND
IT STARTED WITH
TEN GUYS
WHO WANTED
TO GET TOGETHER
TO SAVE
AN INTERURBAN
CAR. THAT
WAS AN INDIANA CAR.
THE SECOND
TWO THAT WERE
SAVED WERE
MILWAUKEE CARS. IT
WAS A STRANGE STORY
BECAUSE THE
ORIGINAL SITE WAS
IN NORTH CHICAGO, WHERE
THE NAVY
BASE IS,
HALFWAY BETWEEN CHICAGO
AND MILWAUKEE
OLT !
ON THE
OLD NORTH SHORELINE.
THEY FOUND A
PLACE TO
STORE THAT
CAR. THE NEXT
TWO THEY
WENT AFTER
IS THE MILWAUKEE
CARS.
OSE CARS
GOT SOLD
TO ST. OMAS, ONTARIO.
SO THOSE
ARE THE
ONLY TWO
CARS THAT
MADE THE
TRIP BOT
H WAYS
ACROSS LAKE MICHIGAN
O N A
CAR FERRY.
BUT THEY'RE
THE ONLY
TWO CAR
S FROM
THE MILWAUKEE
SYSTEM THAT WERE SAVED
IN THIS
COUNTRY. AND THAT'S
WHAT THE
MUSEUM IS
ABOUT, IS
ABOUT SAVING
EQUIPMENT FOR
FUTURE GENERATIONS. >>
THE HISTORY
INVOLVED IS
JUST --
THERE'S SO MUCH. AND YOU
GO IN
AND YOU
-- THE
VOLUNTEERS THEMSELVES
ARE THE
ONES WHO ARE
PRESERVING THESE
TRAINS. >> EVERY
PIECE HAS A
STORY TO
TELL. EVERY PIECE
HAS A STORY
TO TELL.
AND ALL
THE VOLUNTEERS, A
LOT OF
E CARS
WER E
SPONSORED BY
PEOPLE, AND IT
WAS --
IN THE
OLD DAYS IT WAS
PASS THE
HAT IN
ORDER TO GET STUFF.
AND THAT'S WHAT
THEY USED
TO DO,
IS PASS
THE HAT
TO BUY.
WE'D BUY THEM
FOR SCRAP.
AND THEY'D
HAVE A FUND-RAISING
CAMPAIGN AMONGST
THEMSELVES AND OTHER
FANS. AND
REALLY GOT A
HECK OF
A COLLECTION NOW.
HECK OF A
COLLECTION. >> THAT IS A
GREAT STORY.
1-800-236-3636. >> NOW,
THE ILLINOIS
RAIL MUSEUM
IS ONE OF
JUST MANY
GREAT LOCATIONS HERE.
I HAVE JUSTIN
TENPENNY WITH M
E FROM
THE NATIONAL RAILWAY
MUSEUM. THIS
PLACE IS
VERY UNIQUE.
TELL US A
LITTLE BIT
ABOUT WHAT
EXPERIENCE PEOPLE
CAN HAVE.
THEY GOT TRAIN
RIDES. THEY GOT
THE MUSEUM
TOURS INSIDE.
AND YOU HAVE A
VERY, VERY
UNIQUE ONE.
I LOVE
THAT YOU HAVE
THE TRAIN
RIDES AS WELL,
BUT TELL
FOLKS WHAT THEY
GET TO
EXPERIENCE WITH
E PACKAGE.>>
YEAH. YOU'RE
!
OUR MUSEUM
OFFERS SO MUCH
INTERACTIVE THINGS TO DO.
FAMILIES, YOUNG CHILDREN
CAN COME AND
WALK THROUGH
EISENHOWER'S COMMAND TRAIN.
EY CAN SIT
IN THE
CAB OF THE
BIG BOY, A
STEAM LOCOMOTIVE.
YOU CAN SEE
THE GG1
ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE.
YOU CAN SEE
THE ARROW
TRAIN. >> IS THAT
THE ONLY
ONE LEFT?
>> THERE IS
ONE OTHER ONE
OUT THERE.
WE HAVE NO.
2. WE'RE VERY
PROUD OF
IT. >> WHAT I
S YOUR
MAIN MISSION? THIS
IS A TREMENDOUS
AMOUNT OF EDUCATION,
BUT A VERY
TACTILE EXPERIENCE FOR
THE KIDS AS
WELL. THE PARENTS
WILL ENJOY
T. THE
IT.
E KIDS
WILL ENJOY IT.
IT'S JUST A
TRUE GEM. IT'S
UP IN GREEN
BAY, RIGHT?
>> YES
. GREEN
BAY, WISCONSIN. >>
SO, FOLKS, CONSIDER
MAKING
THAT INVESTMENT AND
YOU CAN
AGAIN AT THAT
$20 LEVEL
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND
GET YOU
PASSES TO GO
TO BOTH
LOCATIONS. THE'RE FAMILY
PASSES. HOW MANY ARE
IN YOUR
FAMILY? DOESN'T MATTER.
BRING THEM.
THOSE PASSES
ARE GOING TO
GET YOU
THROUGH. YOU
GET THE
DVD, GUIDEBOOK AND
DIRECTORY AS WELL.
$10 MORE SUSTAINING
W E'RE GOING
TO GO AHEAD AND GIVE
YOU THOSE
PASSES AND
YOUR CHOICE
OF GOING ON
THE DINNER
TRAIN OR
PIZZA TRAIN ALONG
WIT H
THE THANK YOU
GIFTS WE TALKED
ABOUT EARLIER.
AT THE
$35 LEVEL,
$4 20RBGS
YOU $420,
YOU GET
IT ALL,
ALL OF
THOSE THANK YOU
GIFTS. >> YOUR
CONTRIBUTION RIGHT NOW
AT 1-800-236-3636
, IT
DOES SO MUCH MORE THAN YOU
POSSIBLY KNOW.
IN ADDITION TO
ALL OF
THESE GREAT
GIFTS, FAMILY
ENTERTAINMENT,
MEALS, THE
DIRECTORY ALONE,
IDEAS FOR TRIPS
WITH YOUR
FAMILY OR
SOLO, JUS
T IN
YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
OR ALL OVER
THE COUNTRY.
YOU'VE ALSO
GOT THE
PIZZA. YOU'VE
GOT TWO
OTHER MUSEUMS
YOU CAN
GO TO, A
TUMBLER, A HAT. IT'S AN
AMAZING VALUE.
AND ON TOP
OF IT
ALL, YOU
ARE SUPPORTING
THIS STATION
THA T
YOU LOVE, PBS WISCONSIN.
EVERY TIME YOU
WATCH, YOU
WILL KNOW
YOU HELPED
MAKE IT
ALL POSSIBLE
WIT H
YOUR GIFT
AT
800-236-3636.
>> SO
LET'S GO AHEAD
AND RECAP
SOME OF THE GREAT
WAYS YOU
CAN SHOW YOUR
SUPPORT. STARTING AT
OUR $10
SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP,
WE'RE GOING TO
GIVE YOU A
CHOICE OF THE
THREE-DVD SET AND
YOU'VE GOT
ALL THAT
BONUS FOOTAGE
OF BEHIND-THE-SCENES WHERE DAVID
AND I TALK
ABOUT ALL
THE INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT
PRODUCING THE SERIES.
THEN WE'VE
GOT OUR
GUIDEBOOK, OVER
500 LOCATIONS FULL OF
INFORMATION, EVERYTHING YOU NEED
KNOW.
IT'S A GREAT
THING. WE
CALL I T
THE BIBLE
OF RAILROADING
INFORMATION BECAUSE
EVERYTHING IS IN
THERE FOR NORTH
AMERICA. YOU WANT
TO SLEEP
I N A
CABOOSE, WE'VE
GOT A PLACE
FOR YOU TO
GO. THE
COMPUTER DIRECTORY
IS UPDATED.
PUT IT
IN YOUR
PC OR
MAC, IT'S
DOWNLOADABLE AND CLICK
THE LINKS, A LOT
OF INFORMATION, A LOT
OF VIDEOS.
MICHELE, WE ONLY
COME A COUPLE
TIMES TO
OUR MEMBERS
AND SAY
GET ONBOARD
WITH US,
NO PUN
INTENDED, LET'S
GET THIS
STEAM ENGINE
GOING. THINK
OF HOW MAN
Y YEARS PBS
WISCONSIN HAS BEEN ON.
OUR MEMBERS MAKE I
T POSSIBLE.
WE CAN'T THANK YOU
ENOUGH.
I CALL IT
THE 360
DEGREES OF
PROGRAMMING BECAUSE THERE'S
SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY ON THIS
NETWORK. IT'S
COMMERCIAL-FREE AND
WE OWN IT. >>
IT' S
ALL POSSIBLE
WHEN YOU
MAKE A DONATION.
BECOME A PART O F
SOMETHING BIGGER.
1-800-236-3636. OUR
VOLUNTEERS ARE
WAITING FOR
YOUR CALL.
OR YOU
CAN GO
TO pbswisconsin.org AND THANK YOU
FOR YOUR
SUPPORT.
-R h Civil War history, beautiful mountain scenery,
the American bald eagle,
and a luxury train
that lets you take it al
l in.
We're about to experience
all of that
on the Potomac Eagle
Scenic Railway
here in Romney, West Vir
ginia.
Bald eagle nests were
first spotted
here back in the early 1
980s.
In the decades since,
this discovery has helped create
one of the most immersive
railway adventures
in the country.
We've seen a lot of them
--
I think probably 20
to 25 eagles.
It's the natural environ
ment for them.
It's been fantastic.
-The highlight of the tr
ip is always the eagles,
because the first thing
that people ask us
when they come up to
get on the train
is, "When will we see
the eagles?"
And we have to say, "We
never know where they'll be."
-There's an eagle across
the river on the left
about a half a train len
gth ahead of the engine,
50 feet up in that ba
ld tree. Over.
-Train engineers on
the lookout for bald eagles?
Clearly, this is no ordin
ary rail journey.
Since 1991, the Potomac
Eagle Scenic Railroad
has been taking people d
eep into the Shenandoah Valley.
Locals love to ride this
train and talk about its rich histor
y.
-Track goes in areas
that aren't close to the roads,
so you get a chance
to see houses and homes
that you wouldn't or
dinarily see
if you're driving around.
Like, our house here,
you know, we had the
7th Virginia camp there
during the Civil War.
We had Ashby die -- yo
u know, die in our house there.
So it just gives you
a chance to see history
that you wouldn't see no
rmally here just by driving aroun
d.
-Intimately, the train w
eaves
through the small towns
and historic farmlands.
Passengers become new neighb
ors.
And friendly waves aboun
d.
You travel a leis
urely 10 miles an hour
upon a steady clicke
ty-clack of track.
-To me, the scenery and
watching the river
in this area and going back
and seeing the hi
story of the railroad
and visiting places like
this,
and the leisure part
of the ride.
It's a comfortable way
to travel.
-Oh, it's like tr
aveling back in time.
You know, you -- It's
a slower pace
'cause your everyday
life is just like,
boom, boom, boom. You're
running, running.
And when you get on a tr
ain, it's just like things
just slow down an
d it's a nice relaxing day.
[ Train horn blares ]
-One of the highlights
on this trip
is the crossing
of the Sycamore Bridge.
It provides expansive vi
ews down the river valley.
It's also a place where
one of the largest natural disasters
happened on this line
back on November 4, 1985.
Torrential rainfall dump
ed over 6 inches in a 12-hour pe
riod,
washing everything in it
s path downriver to this bridge.
The debris trapped by it
caused the water to dam up.
The immense water pressu
re pushed this bridge
to its breaking point,
creating a wall of water
that destroyed ev
erything in its path.
-In the trough, the -- the w
ater rose over 60 feet high.
It poured into sector
at 100 miles an hour.
And the state al
most abandoned the railroad
because the trestles wer
e gone, and in the trough,
the rails actually
hung like suspension bridges.
-The railroad seemed dam
aged beyond repair,
but the state of West Vi
rginia knew it was too vital of a
line
for commerce and tourism
and rebuilt it.
By doing so, it's helped
save a part of history
and continued a magical gate
way.
-It's just cool. And
then to know that
there's only three ways
in -- you know, through the rive
r,
walk, or through the tra
in. You know, that's kind of coo
l.
-The only thing in that
trough is the Potomac River,
the railroad, and the ea
gles,
so it's just great.
It's the most fabulous s
cenery east of the Mississippi Ri
ver.
-And taking on that jour
ney,
a collection of h
istoric passenger cars.
-We have four classes
of service.
Our top service is t
he Superior service.
That's our club cars.
We have two of those c
ars, and we seat from 32 to 38 pe
ople.
They're in nice lounge c
hairs and comfortable seating,
you know, nice big windo
ws.
-The second class of ser
vice, a Premium tabletop offerin
g,
followed by Standard and
Coach offerings.
-We've introduced dining
because we feel like
with a three-hour trip,
the added service wi
th the dining
gives people the experie
nce of eating on the train.
We feel like we needed t
o add more than just a coach rid
e.
-And some of the railroa
d's recent acquisitions
helped them accomplish t
hat.
-Well, we have tw
o dining cars --
one, an ex-Southern Rail
way dining car, and a second car
that was a Southern P
acific dining car.
Those two cars provide us
the kitchen space
that we need in order
to prepare the food
to be able to distribute
it throughout the train front
and rear for our four cl
asses of service.
-I need prime rib with r
ice, salmon with rice,
going to Walters, party
of two.
-And the meal offerings
are amazing.
-Good morning, everyone.
Today is the all-day
Petersburg trip.
We have 308 passengers
on the train.
-Getting all that food o
ut is Page Hines' responsibility,
along with a talented cr
ew.
Talk about a juggling ac
t here.
-My girls right now
are serving the lunch portion
for our Superior dining
for our
all-day Petersburg trip.
They are very skilled,
nimble at what they do.
-You kind of have to lea
rn just to sway with it.
You learn to dance.
You got to have the move
s.
You guys enjoy.
-After your meal, I
highly recommend
coming out here
to the open observation car.
This is definitely the b
est place to spot the bald eagle
s.
The bald eagle -- icons
of the sky,
American symbols of stre
ngth,
courage, and freedom.
Once endangered,
now they have flourished
in this area.
It's fitting that bald e
agles fly here
with the White House
less than three hours away.
But as a passenger on the
Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad,
you are far from
the big city traffic.
Just the song of the cri
ckets
broken by the slow rumbl
es of steel wheels,
for this is a map of
rail and river,
lone country roads
and cornfields,
and, of course,
the national symbol of America.
-We're creating an exper
ience that they'll never forget.
Memories that last a lif
etime.
♪♪
[ Train whistle blows ]
♪♪
-In Cumberland, Maryland,
steamy ghosts still roam
loudly through century-old tunn
els,
reminding us of another
time when this area was truly
the genesis of transport
ation in the United States.
The story of the rail li
nes in this region
was linked to a race
between steam and water power.
-Cumberland was really
a very important city
and a transportation cro
ssroads in many ways
because of the National
Road, the C&O Canal,
the Baltimore and Ohio Railr
oad.
-The canal was more
of a family business,
with generations steering
the boats
and manning the lockhous
es.
That's all gone now.
[ Bell clanging ]
But these days,
Mountain Thunder
continues spanning the p
ast to the present.
And while much of
this area's history
is preserved in static
national parks and dusty
black-and-white photos,
there is a sound from the 1800s
relentlessly echoing
through the dairy lands
and high mountain ridges
here.
The Western Maryland
Scenic Railroad,
with its massive steam lo
comotives
transporting dazzled passeng
ers,
who realize time travel
never looked so good.
Bill, you know, when I
when I look at you,
I mean, I look like
I could step back to 1940,
and you would be boarding
me on my train.
-Well, that is what
I try and portray.
And, in fact, that is my
era.
I love the '40s
and even the '50s.
So, yes, I try an
d dress the part.
But I hope you will
explore the -- the car
and enjoy every feature
you encounter.
-Conductor Bill Hatrick
not only works
on the Western Maryland
Scenic Railroad --
He actually leases one
of the vintage cars he has,
a 1949 Southern Pacific
club/lounge car,
to the cause with
one goal in mind.
-Yeah, that is exactly
what I'm going for,
that they'll feel like
they are on a time machine.
-There are many time cap
sules on this train.
One of them literally li
fts you up higher than all the o
thers.
If you want to experience
all the beauty
that this rail journey
offers here
on the Western Maryland
Scenic Railroad,
you got to take
one of their dome cars.
As you can see,
it's a panoramic view
everywhere you look.
-What I like about the d
ome car is the fact
that you can see so m
uch more.
You can see in front of
you. You can see behind you.
You can see up, the skie
s, the clouds.
It's such a lovely day
with the white clouds
against the blue sky.
-"Ride the scenic line"
-- That's the marketing phrase
used by the Western Mary
land Scenic Railroad.
And oh-so true.
The 32-mile round trip
from Cumberland
to Frostburg climbs 1,30
0 feet, passing by Lover's Leap,
skirting past the my
sterious Bone Cave,
plunging 916 feet into
mountain tunnel darkness,
and, of course,
the legendary bend
at the famous He
lmstetter's Curve --
one of the most treasured
train photo opportunities
in the world. -So He
lmstetter's Curve,
is -- is unique because
it's a horseshoe curve.
If all the trees were cl
eared, you could see the entire t
rain
from one side of the cur
ve all the way around the farm
and all the way
headed up the mountain.
It's really where th
e grade picks up.
It's really impressive
to be riding in the train,
and you can look out and see
the steam engine pulling you around,
and you're almost pa
rallel to it.
It's kind of cool.
-There's a lot of reasons
to bring a camera
when going on this trip,
not only for the beauty
and history outside your window,
but also inside
the train as well.
This is definitely
a first for me
in my 30 years.
I've never been on a train
that has a barbershop in
it.
Bill has done a tremendo
us job re-creating
what it really was like
to ride on these trains
back in the '50s.
-That was the -- the zen
ith of services
offered on the great
first-class trains of old.
And I thought, "Wow,
this is the car I want."
-Oh, it's a throwback to
the golden age of train travel.
The '50s were the highli
ght of train travel,
and this car is i
mpeccably restored.
It is like riding in
a time machine.
-Now, while the barber c
hair is an interesting photo op,
the biggest star is lite
rally at the front of the train.
-The 1309 is the largest
steam locomotive on the East Coa
st.
It's a wonderful thing --
the years and years
they spent on restoration
and just the enthusiasm,
the talent that we have here,
the skill.
-This locomotive has been
named the "Beast of the East"
for a very good reason.
Look how big it is. It's huge.
And it was specifically
built to haul out the coal
out of the West Virginia
and Kentucky mountains.
It took the railroad seven y
ears to rebuild the 1309.
The crew here is very pr
oud of that accomplishment and enjoy
sharing interesting facts
about this locomotive
with its patrons.
-This is the boiler.
-Okay.
-All right? At the
at the other end of the boiler
is the firebox.
It's a chamber th
at is surrounded by water.
-I really didn't underst
and how the wheels were turned.
I love steam trains,
coal-fired trains.
They're loud.
They're big. And
they have so many parts,
I understand, because
it's pretty mechanical.
You know, there's water,
and there's coal, and th
ere's fire.
And the steam turns
the wheels,
and you can kind of see
all the parts.
-She's just so unique.
She's the only engine
of her kind operating
in the United States
certainly of her size.
She is the largest co
mpound Mallet,
which is complex stea
m engine talk,
but she's an incredible,
incredible machine.
And we haven't put a tra
in behind her here
at the Western Maryland
that is heavy enough
to tax her going
up the hill.
-♪ This train going
up around Prospect Way ♪
-Yeah!
-♪ I don't care
what all the people say ♪
-Who knows? Maybe even
a song will break out
on your trip. -♪
Yeah ♪ -You just
need to come here and experience
it for yourself.
-♪ Going up the trai
l on the 1309 ♪
[ Rhythmic clapping ]
-There's something fo
r everyone here
at the Western Maryland
Scenic Railroad,
from a variety of passen
ger car classes and services --
they can offer you luxury
to coach --
from dome views, to stick
ing your head out
and feeling all the elem
ents this journey offers.
-Look how slow it's goin
g.
We have plenty of time to
just see everything around us.
It's beautiful. I love i
t. [ Laughs ]
-It's like a step back i
n time.
Like, I was born in the
'50s, and this is just sort of
a neat experience seeing
how they traveled back then.
♪♪
[ Train horn blares ]
-It's all here for you,
from historic diesel locomotives.
..
[ Train whistle blows ]
♪♪
...to the largest operat
ing steam engine on the East Coa
st.
The Western Maryland Sce
nic Railroad truly offers a tast
e
of everything railroading
for you to experience,
taking you away from the
hustle and bustle
of the modern-day world
and allowing you to slip
back in time for a few hours
to the golden age of
railroading.
♪♪
"We need to be bold,
wild, and exciting
with something di
fferent up our sleeves" --
That's the motto of o
ur next railway adventure.
I'm here in old Santa Fe,
New Mexico,
about to take a journey
that's filled
with entertainment,
great food, music,
along with some
breathtaking scenery.
It seems like a ride thr
ough a Hollywood movie set
on a giant steel dragon
snaking its way across
the beautiful Desert Southwest.
But this is more than a
scene.
It's a story that you're
a part of as you ride
the Sky Railway through
one of the most pictures
que landscapes in America.
The vivid characters
that decorate the train
come from the mind
of one of its owners,
George R. R. Martin,
the author and producer
behind the "Game of Thrones"
and other blockbuster hi
ts.
-The only thing
George requested was a wolf
and a dragon.
That is an ode to his creation
of "Fire and Ice."
-It was the largest proj
ect
that artist Joerael Numi
na had ever done,
taking him around 9 mont
hs and 700 cans
of spray paint to comple
te.
Not the kind of thing
you'll see on any other trains.
-This humbles me to b
e able to paint this train
for the historical conte
xt that it's the first time
that graffiti culture
and railroad culture
had come into alliance
to create something beautiful.
And I hope that's an opening
for more railroads to do the sam
e
because railroads aren't
going anywhere and graffiti
isn't going anywhere.
-The look isn't the only
thing that sets this experience apar
t.
It's the stories, the pe
ople, and the history
that offers new generati
ons a chance to experience something
that could have been
lost forever.
-We get people that come
from all over the world
that have been on
dozens of trains,
and it blows our mind
to this day,
and it's flattering
to hear people tell us that,
"Wow, I've been on trains
all over the country,
and this is the best one
I've been on."
-The Sky Railway line
stretches across 18 miles,
from Santa Fe, New Mexic
o,
to the tiny historic town
of Lamy.
A group of investors,
including Martin,
decided to give it anoth
er chapter in its rich history.
You see, years ago,
Lamy was a bustling community
with several thousand re
sidents
and an original stop
along the line.
Some of the buildings there
date back more than a century.
-Just, you know, 25 m
inutes' car ride
outside of Santa Fe, but
...
much different ar
chitecturally
and just untouched, real
ly.
I mean, it's never been
built back over.
You know, this is authen
tic Lamy, New Mexico,
like it was, you know
, 120 years ago.
-The Legal Tender may ha
ve started out as a saloon,
but nowadays it's known
as a destination
for high-end cuisine.
-The Brunch Run
is extremely popular.
They do a wonderful
buffet spread.
And when you walk inside
the Legal Tender,
you're just taken back i
n time.
It's -- The bar is from Germ
any. They brought it here by boat
.
-If you truly want to re
live the golden age of railroadin
g,
I highly recommend
you ride in this car --
theAcoma. It is
gorgeously restored
with a beautiful Art Deco
interior
that will truly give you a t
aste of what it was like
to ride in that time per
iod.
-Well, this is 10
0-year-old car that has been
restored to its original bea
uty.
It's a different experie
nce to get on a car like this
when it's on a railroad
track
and then going in to
see it in a museum.
It's just a remarkable t
hing to sit in a car
that has so much history
literally just oozing
out of the side walls.
-This is a rare opportun
ity to ride in style
like the greatest stars
of the Golden Age.
-You know, it's just
the nostalgia,
I mean, the way that it
feels.
It's just like it takes
you way, way, way back.
And it's just -- It's be
en so much fun today.
We've had a blast.
-It's wonderful. Wond
erful.
Slow things down.
Feel the rails.
See the beauty outside.
Meet the people. It's
the way life should be.
[ Cheers and applause ]
-And Native Americans
used them in cooking.
They flavored their meats
with that. And...
-Another popular trip
is the Lore of the Land,
a back-to-nature trek
that combines music and stories
that help you understand
how the scenic wonderland evolve
d.
-I am a docent at our
botanical garden.
I really enjoy ethnobota
ny. I love talking about that
along this trip, all
our plants along the way,
the trees that we have,
and how they were used historica
lly
by the peoples of New Me
xico.
[ Up-tempo music plays]
-And music is as much
a part of the journey
as the surrounding scene
ry.
A ride on the Sky Railway
is a feast for the senses.
No matter what class of
service you book on this train,
everyone has access
to the open-air car.
This is by far the best
place to be if you want to absor
b
all the beautiful scenery
this trip offers.
-Everybody's favorite car
is our flatcar.
It's my favorite place t
o be.
Most people, once th
ey discover that it's there,
it's where they spend
the rest of the trip.
-This is where you not
only feel the breeze
and see its incredib
le sunsets --
It's a great place to re
lax.
It's easy to understand
why artists,
writers, and creators
have come here over the years
to experience th
e natural beauty close up.
It's breathtaking.
-New Mexico is t
he "Land of Enchantment."
And as the light changes,
like, minute by minute,
you're watching it.
And you're out there with
your hair blowing in the air.
You're on an open-air ca
r.
You see everything.
It's incredible.
-Just like a novel,
the Sky Railway is creat
ing its own story with many chap
ters,
interesting characters
you love to meet,
exotic locations, and
plenty of memorable moments.
-We have all these
different experiences
that you can ride once
and you don't feel like
you've really experienced
all that we have to offe
r, right?
And you can come back ti
me and time again
and experience a
different experience.
And we're always evolving
and adding on to that.
-The Sky Railway is a rar
e chance
to see some of the most
spectacular scenery
in the Southwest
while riding on
a one-of-a-kind train.
The stories and moments
it creates are timeless.
♪♪
%
>>
WELCOME BACK
TO
THE "GREAT% SCENIC RAILWAY JOURNEY
S"
30TH
ANNIVERSARY. AND THIS
IS A CHALLENGE
BREAK. OUR MEMBERS ARE
GOING TO
MATCH ANY
DONATION YOU
MAKE DURING
THIS BREAK ONE
FOR ONE.
SO THIS I S
AN OPPORTUNITY TO
HAVE YOUR
MEMBERSHIP GO TWICE
AS FAR.
YOU CAN ACTUALLY
BENEFIT BY
HAVING IT DOUBLED
AT 1-800-236-3636
. OR
BY GOING
ONLIN E
TO pbswisconsin.org. >> SO
MAKE THAT
CONTRIBUTION NOW.
REMEMBER, EVERY ONE
OF YOU
THAT HAVE BEEN WATCHING
THIS AND
THINKING
ABOUT IT,
YOU R
DOLLARS WILL BE DOUBLE
! ED.
WE'RE GOING
TO SHOW
YOU ALL
THE
EAT LEVELS WE HAVE.YOU CAN
MAKE IT
WHATEVER YOU WANT
TO PLEDGE.
MAKE A VOTE
OF SUPPORT
HERE. LET'S SHOW
YOU ALL
THE MANY
WAYS YOU
CAN MAKE
THAT PLEDGE OF
SUPPORT HERE FOR PBS
WISCONSIN. THE NATIONAL RAILROAD MUSEUM IN
GREEN BAY IS ONE OF THE LARGEST
RAIL MUSEUMS IN THE UNITED STATES, WITH OVER 70 PIECES OF
ROLLING STOCK, SEASONAL TRAIN RIDES AND INDOOR AND OUTDOOR
EXHIBITS. THE ILLINOIS RAILWAY MUSEUM,
LOCATED IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS, TRANSPORTS YOU TO THE GLORY AGE
OF RAIL TRAVEL ABOARD ROLLING TIME MACHINES.
VISITORS OF ALL AGES ENJOY EXPLORING ITS HISTORIC
COLLECTION AND CAN EXPERIENCE A RIDE ON A LOVINGLY RESTORED
TRAIN. YOUR ENGINEER''S LEVEL GIFT
INCLUDES FAMILY PASSES FOR BOTH MUSEUMS.
AND, INCLUDED WITH YOUR MUSEUM PASSES, YOU WILL RECEIVE THE
ANNIVERSARY SHOW 3-DISC SET, THE NEW 8TH EDITION GUIDEBOOK, AND
THE DOWNLOADABLE COMPUTER DIRECTORY.
INTERESTED IN DINING ON THE RAILS WITH THE WISCONSIN GREAT
NORTHERN RAILROAD? MAKE A GIFT OF $360 OR AN
ONGOING $30 MONTHLY CONTRIBUTION AT OUR CONDUCTOR''S LEVEL, AND
YOU''LL HAVE THE CHOICE OF AN ELEGANT DINNER FOR TWO OR A FUN
MEAL FOR FIVE ON THE PIZZA TRAIN.
THE WISCONSIN GREAT NORTHERN RAILROAD OFFERS THE COUNTRY''S
FIRST PRIVATE DINING SERVICE, WHERE YOU CAN ENJOY YOUR OWN
ROOM AS YOU''RE SERVED AN APPETIZER PLATE, A CUP OF SOUP
AND THEN YOUR CHOICE OF ONE OF THREE PRESELECTED ENTREES.
A LITTLE LATER YOU WILL DELIGHT IN A GENEROUS SLICE OF A GOURMET
DESSERT. ALONG THE WAY YOU WILL ENJOY THE
BEAUTY OF THE AREA AS YOU PASS BY FARM FIELDS, DEEP WOODS, AND
THE SCENIC NAMEKAGON RIVER. IF YOU WANT TO BRING THE KIDS,
THEN SELECT THE PIZZA TRAIN PACKAGE.
IT''S ONE OF THE RAILROAD''S MO ST
POPULAR, FAMILY-ORIENTED TRAIN RIDES EACH SEASON.
YOU CAN BRING UP TO FIVE GUESTS AND CHOOSE FROM PEPPERONI,
SAUSAGE OR CHEESE PIZZA BAKED FRESH IN THE DINING CAR ON THE
TRAIN. INCLUDED WITH YOUR TICKETS YOU
WILL ALSO RECEIVE THE
ANNIVERSARY SHOW 3-DISC SET, THE NEW 8TH EDITION GUIDEBOOK, AND
THE DOWNLOADABLE COMPUTER DIRECTORY.
CAN''T MAKE UP YOUR MIND ON WHICH
PACKAGE TO CHOOSE? THEN GET THEM ALL AT OUR
PRESIDENTIAL LEVEL WITH A GIFT OF $420, OR AN ONGOING
CONTRIBUTION OF $35 PER MONTH. YOU WILL RECEIVE THE FAMILY
PASSES TO THE NATIONAL RAILROAD MUSEUM AND ILLINOIS RAILWAY
MUSEUM AND A CERTIFICATE FOR THE WISCONSIN GREAT NORTHERN
RAILROAD''S DINNER OR PIZZA TRAIN.
INCLUDED WITH YOUR TICKETS IS THE ANNIVERSARY SHOW 3-DISC SET,
THE NEW 8TH EDITION GUIDEBOOK AND THE DOWNLOADABLE COMPUTER
DIRECTORY. AND, AS AN EXTRA THANK-YOU GIFT,
WE''LL INCLUDE THE GREAT SCENIC RAILWAY JOURNEYS DRINK TUMBLER.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN RECEIVING JUST ONE OF THE
EXCLUSIVE GREAT SCENIC RAILWAY THANK-YOU GIFTS, CONTRIBUTE AT
OUR PASSENGER LEVEL AND YOU CAN CHOOSE FROM THE ANNIVERSARY SHOW
3-DISC SET, THE NEW 8TH EDITION GUIDEBOOK, OR THE DOWNLOADABLE
COMPUTER DIRECTORY WITH A ONE-TIME CONTRIBUTION OF $120,
OR AN ONGOING GIFT OF JUST $10 PER MONTH.
THE ANNIVERSARY 3-DISC DVD SET INCLUDES THE SHOW YOU''RE
WATCHING NOW, ALONG WITH AN ADDITIONAL 40 RAILWAY ADVENTURES
PLUS BONUS FOOTAGE NOT SEEN IN THE BROADCAST, INCLUDING A
SIT-DOWN INTERVIEW WITH THE CREATOR AND PRODUCER, ROBERT VAN
CAMP, AND PAST SHOW HOST, DAVID HOLT, AS THEY PROVIDE
INTERESTING FACTS ON THE HISTORY OF THE SERIES.
IF YOU WANT TO DISCOVER, RESEARCH AND READ ABOUT THE MANY
SCENIC RAIL JOURNEYS IN NORTH AMERICA, PLEASE ASK FOR THE NEW
8TH EDITION GUIDEBOOK. IT''S A COMPLETE AND UPDATED
DIRECTORY TO OVER 500 TOURIST RAILROADS, RAILWAY MUSEUMS, AND
RAILROAD-RELATED ATTRACTIONS. THIS BOOK INCLUDES DETAILED
WRITE-UPS, PICTURES, ROUTE MAPS
AND ROLLING STOCK, ALONG WITH FULL CONTACT DETAILS ON EACH
LOCATION. INTERESTED IN VISITING ALL THE
LOCATIONS IN THE BOOK ON YOUR PC, MAC OR TABLET?
ASK FOR THE NEW DOWNLOADABLE COMPUTER DIRECTORY.
IT FEATURES THE SAME LOCATIONS
THE BOOK, BUT OFFERS EVENMORE DETAILED INFORMATION,
VIDEOS, PICTURES, AND INTERACTIVE MAPS, PLUS DIRECT
WEB LINKS TO OVER 500 LOCATIONS, INCLUDING DAY OUT WITH THOMAS
AND POLAR EXPRESS EVENTS NATIONWIDE.
THANK YOU FOR
YOU R
CONTRIBUTION AND
YOUR SUPPORT
OF PBS WISCONSIN WHEN YOU
MAKE A DONATION AND
REQUEST ONE OF
THESE EXCLUSIVE "GREAT SCENIC RAILWAY J
OURNEYS" GIFT PACKAGES.
>> WELL,
MICHELE,
I LOVE
CHALLENGE GRANTS AND I
WANT TO
CHALLENGE ALL
OF YOU
WHO WATCH
ANY PROGRAM HERE
ON PBS WISCONSIN,
BECOME A MEMBER,
RENEW THAT
MEMBERSHIP TODAY AND
DOUBLE THAT.
I LOVE
IT. THAT
$420 BECOMES
$840. THAT'S
GOING TO
HELP GO A
LONG WAY.
IF I
COULD TURN
THE CAMERAS AND
SHOW YOU WHAT
IT TAKES AND
ALL THE
PEOPLE THAT
MAKES THIS
POSSIBLE, YOU'D BE
AMAZED. HOW
MANY PEOPLE
ARE WHERE
THE CAMERAS
ARE AT,
PEOPLE ON THE
FLOOR, ENGINEERS.
IT TAKES A
LOT TO
BRING THESE
TYPE PROGRAMS TO YOU
DAY IN
AND DAY
OUT. WE
HOPE YOU VALUE
THAT. WE
COME TO YOU A
COUPLE TIMES A
YEAR. COME CELEBRATE
WITH US.
CELEBRATE A CHALLENGE
GRANT, TOO. >> THIS
IS A GREAT
TIME ESPECIALLY IF YOU
ARE ONE OF
THOSE PEOPLE WHO
THINK I
WOULD LOVE
TO GIVE
HUNDREDS OF
DOLLARS
T I CAN
ONLY AFFORD
TO GIVE
$50. WELL, GUESS
WHAT? YOU
JUST GAVE
$100 TO
THIS STATION.
TAKE ADVANTAGE O
F THIS
GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
IT'S SUPER EASY AND
FAST. 1-800-236-3636 OR
pbswisconsin.org. OUR
VOLUNTEERS ARE
WAITING FOR
YOUR CALLS.
IT WILL
JUST TAKE A
COUPLE MINUTES. >> SO
WE HOPE
YOU'LL DO
YOUR PART.
BECOME A PART OF THE
PROCESS THAT
MAKES PUBLIC TELEVISION SO GREAT.
IT'S YOU. YOU ARE
THE BACKBONE
OF IT.
WE WANT
TO THANK
OUR CURRENT
MEMBERS. WE'RE
ASKING YOU TO
INVEST IN THE FUTURE OF
IT. IT'S
OUR JOB,
OUR RESPONSIBILITY
TO MAK
E SURE
YOU AND
I AND
EVERYBODY WHO CAN
AFFORD IT.
I GREW
UP WITH
ZOOM. PEOPLE
RAISING THEIR
HAND OVER
THERE IN
THE VOLUNTEERS.
THEY CAME
TO MY
HIGH SCHOOL
IN MASSACHUSETTS. PUBLIC
TELEVISION IS A
CHART OF
US -- PART
OF US
AND WHO WE
ARE. PLEASE CONSIDER
MAKING THAT INVESTMENT.
SUPPORT THIS
GREAT NETWORK
AND MAKE
SUR E IT'S
HERE FOR
ANOTHER
YEARS.
>> THI S I
S THE
PERFECT TIME
THAT MAKE
THAT DONATION NOW
IN THE
MIDDLE OF OUR
CHALLENGE GRANT.
1-800-236-3636. THERE ARE A LOT
OF REASONS
THAT YOU
WANT TO
JOIN PBS WISCONSIN
AND BECOME A
MEMBER. MAYBE
IT'S BECAUSE YOU
GET A
ANCE TO TRAVEL
THE WORLD
FROM YOUR
LIVING ROOM.
EVEN WITH THIS
AM PRACTICE,
!
PROGRAM, WE HAVE
BEEN ALL OVER
THE COUNTRY,
EVE N
TO OUR
NEIGHBOR CANADA.
SOME PEOPLE DON'T HAV
E THE
OPPORTUNITY TO GO
BEYOND SOMETIMES
EVEN JUST
THEIR LIVING
ROOMS. THIS I
S THE
CHANCE FOR
YOU TO
EXPERIENCE TRAINS ALL OVER
THE COUNTRY.
AND THE
GREAT THING I
S WE'VE
GOT
E RIGHT UP IN THE
NORTHWOODS. TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF
THIS CHALLENGE
MATCH. SHOW YOUR
APPRECIATION FOR
THIS PROGRAM AND
ALL THE
AMAZING PROGRAMS
THAT WE HAVE
HERE ON THE
STATION BY MAKING A
PLEDGE. 1-800-236-3636
. >>
YOU KNOW,
EARLIER YOU WERE
HEARING NICK KALLAS TALK
ABOUT 70
YEARS AGO A
GROUP OF TEN
GUYS GOT
TOGETHER TO
SAVE ONE
PIECE OF A
TROLLEY. IT
HAS GROWN
INTO SOMETHING
TREMENDOUS. THINK
ABOUT THE
BEGINNING DAYS
OF PBS WISCONSIN AND HOW
MUCH IT'S
GROWN.
PLEASE
CONSIDER INVESTING.
EVERY DOLLAR IS
DOUBLED. IF
YOU WANT
TO DO
DINNER OR
PIZZA WITH YOUR
FAMILY, WE'VE
GOT THAT
PACKAGE FOR
YOU AT
THE WISCONSIN GREAT NORTHERN.
$30 SUSTAINING
MEMBERSHIP MONTHLY AND
YOU'RE GOING TO
HAVE A BEAUTIFUL
DINNER. YOU
CAN CHOOSE
THE PRIVATE
DINING ROOMS.
BEAUTIFUL,
FOUR-COURSE MEAL.
I CAN'T THINK
OF ANYTHING
BETTER BUT
GOING 5,
10 MILES
AN HOUR
AND LOOKING
AT THE
BEAUTIFUL SCENERY
AND HAVING A
DINNER WITH
MY WIFE
OR WHOEVER
YOU WOULD
WANT TO BRING WITH YOU.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL
WAY AND
IT'S A FAMILY-RUN OPERATION
STARTED BY
GREG AND MARDELL
AND THEIR
SON ALEXANDER.
YOU'RE GOING TO
SEE HIM
IN OUR
LAST BLOCK. SO
CONSIDER THAT
INVESTMENT. REMEMBER, THA
T $30
OR THAT
$360 IS
GOING TO BE DOUBLED
WHEN YOU
GO WITH
THAT PACKAGE.
YOU'VE GOT TO
CHOOSE ONE
OR THE
OTHER. IF
YOU CANNOT
MAKE UP
YOU R
MIND, HERE'S
THE PIZZA
TRAIN. KIDS AND
TRAINS AND
PIZZA. GREG AND
MARDELL HAVE
CREATED SOMETHING THAT
I DO NOT
SEE THI
S ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE
COUNTRY. THEY
HAVE SO MANY
UNIQUE VENUES UP
THERE. YOU SEE
THE CONNECTION WITH
THE PARENTS AND
THEIR CHILDREN.
I DON'T SEE ANYBODY WIT
H THEIR
PHONES EXCEPT FOR
TAKING PICTURES. THIS IS
REALLY A RELAXING
TIME TO HAVE
SOME FELLOWSHIP
WITH YOUR
KIDS AND
GRANDKIDS AND A
WAY TO
ENJOY THE
BEAUTIFUL SCENERY OF
THE GREAT
NORTH UP
THERE. IT'S
JUST A GREAT
TIME. AGAIN, IF
YOU CAN'T
MAKE UP
YOUR BEHIND,
WE'RE GOING
TO ASK
YOU TO COME UP
PRESIDENT !
PRESIDENTIAL LEVEL. WE'LL
GIVE YOU
BOTH PASSES
, SO YOU
HAVE FOUR
VENUES, THE DVD,
THE GUIDEBOOK,
AND DRINK
TUMBLER. REMEMBER, WHEN
YOU COME
IN AT
$420, BECOMES
$840.
I CAN'T TELL
YOU. THIS IS
THE BREAK,
PLEASE, CONSIDER
MAKING THI
S MEMBER CHALLENGE.
WE CAN'T
NOT THANK
OUR MEMBERS
ENOUGH THAT
MAKE THIS
CHALLENGE GRANT POSSIBLE
EVERY YEAR. CONSIDER
MAKING THAT
INVESTMENT. LET'S
HEAR A LITTLE
BIT MORE
FROM ONE OF
THE MUSEUMS
HERE FROM
MICHELE. >> JUSTIN
TENPENNY IS
BACK WITH
ME, BUT
BEFORE WE
TALK, WAN
T TO
REMIND YOU WE ARE
IN THAT
CHALLENGE GRANT. JUST A FEW
MINUTES LEFT FOR
YOU TO GET YOUR
DONATION DOUBLED
AT
800-236-3636.
SO, NATIONAL
RAILROAD MUSEUM, A
LITTLE TONGUE-TIED
THERE, TELL
ME ABOUT
SOME OF
YOU R
MORE UNUSUAL
COLLECTIONS. YOU
WERE TELLING
ME DURING A
BREAK BEFORE ABOUT YOU
HAVE THE
LARGEST COLLECTION
OF DRUMHEADS.
FIRST TELL US
WHAT A DRUMHEAD
IS. >> DRUMHEADS
ARE KIND
OF LIKE
OLD ADVERTISING.
IT'S A BILLBOARD
ON A TRAIN.
IT'S A DRUMHEAD.
YOU HAVE YOUR
LOGO ON IT,
DIFFERENT WORDS. THEY LIGHT
UP. THEY
LOOK REALLY
PRETTY. IT'S
KIND OF
LIKE HAVING A
NICE HEADLIGHT ON
THERE. WE
HAVE THE
LARGEST COLLECTION
OF DRUMHEADS
IN THE
E NTIRE
WORLD. AND
THEY'RE INTERACTIVE.
SO WHEN
YOU BRING
THE GRANDKIDS
IN, WHEN
YOU BRING
THE KIDS
IN, WHEN YOU
COME YOURSELF, YOU
CAN EXPLORE
EACH ONE OF
THOSE DRUMHEADS, LEARN
ITS HISTORY,
SEE WHAT
ROUTE ITS
TRAIN TOOK
THROUGHOUT AMERICA AND
REALLY IMMERSE YOURSELF IN
THAT HISTORY. >>
THAT'S REALLY
COOL. I
DIDN'T REALIZE IT
WOULD BE
SO --
I THINK
OF A DRUMHEAD
AND... >> YEAH.
IT'S VERY
INTERACTIVE. THAT'S
WHY THE
KIDS LOV E
LEARNING ABOUT ALL
THE DRUMHEADS. >> IF
YOU APPRECIATE THIS
HISTORY, GET YOUR
DONATION MATCHED RIGHT
NOW. 1-800-236-3636. >> WE ONLY
HAVE A FEW
MORE
NUTES IN THIS BREAK.
WE NEED
TO HEAR
FROM ANOTHER 15
OF YOU
OUT THERE
ON THIS
CHALLENGE BREAK. I
WANT TO
CHALLENGE YOU
IF YOU'VE BEEN
WATCHING THIS,
DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THE
AMOUNT IS.
MAYBE JUST GET
THE GUIDEBOOK
FOR THE
$10 SUSTAINING
MEMBERSHIP.
GOT MY
GOOD FRIEND
NICK.
WANT PEOPLE
TO STAY
WATCHING BECAUSE
WE'RE GOING
TO PULL
YOUR SEGMENT OUT
IN OUR
LAS T
BREAK OF
PROGRAMMING, REAIR THE
WISCONSIN SEGMENT
AND SHOW
NICK. NICK,
YOUR TEN
GUYS CREATED
SOMETHING 70
YEARS AGO THAT
IS A WORLD
TREASURE RIGHT NOW.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IT IS? WHAT'S
THE MAGIC?
YOU GET
TO TAKE A
10-MILE TRAIN RIDE.
TALK ABOUT
THE TRAIN
TRIPS. >> WELL,
IT'S HARD T O
DESCRIBE, BOB.
SOME PEOPLE
CALL IT
INSANITY. AND
P EOPLE, YOU KNOW,
CALL YOU
TRAIN NUTS AND ALL
OF THAT
STUFF. BUT
OUR TRAIN
RID E
IS JUST
THROUGH THE
ILLINOIS C
OUNTRYSIDE AND IT'S
JUST LIKE
ANY OTHER
PLACE. IT'S
CORNFIELDS AND THAT.
BUT YOU'RE ON A
VEHICLE THAT MIGHT
BE OVER
100 YEARS
OLD. >> I
LOVE THE
TROLLEYS. YOU
HAVE THE
STEAM ENGINE.
U HAVE EVERY
FORM OF
RAIL TRANSPORTATION.>> YES.
>> WHAT'S
THE TOTAL
COLLECTION NUMBER?
>> OVER
500 PIECES. >>
WHEN I
DID THE
SHOW, THEY WERE
AT 400.
THEY HAD
15 BARNES
FULL !
BARNS FULL
OF STUFF.
YOU CAN SPEND A
WHOLE WEEKEND
THERE. WHAT
YOUR FOLKS HAV
E DONE, THIS
IS A TRU E
AREA OF
DEEP RAIL
TRANSPORTATION WITH GREEN BAY
AND YOU AND
THE COLLECTIONS.
TO DO
BOTH OF
THOSE, WE
REALLY
PRECIATE THOSE.SO
PLEASE CONSIDER
MAKING THA
T PLEDGE.
MICHELE, HOW ARE
WE DOING ON
THE CHALLENGE?
>> WE ARE
DOING PRETTY
GOOD. HOLD
ON. WHAT IS
THAT? 13.
WE ARE
LOOKING FOR 20,
HOWEVER. PLEASE, PLEASE
MAKE THA
T CALL
IF YOU'VE ALREADY
MADE A DONATION, THANK YOU SO
MUCH. AND AREN'T
YOU SMART.
YOU'VE GOT
YOUR MONEY
DOUBLED, YOUR DONATION
DOUBLED. NOW, HOW ABOUT
YOU ?
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT
FOR THIS
PROGRAM. YOU'VE BEEN
LEARNING ABOUT TRAINS. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT
YOU. I'VE ALWAYS
WANTED TO
TAKE A COUPLE TRAIN
TRIPS, LIKE
ORIENT
!
EXPRESS, THE
CANADIAN ROCKIES,
YES. BUT THERE
ARE SO MANY
TRAIN TRIPS THAT
I'VE LEARNED
ABOUT ON
THIS PROGRAM THAT I'M
GOING TO
LOOK INTO,
ESPECIALLY THE
ONE THAT'S JUST
IN OUR
B ACKYARD.
HOW ABOUT
YOU? ARE YOU
PLANNING YOUR
NEXT TRIP
WHILE
YOU ARE
WATCHING THAT?
IF YOU
MAKE A DONATION
FOR $120,
YOU GET
THAT GUIDEBOOK.
SO YOU
CAN DO
EVEN MORE PLANNING.
MAKE YOUR
DONATION NOW.
BECOME A MEMBER AND DOUBLE
YOUR SUPPORT.
1-800-236-3636 .
>> MICHELE
WAS TALKING
ABOUT THE
ROCKY MOUNTAIN
OR A FEW
OTHERS. THIS NEXT
SEGMENT IS
IN THE
COLORADO ROCKIES, AN
UNBELIEVABLE
TRIP, THE
ROCKY MO TAIN
MOUNTAINEER. THEN
WE'RE GOING
TO SHO
W YOU
THE SEGMENT ON
THE ILLINOIS RAILWAY
MUSEUM AND
WISCONSIN GREAT NORTHERN.
FOLKS, CHALLENGE GRANT.
WE STILL NEED
TO HEAR
FROM A FEW
MORE OF
YOU TO GET
TO OUR
GOAL. PLEASE CONSIDER
DURING THIS
CHALLENGE THIS IS THE
TIME TO
GIVE US A YOU CA.
AGAIN, JUST STARTING
AT $10 A
MONTH, WE
GOT THREE
GREAT LEVELS.
IF YOU WANT TO GET
THE SHOW
DVD SET,
OVER 50
RAILWAYS, A LOT
OF BONUS
MATERIAL, INFORMATION O
N HOW
THE SERIES
STARTED AND
HOW WE'VE GOTTEN
INVOLVED IN
PRESERVATION OF RAILCARS AS
WELL. HOW ABOUT THE
GUIDEBOOK, OVER
500 TOURIST
RAILWAYS AND
MUSEUMS IN
T HERE, A
GREAT WAY
TO RESEARCH
AND FIN
D THEM ALL.
WE'VE
GOT THE
COMPUTER DIRECTORY
VERSION OF IT,
WHICH IS
DOWNLOADABLE. YOU
CAN SEARCH
ALL OF
THEM, OVER
500 OF THEM AS
WELL. IF YOU
WANT TO
BUMP IT
UP TO GET
THE MUSEUMS, THIS IS
GREAT. THIS
IS A GREAT
PACKAGE RIGHT
HERE, $20
SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP
OR ONE-TIME
GIFT OF
$240, WHICH
BECOMES $48
0 IF
YOU DO IT
DURING THIS
BREAK WHICH
YOU'LL REALLY
PRECIATE.
U'LL GET ALL
THE THANK YOU
GIFTS. THESE
ARE FAMILY
PASSES. YOU GOT
TWO, YOU
GOT TEN,
JUST BRING THEM.
IF YOU WANT TO BUNDLE
UP INTO
THE DINNER
TRAIN OR
PIZZA TRAIN, WE
HAVE THAT.
AND THEN OBVIOUSLY
OUR TOP
LEVEL, WHICH SOME OF
YOU HAVE
COME ON BOARD.
THIS IS A
GREAT VALUE
FOR THE
DOLLAR. YOU'RE GOING TO
GET THE
PIZZA TRAIN, DINNER
TRAIN, BOTH
MUSEUM
SSES AND THE THANK
YOU GIFTS
WITH THE
DRINK TUMBLER.
FOLKS, GOT
ABOUT 40
SECONDS BEFORE
GOING BACK TO
THE SHOW.
WE STILL
NEED T O
HEAR FRO
M THREE
MORE OF YOU
. PLEASE HELP
US GET
TO THAT.
I LOVE
TO MAKE
GOAL. EVERYBODY
KNOWS M E
HERE. I LOVE
TO MAKE
GOAL. IF
YOU ENJOY
ANY PROGRAM
ON PBS WISCONSIN, PICK UP THE
PHONE, GO
TO THE WEBSITE,
HELP US
MEET THE
GOAL DURING
THI S
CHALLENGE GRANT
BECAUSE THE
FOLKS THAT
CONTRIBUTE THIS
MONEY -- WE
NEED
O MORE OF
YOU TO
CALL IN
THE
XT 15 SECONDS
OR WHILE
WE'RE INTO
THIS NEXT
BREAK. WE
ARE HEADED
TO THE
COLORADO ROCKIES, TWO
OF MY
FAVORITE TRIPS. YOU'RE GOING
TO REALLY
ENJOY T.
WE'LL SEE
YOU BACK
IN ABOUT
20 MINUTES.
-A five-star culinary feast, beautiful Rocky Mountain sce
nery all around you,
all while traveling
on a true engineering marvel.
I'm on board the
Royal Gorge Route Railroad
in Cañon City, Colorado,
which offers all of this
and a lot more.
It's a sight to behold.
Colorado's Royal Gorge i
s a place only nature could crea
te.
-It's one of the most
spectacular train destinations
in the world.
I am passionate about th
at.
And I've ridden trains
around the world.
I lived in Europe fo
r a couple of years.
Nothing comes close to t
his.
-It's a total experience,
with a variety of sights
and sounds along the way,
with a view that inspired
one of America's most
colorful presidents.
-What I like particularly
about this canyon
is just the size of e
verything.
1,053 feet below the Roya
l Gorge Bridge --
raging rivers, tr
emendous rock formations.
You get a really good se
nse of the Earth's power
through the geology
that's been created here.
-The walls of the gorge
are steep,
stretching nearly 1,200
feet high in some spots.
At the bottom,
you have the rushing waters
of the Arkansas River.
While that made it
a challenge to build,
the natural beauty brings
visitors from around the world.
-So we came all the way
from Syracuse, New York,
and we wanted to see
some beautiful views.
And the open-air is j
ust really unbelievable,
the views you can see,
and hear the sounds
of the water of t
he Arkansas River.
-It's different on a
ny given day.
To see it in the wintert
ime, it's beautiful.
To hear people enjoying
it,
when you're out
in the open-air cars
and just listening to pe
ople, you know,
and talking to their kids
about just the natural beauty.
-Most of the fleet here
dates back to the 1950s.
They've all been renovat
ed and rebuilt,
along with eight stunning
Vista Dome cars
offering panoramic views
from every seat.
-I've never had any kind
of dining experience
like this before.
It's very open, and you
get
to see all the go
od, great views.
And there's a river,
so it's really nice.
-They also have these
custom-built open-air cars,
which is a favorite for
many.
-Just coming out here an
d just
being able to stand
around everyone
and just take in the bea
uty of this -- this scenery
has just been an
awesome experience.
Breathing in crisp air,
watching everything from
the left and to the right side.
I mean, you can't get th
ese views anywhere else,
so it's been an a
mazing experience,
just standing out here
in the open air.
-If you're wondering
how this railroad
keeps all their beautiful
equipment in such great shape,
it's done here in their
shops.
They have a skilled
set of employees
that can pretty much
do anything needed
to keep it all on the ra
ils.
-We pretty much run off
of about a 13- to 15-person crew.
-But that includes, you
know, your locomotive mechanics,
your railroad carmen pro
gram.
We have HVAC technicians
on staff,
as well as a master electric
ian.
-Going up. -Up.
[ Machinery whirring ]
-They even have the capa
bility to lift and service
their locomotives, some weig
hing in at over 300,000 pounds.
-What I love is being ab
le to pass on an item
to the next generations
and being able to make s
ure that it's safe, reliable.
I go home feeling proud
that, you know, I made something
,
you know, continue to ru
n. Some children have a story
they're gonna tell their
kids in the future.
-They'll also be tell
ing others about the food
because it's one of
the bright spots on this trip,
full of choices
designed to leave everyone
with a full belly an
d a smile.
-We have done trains bef
ore, and this is the top of them all.
The waitress is wonderfu
l. The atmosphere is beautiful.
It's a gorgeous train.
-We're somewhat new
to Colorado,
and this is the great way
to see the absolute
beautiful landscape,
take it in in such a rel
axing way, and have a good meal,
some good wine, and
be able to sit back and relax.
-The best thing I realiz
ed -- ease of coming in.
Romantic trip.
And the gorge is
just --
It does not disappoint.
This has been a beautifu
l, beautiful day
with all the colors.
-Chicken, Welly, Welly,
salmon -- heard!
-It's hard to believe th
ey can pull offthis k
ind of variety and quality inside
a kitchen in motion.
But it's an everyday thi
ng around here.
-Okay, so this right here
is my Colorado-raised
Atlantic salmon,
served on quinoa and wil
d rice.
-The service was amazing.
I would encourage anyone to
come just for the service alone.
Our servers were so kind
and gracious and attentive,
and that's very important to
me,
especially on a special
day like this for his birthday.
-The food was amazing.
The people were amazing.
The other passengers
were amazing.
So we've had just a blas
t all day.
-Yeah, for sure.
-I'm very proud of what
I do, mostly because my guests
could come on board for,
like, a birthday, an anniversary
,
have a great experience,
go home,
and they have a memory
to look back on.
-Sir, I am above you,
next to you, around you.
-Still, all the crew on
board have to conten
d with these tight quarters,
and it leads to a dedica
ted dance down these aisles.
-Oh, it's all kind of
about spatial awareness.
We're all pretty good ab
out telling each other "behind,"
"in front," "corner,"
things like that.
But after a while, with
working with the same people over
and over, you just k
ind of get used to,
you know, they're go
nna take this path
and I'll take this path,
and you're used to the train
swaying, and it just
makes it a lot of fun.
It also keeps it really
entertaining for guests
to see us kind of weaving
in and out of things, so...
-Kind of like baseball,
it's a game of inches.
-The White Sox baseball
team
posing [Laughs] in 1910
on this very place.
-No way.
-Oh, my gosh.
-You can feel the hi
story here,
especially when they take
a moment
and stop on the Hanging
Bridge.
When it was first constr
ucted, the design was revolutiona
ry,
made to carry trains thr
ough the narrowest part of the gorge.
Teddy Roosevelt stopped
here in 1905
and took an iconic photo,
reportedly saying that
the beauty and the views
bankrupted the English langu
age.
-It's nice to come out h
ere.
It's a different atmosph
ere. The air feels different.
The light's different
than anywhere else.
You get on the train
in Cañon City,
it might be sunny and wa
rm. You come up here,
and you feel like yo
u're in a different world.
-And it gives people a t
ime and a chance to relax.
You know, we're all going
at 1,000 miles an hour,
and I find
that people will hop
on this train,
and maybe they've had
a tough week at work,
maybe they're a little stres
sed,
but I guarantee
by the end of the train ride...
It's just nostalgic.
It's awesome.
It's everything Colorado tha
t is packaged into a two-hour tri
p.
It's here.
-No matter how they disc
overed the Royal Gorge Route Rail
road,
it has become a bigger h
it than ever, and people
want to share the experi
ence.
-So I think it's good to
learn a little bit about history
,
especially for kids this
age, for families to see
how these old cars
hold up so well over time.
Engineering is definitely
one of the coolest things
about all these old cars
and trains and things like that.
-The vintage technology
that helps you get away from it a
ll
ends up bringing people
closer together.
-The most important thing fo
r me
for the guest is that
they walk off this train happy.
Not just satisfied,
but I want their expecta
tions exceeded.
And that's how we
train our staff.
You have to exceed expectati
ons, especially in this day and a
ge.
-The Royal Gorge Route
Railroad is steeped in history.
But there's something
new to discover here
on every single trip
through this natural wonder.
♪♪
-The Royal Gorge Route's
two-hour journey
showcases some of the be
auty of Colorado's Rocky Mountain
s.
Our final trip takes you
on a two-day journey
that crosses the Rockies
and takes you through
the stunning Red Rocks of Utah.
The Rocky Mountaineer tr
ips in the Canadian Rockies
are known worldwide as o
ne of the best rail adventures
in North America.
In 2020, they brought
their legendary services
to the United States to show
case one of the most scenic route
s
in the American West.
They are all unforget
table --
the views that encompass
the most storied features
of the Rocky Mountains...
the food, from a menu th
at rivals the best restaurants...
and the memories, the fr
iendships, and the stories
you bring home from a tr
ip on the Rocky Mountaineer.
-All right, everybody,
if we can raise our glass.
I have an Irish limerick for
us.
"So there are wood chips.
There are good ships.
There are ships
that sail the sea.
But the best ships ar
e friendships.
And may they always be m
ade right here
on the Rocky Mountaineer
." Cheers.
-Cheers! -Cheers!
[ Glasses clink ]
-Rockies to the Red Rock
s.
It's a journey that star
ts with something you'll notice
about this entire trip --
a personal touch.
-Three, two, one. And go
. Love it.
-Thank you. -[ L
aughs ]
All aboard! -All
aboard!
-It's in my nature.
I love to share my enthu
siasm and my love for this --
this product, this rail.
It's just exciting.
And it's the guests
that give that for me.
I don't smile when I'm j
ust sitting by myself. [ Laughs
]
It's truly -- It
's truly everyone
that brings that out of
me.
-The two-day trip le
ts you unwind along the way.
Just outside of Denver,
you start to gain elevation.
The landscape starts to reve
al a first look back over the plains.
Then you get to see one
of the challenges of building this li
ne
in the first place --
the tunnels that lead
directly through the mou
ntains. It's not the kind of thi
ng
you would experience fly
ing overhead at 30,000 feet.
-You don't get up close
and personal with the scenery.
The coyote we just saw
or the moose that
went by an hour ago --
You don't get to see tha
t.
And when was the last ti
me you made a friend on an airpla
ne?
I see people making frie
nds and connections on the train
s
all the time.
-Those connections just
come naturally.
-It feels like an
instant cocktail party.
People just start talkin
g.
I've learned about peopl
e's dogs, their grandchildren,
the trips they've been o
n.
It's wonderful.
And on top of that, the staff.
Amazing stories. Stories
I would never have known
had it not been for the
fact that I was rolli
ng through that exact part of the
world
and that exact part
of American history.
-46.
47.
-Food isn't just part
of the trip --
It's something they cele
brate.
Working with local ingre
dients,
the selections speak
for themselves.
-Our lunch on the Roc
ky Mountaineer
is one of everyone's
favorites.
We have our short rib
in a green chili sauce
which has the flavor
of the chilies,
not the spice,
or our baked chicken breasts
in an apricot glaze.
Both are gonna be accomp
anied with a polenta cake,
broccolini, and roasted carr
ots.
-The staff works to c
reate an experience
because this isn't just a wa
y to get from one place to anothe
r.
Thisisthe destinatio
n.
-So what you're looking
at are the Indian Peaks
and the Indian Peak Wild
erness.
We're also looking
at the Continental Divide,
folks, right there.
-It's not like traveling
where you're trying to get somew
here.
You're trying to make su
re you make a connection.
Once you get here, you sit d
own, your needs are looked after.
You just get to sit back, re
lax. And we don't often do that.
You don't often
in this day and age
get sort of put into a p
osition where you sit back,
you relax, and you watch
the scenery go by
while our team is provid
ing that great service.
-It has exceeded our expe
ctations,
really, just from the le
vel, the courtesy
of all the personnel
we've met,
all the service staff,
the meals,
the scenery.
It's almost too much to
try and put into words.
It's been fabulous every
step along the way.
-The Rocky Mountaineer
has offered a luxurious ride
through some of Canada's
most spectacular terrain
for more than 30 years n
ow.
When they chose to add a
route through the American Rocki
es,
it had to be something s
pecial.
And it is.
-Well, I'm from Texas,
and we don't have a
lot of mountains down there.
Being up here is just
something that God made.
Phenomenal. Brea
thtaking.
You just have to come
see it for yourself.
Just absolutely gorgeous.
-The range of scenery wo
uld be hard to match anywhere els
e,
and the only way to take
it all in is on this train.
-The views out the window
are constantly changing,
the scenery,
the topography, the geol
ogy.
-Having the opportunity
to watch the sun
come up over the hills
and the rocks and illumi
nate them with the trees
and the fall foliage,
all that beautiful yellow color.
And then the Colorado Ri
ver
was literally steaming
as the sun rose.
I mean, it was a pret
ty epic landscape.
-The cars are built
for viewing, wide and open,
just like the landscape
here.
-Our seats are extremely
comfortable, plenty of legroom.
We have windows that are
6 foot wide, 6 foot deep.
And then, of course,
there's a dome window above,
so you get practically
360 views.
When you're on a scenic
train,
everything is about the
view. -So having a h
igh-domed car where you can look
up, you can
see out, you can cross th
e aisle,
you can look almost
in every direction,
gives you the benefit
of, like, a full 360
of enjoying the landscape
that you're traveling through.
You don't have a narrow
window. You can really take it a
ll in.
-This trip offers someth
ing no other mainline train can
--
an opportunity to step o
ut in the vestibule,
open the door, an
d take it all in.
Here you can feel all th
e elements in your face --
the warmth of the sun,
the fresh mountain air,
along with taking pictur
es without any glass reflections.
And that's why photograp
hers love to take this trip --
to get that perfect shot.
-This is the only place
where you can just
open up the Dutch door
and look out the side
of the train,
watch it go around the c
urves,
and look right out on so
me of the rapids, the mountains.
-It's an exciting journe
y with something new around every ben
d.
You can just feel it.
-How do you describe
these colors?
Aspen is a shade of gold.
I don't think I can actu
ally find the words for it.
The blue sky is bluer th
an any blue sky I've ever seen.
These red rocks. The
whole place is just --
It really does defy descript
ion.
-It's always nice to dis
cover something you weren't expectin
g.
After a trip on the R
ocky Mountaineer,
a lot of people say
they were able to just relax
and get rid of a lot of
stress.
This can only happen
on a venture like this.
-It's such an enjoyable
way to travel
that maybe we've lost
a little bit of that.
We're always trying
to get to a destination
and not enjoy the journe
y,
and this is a great way
to enjoy it,
to connect, and to st
art off your vacation.
You arrive there relaxed
and and ready to see some sights
.
-The Rocky Mountaineer
turns the Rockies
to the Red Rocks from
a dream to an experience
that will bring you
back in time and time again.
-And everything
that we've been exposed to
so far today and will
carry through tomorrow,
I can't put a price on t
hat.
It's immeasurable.
It's absolutely fantasti
c.
♪♪
%
>> IF GREAT SCENIC RAILWAY
OUT AND RIDE THE RAILS, MAKE A GIFT AT OUR ENGINEER''S LEVEL OF
$240, OR AN ONGOING $20 CONTRIBUTION, AND WE WILL
PROVIDE YOU WITH FAMILY PASSES TO VISIT THE NATIONAL RAILROAD
MUSEUM AND THE ILLINOIS RAILWAY MUSEUM.
THE NATIONAL RAILROAD MUSEUM IN GREEN BAY IS ONE OF THE LARGEST
RAIL MUSEUMS IN THE UNITED STATES, WITH OVER 70 PIECES OF
ROLLING STOCK, SEASONAL TRAIN RIDES AND INDOOR AND OUTDOOR
EXHIBITS. THE ILLINOIS RAILWAY MUSEUM,
LOCATED IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS, TRANSPORTS YOU TO THE GLORY AGE
OF RAIL TRAVEL ABOARD ROLLING
TIME MACHINES. VISITORS OF ALL AGES ENJOY
EXPLORING ITS HISTORIC COLLECTION AND CAN EXPERIENCE A
RIDE ON A LOVINGLY RESTORED TRAIN.
YOUR ENGINEER''S LEVEL GIFT INCLUDES FAMILY PASSES FOR BOTH
MUSEUMS. AND, INCLUDED WITH YOUR MUSEUM
PASSES, YOU WILL RECEIVE THE ANNIVERSARY SHOW 3-DISC SET, THE
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MAKE A GIFT OF $360 OR AN ONGOING $30 MONTHLY CONTRIBUTION
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TRAIN. THE WISCONSIN GREAT NORTHERN
RAILROAD OFFERS THE COUNTRY''S FIRST PRIVATE DINING SERVICE,
WHERE YOU CAN ENJOY YOUR OWN ROOM AS YOU''RE SERVED AN
APPETIZER PLATE, A CUP OF SOUP AND THEN YOUR CHOICE OF ONE OF
THREE PRESELECTED ENTREES. A LITTLE LATER YOU WILL DELIGHT
IN A GENEROUS SLICE OF A GOURMET DESSERT.
ALONG THE WAY YOU WILL ENJOY THE BEAUTY OF THE AREA AS YOU PASS
BY FARM FIELDS, DEEP WOODS, AND THE SCENIC NAMEKAGON RIVER.
IF YOU WANT TO BRING THE KIDS, THEN SELECT THE PIZZA TRAIN
PACKAGE. IT''S ONE OF THE RAILROAD''S MO
ST POPULAR, FAMILY-ORIENTED TRAIN
RIDES EACH SEASON. YOU CAN BRING UP TO FIVE GUESTS
AND CHOOSE FROM PEPPERONI, SAUSAGE OR CHEESE PIZZA BAKED
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INCLUDED WITH YOUR TICKETS YOU WILL ALSO RECEIVE THE
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CAN''T MAKE UP YOUR MIND ON WHICH
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INCLUDED WITH YOUR TICKETS IS THE ANNIVERSARY SHOW 3-DISC SET,
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IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN RECEIVING JUST ONE OF THE
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THE ANNIVERSARY 3-DISC DVD SET INCLUDES THE SHOW YOU''RE
WATCHING NOW, ALONG WITH AN ADDITIONAL 40 RAILWAY ADVENTURES
PLUS BONUS FOOTAGE NOT SEEN IN
THE BROADCAST, INCLUDING A SIT-DOWN INTERVIEW WITH THE
CREATOR AND PRODUCER, ROBERT VAN CAMP, AND PAST SHOW HOST, DAVID
HOLT, AS THEY PROVIDE
INTERESTING FACTS ON THE HISTORY OF THE SERIES.
IF YOU WANT TO DISCOVER, RESEARCH AND READ ABOUT THE MANY
SCENIC RAIL JOURNEYS IN NORTH AMERICA, PLEASE ASK FOR THE NEW
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DIRECTORY TO OVER 500 TOURIST RAILROADS, RAILWAY MUSEUMS, AND
RAILROAD-RELATED ATTRACTIONS.
THIS BOOK INCLUDES DETAILED WRITE-UPS, PICTURES, ROUTE MAPS
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INTERESTED IN VISITING ALL THE LOCATIONS IN THE BOOK ON YOUR
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AND YOUR
SUPPORT OF PBS
WISCONSIN WHEN YOU
MAKE A DONATION AND
REQUEST ONE OF
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>> COLORADO.
THE ROCKIES,
ARE THEY
NOT GORGEOUS?
WE HOPE
YOU'VE ENJOYED
THIS. BUT
DON'T GO
ANYWAY BECAUSE
WE'RE GOING TO
PULL OUT
THE
LINOIS SEGMENT
WE DID A
FEW YEARS BACK AND
SHOW YOU
THE WISCONSIN GREAT NORTHERN AGAIN.
BUT MICHELE AND
I AND
EVERYBODY HERE, WE
WANT TO THANK
YOU SO MUCH
FOR YOU
R CONTRIBUTIONS.
WE
STILL GOT
PLENTY OF
TRAIN TICKETS FOR
YOU. HOP ON
BOARD AND
GET ONE OF
THESE GREAT PACKAGES AND
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT.
THE P IZZA
TRAIN IS
BECOMING PRETTY
POPULAR RIGHT NOW.
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING
TO DO
WITH
E KIDS
AND GRANDKIDS.
MAYBE THA
T DINNER TRAIN.
YOU ALSO
GET THE
M USEUM
PASSES, WHICH
WE'RE GOING TO
TALK TO
BOTH REPRESENTATIVES
IN A
NUTE.>> THIS IS A
GREAT VALUE,
ALL OF
THESE GREAT THANK
YOU GIFTS.
YOU HAVE
MUSEUMS. YOU CAN
GO OUT
ON A DATE
WITH SOMEBODY THAT YOU CARE ABOUT.
IT'S A GREAT VALUE
AND YOU
ARE SUPPORTING THE
STATION THAT
YOU LOVE.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHEN
YOU MAKE
THAT DONATION
AT 1-800-236-3636
. >> BUT
MORE IMPORTANTLY
YOU'RE AN
INVESTOR. YOU'RE
INVESTING IN
SOMETHING IMPORTANT.
WE'RE JUST
LIKE ANY
OTHER NONPROFIT IN
YOUR COMMUNITY
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SERVICES THAT YOU
RELY ON, YOU KNOW,
LIKE THE
YMCA, BOYS & GIRLS CLUB, UNITED
WAY, PBS WISCONSIN.
LOOK AT THE
VALUE OF
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PROVIDE IN
OUR EDUCATIONAL
PROGRAMMING. I
LEARN SOMETHING
NEW EVERY
DAY WHEN
I TURN ON PUBLIC
TELEVISION. I HOPE
YOU DO AS
WEL L
AND I
HOPE YOU FEEL
THE IMPORTANCE OF
THIS GREAT
NETWORK. I WOULD
NOT BE
STANDING HERE
30 YEARS
LATER IF
IT WASN'T
FOR MEMBERS WHO
CONTINUED TO PLEDGE
SAYING WE'RE
ENJOYING "GREAT SCENIC RAILWAY JOURNEYS,"
WE ENJOY THE
GID !
GUIDEBOOK. THAT'S
WHAT YOU'RE
INVESTING IN
NOW.
200 YEARS
OF THE
A MERICAN
RAILROAD, A SHOW WE'RE
STARTING NEXT YEAR.
WE COULDN'T DO
IT WITHOUT
YOUR PLEDGES OF
SUPPORT. YOU'RE
LETTING THE
PROGRAMMERS KNOW YOU WANT TO
SEE MORE
PROGRAMMING LIKE THIS.
CONSIDER ONE OF THOSE
GREAT PACKAGES. >>
YOU MAK
E THIS
PROGRAM AND ALL
THE PROGRAMS
ON PBS
POSSIBLE WHEN YOU
MAKE YOUR
PLEDGE AT
1-800-236-3636. AND
YOU KNOW THERE
ARE A COUPLE
OF WAYS
YOU CAN
ACTUALLY MAKE A
DONATION. YOU
CAN DO
ONE DOLLAR
AMOUNT, LIKE
THA T
$420 FOR
THE PRESIDENTIAL
LEVEL, OR
YOU CAN
BREAK IT
UP $35 A
MONTH AS A
SUSTAINER. NOW, WHAT
IS A SUSTAINER?
WELL, IT MEANS
THAT YOU
MAKE ONGOING MONTHLY
GIFTS FROM
YOUR CREDIT
CARD OR
YOUR CHECKING
ACCOUNT. IT
RENEW S
AUTOMATICALLY. STILL MEANS
THAT YOU
CAN GET A THANK YOU
GIFT IF YOU WANT.
YOU JUST HAVE
TO CALL
IN. IT'S QUICK.
IT'S EASY FOR YOU.
YOU CAN
STOP IT,
START IT,
ADD TO
IT, SUBTRACT
FROM IT
WHENEVER
U WANT.
BUT THE
ONE THING
IT D
OES IS
IT PROVIDES US
WITH A STABLE SENSE
OF SUPPORT.
WE KNOW
WHERE THE
MONEY IS
COMING FROM. WE
KNOW HOW
TO PLAN.
MAKE YOUR
DONATION AND
CONSIDER MAKING A
SUSTAINER AT
1-800-236-3636 . >>
WE ARE
SO E
XCITED THAT WE'VE
HAD N ICK
HERE WITH
US. WE'VE
HAD JUSTICE
WITH US
TALKING ABOUT THE
TWO MUSEUMS.
BUT WE'RE
ABOUT TO SEE
YOUR SEGMENT
AGAIN, AND
I'LL TELL
YOU, WHAT
REALLY GRABBED
ME WAS
E PASSION BEHIND
THE VOLUNTEERS.
BECAUSE YOU'RE
AN ALL-VOLUNTEER
ORGANIZATION. >> WE ARE. WE
ARE. >> SO
WE'RE GOING T
O SHOW
YOU A LITTLE
FOOTAGE OF THE IRM,
ILLINOIS RAILWAY MUSEUM.
THAT IS A
PIECE OF
WORK. NEBRASKA
ZEPHYR WAS
IT? >>
1936. >> AND THEY
CAN RIDE IN
THAT. IT'S
LIKE A TIME
CAPSULE. YOU
GOT STEAM
ENGINES, TROLLEYS. >>
STEAM ENGINE
WAS BUILT
FOR THE SOVIET
UNION IN
1918. THE
RUSSIAN REVOLUTION CAUSED
IT TO
STAY IN
THE STATES.
THE ORANGE CAR
WAS THE
FIRST ONE
IN THE
COLLECTION. WE HAV
E QUITE A
COLLECTION OF
ELECTRIC-POWERED VEHICLES,
OVER 150.
WE HAVE
THE COLLECTION OF
THE WISCONSIN ELECTRIC
RAILWAY AND THAT,
THE TRE R &
L, WHICH
RADIATED OUT OF MILWAUKEE.
WE HAVE MILWAUKEE
STREET CARS AS WELL
AS CHICAGO
STREET CARS,
TOO. THEY'RE
100 YEARS
OLD AND
PEOPLE CAN
RIDE I N
THEM. >> THAT'S ONE
THING I
LOVE ABOUT
IT, IS YOU
GET TO
RIDE IN
IT. ALSO
IS THE PASSION BEHIND THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE
PRESERVING IT.
THEY'RE VERY
PASSIONATE ABOUT
WHAT THEY DO.
WE'RE VERY
PASSIONATE ABOUT PROVIDING YOU
GREAT PROGRAMMING.
PLEASE CONSIDER ONE OF
THESE PACKAGES.
WHAT A GREAT
WAY TO
SPEND A DAY
AT THE
IRM OR
GO OVER
TO THE
NATIONAL RAILWAY
MUSEUM AND
TAKE THOSE TRIPS
UP IN
WISCONSIN WITH
THE DINNER
AND PIZZA TRAIN.
SO WE'RE
GOING TO
HEAR A LITTLE
BIT M ORE
ABOUT THE
NATIONAL RAILWAY MUSEUM WITH
MICHELE. >> JUSTICE,
T ELL
ME A LITTLE.
YOU'VE
GOT A LOT
OF HISTORY
AT UR MUSEUM.
TELL ME ABOUT
THE MORE
HISTORICAL LOW
LOCOMOTIVES YOU
HAVE. >> DWIGHT
EISENHOWER, OUR BIG
BOY, 1.1
MILLION-POUND STEAM
LOCOMOTIVE
AND OUR
ARROW TRAIN.
I
HAVE MET
GUESTS FROM
AUSTRALIA, EUROPE
WHO ARE
COMING TO SEE
THESE LOCOMOTIVES AND
IT'S REALLY
AWESOME. >> AND
IT'S RIGHT
IN OUR
BACKYARD. SO WE CAN
GO ANYTIME
WE WANT
WITH THOSE
FREE PASSES
YOU GET
AS A THANK YOU GIFT.
<!8192> TELL
!
SO
TELL US
ABOUT THE
PULLMAN TRAINS.>> WE
HAVE OUR
PULLMAN LAKE MICHIGAN
TRAIN WHICH
PORTERS RODE
ON. AMAZING
HISTORY. IT'S SOMETIMES NOT
HISTORY WE
MIGHT NOT WANT TO
LEARN ABOUT,
BUT IT'S
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR US TO
UNDERSTAND HOW
BLACK PEOPLE WERE
TREATED IN
OUR COUNTRY.
THIS LAKE
MITCHELL SPEAKS
SPECIFICALLY ABOUT
BLACK PORTERS'
EXPERIENCES ON
THE RAILROADS. >>
THAT'S REALLY
COOL. HOW
DO YOU
GO ABOUT
FINDING ALL
OF THESE TRAINS, DO YOU
KNOW? >>
S OME OF
THE M
ARE DONATIONS.
SOME OF
THEM ARE
PURCHASED.
T BEING
THE NATIONAL RAILROAD
MUSEUM, WE'RE A
GREAT LANDING
SPOT FOR A
LOT OF
THAT ROLLING
STOCK. WE'RE ALWAYS
DOING REST
!
RESTORATIONS, SO YOU
KNOW THESE
PASSENGER CARS, THESE
DINING CARS,
THEY WILL BE WELL-TAKEN
CARE OF AND
WE'RE LOOKING AFTER
THEM. >> WELL,
YOU CAN
SEE ALL
OF THA
T WHEN YOU
MAKE A DONATION
AND GET
YOUR FREE PASSES
TO THE
RAILWAY MUSEUM.
1-800-236-3636 . >>
ONE THING I
LOVE ABOUT BOTH
OF THOSE
LOCATIONS IS IT
IS TRULY
AN EDUCATIONAL
EXPERIENCE, A TACTILE
EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE WHERE
YOU GET
TO RIDE
THE TRAINS,
YOU GET
INTERPRETIVE DISPLAYS, SO
MUCH IMAGERY
AND ROLLING STOCK.
WE HOPE
YOU'LL COME ON
BOARD AND
MAKE THAT INVESTMENT
TODAY.
'RE TALKING
ABOUT THE
MUSEUMS, BUT
WE'RE ALSO
TALKING ABOUT A
GREAT WAY TO HAVE A
DINNER OR
MAYBE DO A PIZZA
TRAIN WITH
THE KIDS.
ONE OF
OUR PACKAGE LEVELS
WITH THE
WISCONSIN GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY WE HAVE THAT
FOR YOU
WHERE YOU
CAN GO
UP, AND THIS IS
UP
IN THE
NORTHWEST PART OF
THE STATE,
UP NEAR
TREGO AND
SPOONER, AND IT IS
UNBELIEVABLE. YOU
GET PRIVATE
DINING ROOMS.
GREG AND
MARDELL AND
THEIR SON
ALEXANDER, THIS IS A
FAMILY-RUN BUSINESS,
OVER 25
YEARS. THEY'VE
CREATED SOME OF
THE MOST
UNIQUE VENUES.
I DO NOT
KNOW OF
ANOTHER TRAIN
WHERE YOU HAVE
YOUR OWN
PRIVATE DINING ROOM.
TREMENDOUS EXPERIENCE FOR
YOU TO GO UP
THERE, GREAT
FOOD, GREAT
EVERYTHING. IF YOU
CONSIDER THE
$30 INVESTMENT, YOU'LL
GET YOUR
CHOICE OF THAT
DINNER TRAIN IF
YOU WANT OR
YOU CAN
ASK FOR
THE FAMILY PIZZA
TRAIN FOR
FIVE. I CAN'T
TELL YOU HOW
MUCH FUN
IS WAS,
THE PARENTS
HAVING GREAT
TIME, COMMUNICATING,
TALKING WITH THEIR KIDS.
PIZZA AND
TRAINS JUST
SEEM TO GO
TOGETHER QUITE WELL.
AS
YOU CAN
TELL, WISCONSIN
IS KNOWN
FOR ITS
CHEESE.
LIEVE ME,
THERE'S A LOT
OF THESE
ON THOSE
PIZZAS. YOU
GOT YOUR
CHOICE AT THAT
$30 LEVEL
OR ONE-TIME
GIFT OF
$360. TWO FOR
THE DINNER
TRAIN OR
FIVE FOR
THE PIZZA
TRAIN. YOU
STILL GET
THE SHOW
DVD, BLU
RAY AND
THE GUIDEBOOK
AND COMPUTER
DIRECTORY. BUT IF
YOU CAN'T
MAKE UP
YOUR MIND AND
YOU WANT
BOTH, THIS IS
A GREAT
GIFT IDEA,
TOO .
WE'RE GOING TO
GIVE YOU
EVERYTHING WE'VE
TALKED ABOUT,
THE MUSEUM PASSES FOR
YOUR FAMILY
FOR BOTH
MUSEUMS, THE
TWO DINNER
TRAIN TICKETS
AND FIVE
PIZZA TRAIN TICKETS
ALONG WITH
THE THANK YOU
GIFTS AND
WE'RE
ING TO THROW
IN OUR
ANNIVERSARY DRINK TUMBLER AS
WELL. ALL
OF THESE THANK
YOU GIFTS
ARE EXCLUSIVE TO YOU ONLY.
WE DO NOT SHARE
THESE WITH
ANYBODY. WE DON'T
SELL THEM ANYWHERE
ELSE. IT'S
BECAUSE OUR
MEMBERS MAKE
THIS PROGRAMMING
POSSIBLE AND
SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
ASKING
OUT THE BOOK.
SO I
JUS T
WANTED TO
SHOW YOU
THIS BOOK. IT
IS A BOOK
WE TOO
K ABOUT
THREE YEARS TO
PUT TOGETHER,
TO COMPILE ALL
THIS INFORMATION
OF EVERY
SINGLE TOURIST
RAILWAY, RAILWAY
MUSEUM, RAILROAD-RELATED
ATTRACTION. THIS IS A
GREAT DIRECTORY
FOR YOU.
A LOT OF
PEOPLE LIKE
TO RENEW
THEIR MEMBERSHIP ON
THIS. WE DO
HAVE A LOT
OF DID YOU
KNOW FACTS
IN HERE
THANKS TO
THE HISTORIC SITE
THAT PROVIDED
US INFORMATION ABOUT
HISTORY OF
OUR RAILROADS.
SO CONSIDER
MAKING THAT
INVESTMENT. AGAIN,
WE'VE GOT SO
MANY GREAT
WAYS FOR YOU
TO SPOA
YOUR SHOW
YOUR SUPPORT.
PICK UP THE
PHONE, TAL
K TO ONE
OF OUR
GREAT VOLUNTEERS.
IT'S A GREAT
GROUP EFFORT
THA T
MAKES ALL
THIS POSSIBLE.
BUT YOU
ARE THE
FOUNDATION THAT
STARTS IT
ALL AND
THAT'S WHEN
YOU PICK
UP THAT
PHONE OR
GO
LINE AND PLEDGE.
THIS IS
OUR PUBLIC TELEVISION. WE OWN
IT. WE
MAKE IT
WHAT IT IS. SO
P LEASE
CONSIDER INVESTING
IN IT
TODAY.
♪ !
>> VOLUNTEERS HAVE
ALWAYS
BEEN
E BACKBONE
OF OUR
TOURIST RAILWAYS
AND RAILWAY
MUSEUMS. OUR
NEXT LOCATION
HAS OVER
200 THAT
HELP RESTORE
AND OPERATE
THE LARGEST
COLLECTION O F
RAIL EQUIPMENT
IN NORTH AMERICA. THE
ILLINOIS RAILWAY MUSEUM.
THE MUSEUM IS
LOCATED ABOUT AN
HOUR NORTHWEST OF
CHICAGO OUTSIDE
THE TINY
FARMING COMMUNITY
OF UNION
.
>> IN
AN OLD
CORNFIELD FIVE MINUTES EAST
OF TOW
N SITS A
MUSEUM THAT HOLDS
OVER 460
PIECES OF
WREA !
RETAIL
HISTORY. IT
HAS TEN
HUGE STORAGE BARNES
AND FIV
E MILES
OF WORKING
TRACK. IT'S
ONE BIG
TRAIN SET,
THE BACK
DROP TO
EIGHT HOLLYWOOD
MOVIES, ATTRACTING
VISITORS FROM ALL AROUND THE
GLOBE ALONG
WITH MANY
VOLUNTEERS LIKE JEFF
TO HELP. >>
YOU HAVE A
2:55 ZEE
DEPARTURE
EASTBOUND. >> HIS
DUTIES TODAY?
DISPATCHER, ONE OF THE
MOST IMPORTANT JOBS
HERE. PERCHED
30 FEET
UP, HE
MANAGES EVERY RAIL
MOVEMENT AND
THAT COULD B E
AS MANY
AS FOUR
TRAINS AND A
TROLLEY CAR
ALL MOVING
AROUND THE
COMPLEX AT THE SAME TIME. >>
THIS IS
FOR REAL.
THIS IS
REAL EQUIPMENT.
THIS IS
RAILROADING. >> YES, IT
IS. BUT
TO SHOWCASE
IT ALL, THAT
WAS NO
COINCIDENCE. >> TO
BRING ALIVE
AMERICAN RAILROAD
HISTORY, THERE'S
REALLY NO
BETTER PLACE
TO DO
THAT THAN CHICAGO
BECAUSE CHICAGO'S
BEEN THE
HUB OF
RAILROADING FOR SO
MANY YEARS. >>
WATCH YOUR
STEP. >> FRANK
KNOWS. HE
GREW UP
IN NORTH CHICAGO
AND RODE
STREET CARS ALL
THE TIME.
SO
WHEN H E
READ IN
THE NEWSPAPER
THAT THE
ILLINOIS RAILWAY
MUSEUM NEEDED
VOLUNTEERS, HE
JUMPED AT
THE CHANCE. >>
WHEN I
SAW OUR
CHICAGO STREETCAR
144, I SAID,
OH, MY
GOD, SOMEBODY SAVE THE
CHICAGO STREETCAR.
AND I SAID,
WHERE DO
I SIGN?
>> AND
F
RANK'S BEEN
HERE
LUNTEERING EVER SINCE.HE'S FAR
FROM ALONE.
A
FLEET OF
YOUNG AND
OLD VOLUNTEERS,
GENERATIONS MAY SEPARATE
THEM, LIFE
EXPERIENCES, TOO,
BUT THEY
ALL HAVE ONE
THING
COMMON: A
PASSION FOR
TRA S !
!TRAINS.
VOLUNTEERS LIKE FRANK
MAY HAVE
BEEN HERE,
BUT A NEW
GENERATION IS
PAYING IT
FORWARD. >> WE
GET TO
PLAY AROUND
ON THESE
BIG OLD
MACHINES WHICH
IS PROBABLY A GOOD PART
OF IT.
WE JOKE
LIKE THROUGHOUT THE
REST OF THE MUSEUM, HERE IN
THE STEAM
ROOM, WE'RE
THE BOYS
WITH THE
BIG TOYS. >>
YELL AT
YEN !
THEM IF
YOU SEE
ANY PART
FOULING. >> HE
KNOWS THE
IMPORTANCE OF
REHABILITATING THE IRON
AND STEEL OF
AMERICA. HE
LOVES WORKING SIDE
BY SIDE
WITH YOUNG
PEOPLE WHO
WANT TO
KEEP OUR
RAILROAD HISTORY
ALIVE
D ROLLING DOWN THE
TRACKS. >> IT'S
REALLY GREAT
WHEN YOU
SEE
THE YOUNG
ONES FASCINATED
BY THESE
THINGS AND
ONE OF THE
NICE THINGS IS
WE'RE INVOLVING
YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE
SHOP WHERE
THEY'RE LEARNING THE
TECHNIQUES AND HOPEFULLY WILL KEEP
IT GOING. >>
WELL, THAT WAS MORE
THAN I
EXPECTED TO GET DONE
TODAY. WELL
DONE, GUYS.
>> THE
ILLINOIS
RAILWAY MUSEUM
STARTED IN 1953
AS A DREAM
OF TEN
MEN, AND
TODAY THE
DREAM HAS
BLOSSOMED INTO A MUSEUM
DIFFERENT FROM ANY
YOU'LL EXPERIENCE.
>> THE
LARGEST
PIECE IN
THE COLLECTION?
A
STAINLESS STEEL
MASTERPIECE OF
RAILROADING HISTORY, ONE
THAT THE PUBLIC
CAN TAKE A JOURNEY
ON. >> IT'S THE
OBSERVATION CAR UP
TO YOUR LEFT,
PLEASE.
>> THIS
IS THE
TRAIN OF THE
GODDESSES, THE
NEBRASKA ZEF
ZEPHYR.
IT ONCE
RAN BETWEEN
CHICAGO AND
OMAHA
BETWEEN 1947
TO 1971.
ITS TOP
SPEED? 110
MILES AN HOUR.
TODAY'S PASSENGERS
GO MUCH
SLOWER, BUT STILL GET
THE FEEL
OF
WHAT THIS T
RAIN OFFERED
DURING ITS
GLORY DAYS. >>
I SWEAR
WHEN I
FIRST SAW
THE TRAIN ON
THE OUT
SIDE, I WANT
TO
ND POLISH
THE WHOLE
THING, HEAD TO TOE
. IT'S A
BEAUTIFUL TRAIN.
IT'S ALMOST
LIKE IT WAS
DESIGNED BEFORE ITS
TIME.
>> NO
MATTER IF
YOU'RE A VISITOR
OR A VOLUNTEER,
ENTHUSE ISM
IS CONTAGIOUS.
HE TAKES
PRIDE IN
WHAT THEY'VE
ACCOMPLISHED. >> WITHOUT ALL OF
US DOING
ALL OF
WHAT WE
DO, THE
MUSEUM WOULD
NOT FUNCTION.
THIS EQUIPMENT
WOULDN'T RUN.
EVERYTHING WOULD BE STATIONARY.
JUST GO AND
LOOK AT
IT AND
GO HOME.
IT'S A LOT
MORE FUN TO
GET ON THE
EQUIPMENT, RUN THEM,
AND THE
PUBLIC ENJOYS
RIDING THESE
OLD TRAINS
BECAUSE THERE'S
NO PLACE
ELSE YOU CAN DO
IT. >> SOME
PEOPLE SAY
IF YOU
JUST HAVE
PLAIN, DUMB
LUCK EVENTUALLY
YOU'LL SUCCEED.
BUT I
THINK IT'
S REALLY A LO
T OF
PEOPLE THAT WANT TO
SEE
METHING SAVED
AND PER PERSEVERANCE
OF STICKING
IT OUT.
THE KEY TO
OUR SUCCESS IS
OUR PEOPLE. >> I
THANK THEM.
THIS IS AN
INVALUABLE ASSET
TO THE STATE
OF ILLINOIS
AND THIS
AREA. I'M
GRATEFUL I
CAN COME HERE
AND SEE
THIS WITH
MY SON.
>> IT
TAKES YEARS
OF DEDICATION,
FROM A FLEET
OF VOLUNTEERS,
TO MAKE
EVERYTHING WORK
HERE. BUT
WHAT CLEARLY
DRIVES THEM
ALL, YOUNG AND
OLD, IS
THIS PASSION FOR
WHAT CAN
MOVE ON
TWO STEEL RAILS.
THE VOLUNTEERS
HAVE CREATED A
MUSEUM THAT IS
AS BEAUTIFUL
AS A PAINTING:
STARK, STRONG
AND COLORFUL.
IT'S A TESTAMENT T O
OUR COUNTRY'S
INTELLECTUAL HORSEPOWER
AND THE PASSION OF A
FEW TO
PRESERVE AND
PRESENT A LITTLE SLICE O
F THIS
NATION'S RAILROAD
HISTORY, ONE
THAT CAN BE
ENJOYED BY
ALL THA
T VISIT
THE ILLINOIS RAILWAY
MUSEUM.
're about to introduce you
to a determined family
that never says "we can't."
And over the last 25 years,
they have created
some of the most unique
rail venues in North America.
-Thank you.
[ Indistinct conversations ]
-Dining, lounge,
and sleeping cars
bring back fond memories
of America's railroad past,
mostly only seen in history
books and old movies today.
But a family in the small town
of Trego, Wisconsin,
have re-created
parts of that era,
along with introducing
an array of new venues,
to catch the imagination
of current generations.
-What you'll find here
at the Wisconsin Great Northern
is absolutely unique
in the industry.
Different services,
different equipment.
Every time you come back,
I can pretty much guarantee
it'll be a different experience.
-Different than any other
tourist railroad
in North America
when you experience
all the venues they offer,
with wine tastings
and a historic dome car,
pizza trains for the kids,
fine dining for the adults,
a one-of-a-kind
bed-and-breakfast,
and on the horizon are
a restoration of a streamliner
that seemed more
a sky-flying rocket ship
than railroad-bound.
-People want something
unique to experience.
And so that's what we're trying
to present to the public,
is a unique opportunity that
they can't get anyplace else,
whether it be by the service
we provide
or by the equipment
that we operate,
that it's different
from everybody else.
-The Wisconsin Great
Northern Railroad
has been running since 1997.
In those early days,
it was a multitask operation
running on fumes.
-There were times when we just
simply didn't have the money,
and she'd sell tickets
in the ticket office, hand me
20 bucks out of the till.
I'd run to the gas station
and get 15 gallons
of diesel fuel,
drive around the back side
of the train, and pour it in.
And that was enough
to make the trip.
-Sheer persistence
helped the railroad grow,
along with the elimination
of a certain word.
-There is no such word
as "can't."
You may say, "Oh, I can't."
Well, you just find
a way to do.
And so it might be a convoluted
way of doing something,
but you try your darndest
to find a way to get it done.
-I don't recognize
the word "can't."
Don't tell me it can't be done
because we'll show you
how fast it can be done.
-Greg and Mardell's son,
Alexander,
has grown up around trains
his whole life,
and because of that,
he bluntly dismisses
more popular teen pursuits.
-Cars suck. Trains rule.
And sports are overrated.
All right. We are now coming
into the Namekagon River
and Veazie Springs.
-Like his parents,
Alexander wears a lot of hats
on this railroad.
Tonight, he's a server
and is impressing his guests.
-He was an anomaly.
An amazing young man.
-Yeah, another day
of Alexander fan club.
-You see a little bit
of that funny, ha-ha sarcasm.
He's always learned sarcasm.
He's learned it good.
I like to describe him
as my 83-year-old farmer.
He is very straight-faced
around people
he doesn't necessarily know.
-Just a sponge.
He just picks up data
and information
about the various pieces
of equipment
like I can't even imagine.
He knows more about
the equipment than I do.
-The family stays very busy
doing a variety of jobs
for each of its unique trips.
There is one constant
in all of them, though --
experiencing the splendor and
beauty of the Great Northwoods.
-You can't beat the view.
It's so beautiful in the fall,
especially when the tamaracks
start to change.
-Through the pastoral
landscape and deep woods, guests
take in all the beauty
this trip offers.
One of the favorite spots
is so serene and peaceful,
the train comes to a stop
to allow all
to take in the natural wonders
of the Namekagon River.
-When we stopped
at the watershed earlier,
we just thought it was like
someone had painted the sky
and the brush.
Like, it was just so beautiful
with the sunset
and the moon over top.
I just love every moment of it,
honestly.
-And what could add
to these moments?
How about a meal prepared
and served in your own
private dining room?
-The dinner was amazing.
It was just beyond expectations,
honestly,
to get to spend time
with family here,
to look out and see
this painterly landscape
that just glistens
and is golden with autumn light.
I just love every moment of it.
-Fine dining is just
one of the many options here
on the Wisconsin
Great Northern Railroad.
-Here's your pepperoni pizza,
Mr. Van Camp.
-Thank you, Jose.
The other is their pizza train,
and it is definitely
a hit with families.
-It's very unique.
The kids love it.
They get to go on a train,
and they get to have
their favorite meal.
They are cheeseaholics,
being from Wisconsin.
[ Laughs ]
It's very nice to have --
have this here and keep that
in our culture.
-Speaking of culture,
the Wisconsin
Great Northern Railroad
also offers a sophisticated
wine and cheese pairing trip
aboard the Sky Parlour,
a 1956 dome car
that was once part
of the famed
El Capitan
that operated from Chicago
to Los Angeles
on the Santa Fe Railroad.
-It's definitely
a rolling piece of history.
It's really neat to be
on something like this.
Unique experience, for sure.
The wine was great.
The train ride experience
was awesome.
-The various train rides
run about 2 1/2 hours.
And for many guests,
they can't bear to leave.
So leave it
to the Wisconsin Great Northern
to offer something
for them to stay --
a unique experience with
their bed-and-breakfast package,
where delighted travelers
ride and dine
and get to sleep overnight
in their historic cars.
-It way exceeded
my expectations.
It was first-class all the way.
The staff was awesome.
Last night's supper --
The hors d'oeuvres, the drinks,
the food was awesome
all the way to the end,
to the dessert.
Then we had
our own sleeping car.
It was awesome.
[ Laughs ]
And it was a queen-sized bed.
First-class, first-rate.
-After a restful night's sleep
in one of the beautiful
railcar suites,
guests awake
to the wonderful smells
of a country cooked breakfast,
compliments of Chef Greg,
truly a Renaissance man.
Mmm.
Mmm-mmm-mmm.
-We believe that we are
continuing to create the history
of these pieces
of rolling stock.
100 years from now, hopefully
these cars will still be here
and still be usable
because of our efforts.
-Of course
I'm proud of all of this.
How could you not
be proud of it?
'Cause if I weren't proud of it,
I wouldn't be a part of it.
-Thanks to Greg and Mardell
and Alexander,
along with the rest
of their staff,
you can be a part
of something very special --
experiences that are created
by a dedicated family,
preserving and presenting many
one-of-a-kind railroad journeys
deep in the Northwoods
of Wisconsin.
♪
Next stop takes me her
IF GREAT SCENIC RAILWAYJOURNEYS HAS INSPIRED YOU TO GET
OUT AND RIDE THE RAILS, MAKE A GIFT AT OUR ENGINEER''S LEVEL OF
$240, OR AN ONGOING $20 CONTRIBUTION, AND WE WILL
PROVIDE YOU WITH FAMILY PASSES TO VISIT THE NATIONAL RAILROAD
MUSEUM AND THE ILLINOIS RAILWAY MUSEUM.
THE NATIONAL RAILROAD MUSEUM IN GREEN BAY IS ONE OF THE LARGEST
RAIL MUSEUMS IN THE UNITED STATES, WITH OVER 70 PIECES OF
ROLLING STOCK, SEASONAL TRAIN RIDES AND INDOOR AND OUTDOOR
EXHIBITS. THE ILLINOIS RAILWAY MUSEUM,
LOCATED IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS, TRANSPORTS YOU TO THE GLORY AGE
OF RAIL TRAVEL ABOARD ROLLING TIME MACHINES.
VISITORS OF ALL AGES ENJOY EXPLORING ITS HISTORIC
COLLECTION AND CAN EXPERIENCE A RIDE ON A LOVINGLY RESTORED
TRAIN. YOUR ENGINEER''S LEVEL GIFT
INCLUDES FAMILY PASSES FOR BOTH MUSEUMS.
AND, INCLUDED WITH YOUR MUSEUM
PASSES, YOU WILL RECEIVE THE ANNIVERSARY SHOW 3-DISC SET, THE
NEW 8TH EDITION GUIDEBOOK, AND THE DOWNLOADABLE COMPUTER
DIRECTORY.
INTERESTED IN DINING ON THE RAILS WITH THE WISCONSIN GREAT
NORTHERN RAILROAD? MAKE A GIFT OF $360 OR AN
ONGOING $30 MONTHLY CONTRIBUTION
OUR CONDUCTOR''S LEVEL, ANDYOU''LL HAVE THE CHOICE OF AN
ELEGANT DINNER FOR TWO OR A FUN MEAL FOR FIVE ON THE PIZZA
TRAIN.
THE WISCONSIN GREAT NORTHERN
ILROAD OFFERS THE COUNTRY''SFIRST PRIVATE DINING SERVICE,
WHERE YOU CAN ENJOY YOUR OWN ROOM AS YOU''RE SERVED AN
APPETIZER PLATE, A CUP OF SOUP AND THEN YOUR CHOICE OF ONE OF
THREE PRESELECTED ENTREES.
A LITTLE LATER YOU WILL DELIGHT IN A GENEROUS SLICE OF A GOURMET
DESSERT. ALONG THE WAY YOU WILL ENJOY THE
BEAUTY OF THE AREA AS YOU PASS BY FARM FIELDS, DEEP WOODS, AND
THE SCENIC NAMEKAGON RIVER. IF YOU WANT TO BRING THE KIDS,
THEN SELECT THE PIZZA TRAIN PACKAGE.
IT''S ONE OF THE RAILROAD''S MO ST
POPULAR, FAMILY-ORIENTED TRAIN RIDES EACH SEASON.
YOU CAN BRING UP TO FIVE GUESTS AND CHOOSE FROM PEPPERONI,
SAUSAGE OR CHEESE PIZZA BAKED FRESH IN THE DINING CAR ON THE
TRAIN. INCLUDED WITH YOUR TICKETS YOU
WILL ALSO RECEIVE THE ANNIVERSARY SHOW 3-DISC SET, THE
NEW 8TH EDITION GUIDEBOOK, AND
THE DOWNLOADABLE COMPUTER DIRECTORY.
CAN''T MAKE UP YOUR MIND ON WHICH PACKAGE TO CHOOSE?
THEN GET THEM ALL AT OUR PRESIDENTIAL LEVEL WITH A GIFT
OF $420, OR AN ONGOING CONTRIBUTION OF $35 PER MONTH.
YOU WILL RECEIVE THE FAMILY
PASSES TO THE NATIONAL RAILROAD
SEUM AND ILLINOIS RAILWAY SEUM AND A CERTIFICATE FOR THE
WISCONSIN GREAT NORTHERN RAILROAD''S DINNER OR PIZZA
TRAIN. INCLUDED WITH YOUR TICKETS IS
THE ANNIVERSARY SHOW 3-DISC SET, THE NEW 8TH EDITION GUIDEBOOK
AND THE DOWNLOADABLE COMPUTER DIRECTORY.
AND, AS AN EXTRA THANK-YOU GIFT,
WE''LL INCLUDE THE GREAT SCENIC RAILWAY JOURNEYS DRINK TUMBLER.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN RECEIVING JUST ONE OF THE
EXCLUSIVE GREAT SCENIC RAILWAY THANK-YOU GIFTS, CONTRIBUTE AT
OUR PASSENGER LEVEL AND YOU CAN CHOOSE FROM THE ANNIVERSARY SHOW
3-DISC SET, THE NEW 8TH EDITION GUIDEBOOK, OR THE DOWNLOADABLE
COMPUTER DIRECTORY WITH A ONE-TIME CONTRIBUTION OF $120,
OR AN ONGOING GIFT OF JUST $10 PER MONTH.
THE ANNIVERSARY 3-DISC DVD SET INCLUDES THE SHOW YOU''RE
WATCHING NOW, ALONG WITH AN ADDITIONAL 40 RAILWAY ADVENTURES
PLUS BONUS FOOTAGE NOT SEEN IN THE BROADCAST, INCLUDING A
SIT-DOWN INTERVIEW WITH THE CREATOR AND PRODUCER, ROBERT VAN
CAMP, AND PAST SHOW HOST, DAVID
LT, AS THEY PROVIDEINTERESTING FACTS ON THE HISTORY
OF THE SERIES. IF YOU WANT TO DISCOVER,
RESEARCH AND READ ABOUT THE MANY SCENIC RAIL JOURNEYS IN NORTH
AMERICA, PLEASE ASK FOR THE NEW
8TH EDITION GUIDEBOOK. IT''S A COMPLETE AND UPDATED
DIRECTORY TO OVER 500 TOURIST RAILROADS, RAILWAY MUSEUMS, AND
RAILROAD-RELATED ATTRACTIONS. THIS BOOK INCLUDES DETAILED
WRITE-UPS, PICTURES, ROUTE MAPS AND ROLLING STOCK, ALONG WITH
FULL CONTACT DETAILS ON EACH LOCATION.
INTERESTED IN VISITING ALL THE LOCATIONS IN THE BOOK ON YOUR
PC, MAC OR TABLET? ASK FOR THE NEW DOWNLOADABLE
COMPUTER DIRECTORY. IT FEATURES THE SAME LOCATIONS
AS THE BOOK, BUT OFFERS EVEN
MORE DETAILED INFORMATION, VIDEOS, PICTURES, AND
INTERACTIVE MAPS, PLUS DIRECT WEB LINKS TO OVER 500 LOCATIONS,
INCLUDING DAY OUT WITH THOMAS AND POLAR EXPRESS EVENTS
NATIONWIDE. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR
CONTRIBUTION AN
D YOUR SUPPORT
OF PBS
SCONSIN WHEN YOU
MAKE ONE OF
THESE DONATIONS
AND RECEIVE A
GIFT PACKAGE.
>> WELL,
WE HOPE
THAT YOU
ENJOYED THA
T ENCORE EXPERIENCE
WITH THE
ILLINOIS RAILWAY
MUSEUM AND THE
WISCONSIN GREAT NORTHERN. WHAT A GREAT
WAY TO
GO OUT
THERE AND SEE
THE BEAUTY
OF THIS
REGION OF THE COUNTRY. WE
HOPE YOU'LL
GIVE US
A CALL. THIS
IS OUR
LAS T
BREAK, LAST
OPPORTUNITY. WE'RE HERE
IN THE
STUDIOS OF PBS
WISCONSIN AND WE ARE
CELEBRATING OUR
RAILROAD H
ERITAGE AND
THIS GREAT
NETWORK THAT
YOU HAVE
MADE POSSIBLE FOR SO
MANY YEARS.
WE HOPE
YOU'LL BECOME A
MEMBER, RENEW THAT
MEMBERSHIP. THERE ARE MANY
WAYS TO
CONTRIBUTE. >> THERE ARE. WHEN
YOU BECOME A
MEMBER OF
THIS STATION,
YOU'RE NOT
JUST SUPPORTING THIS
PROGRAM, BUT
YOU'RE ALSO SUPPORTING
ALL THE
GREAT PROGRAMMING, THE
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS,
THE HOW-TO
PROGRAMS LIKE
COOKING AND
TRAVEL AND
PAINTING. YOU MAKE
THAT POSSIBLE
WITH YOUR
DONATION. DO
IT RIGHT
NOW, 1-800-236-3636
. >> AND
IF YOU
REMEMBER, THERE ARE MANY
WAYS WITH
THE TRAIN
PACKAGES. YOU
KNOW, OUR
TOP PACKAGE
YOU'RE GOING TO
GET FAMILY
PASSES TO
BOTH
THE ILLINOIS
RAILWAY MUSEUM
AND THE
ILLINOIS RAILROAD MUSEUM
AND THE
PIZZA TRAIN
AND DINNER
TRAIN TICKETS. YOU
CAN BREAK
THESE UP,
SHARE THEM WITH
FRIENDS OR
FAMILY, BUT
THIS IS OUR
LAST BREAK, LAST
OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO
DO THIS.
WE DON'T
SEL L
THESE GIFTS IN
THE STORE.
YOU WON'T
FIND THEM AN
AMAZON.
U'LL ONL
Y GET
THOSE HERE.
WE CREATED
THESE PRODUCTS FOR
YOU, OUR
MEMBERS. IT'S OUR
WAY TO
SAY THANK YOU.
THAT'S REALLY
WHAT THEY ARE.
THEY ARE THANK
YOU G
IFTS FOR
YOUR SUPPORT.
CONSIDER MAKING
THAT INVESTMENT.
YOU CAN
GO ONLINE AT ANY
TIME OR
CALL US
AT 1-800-236-3636.
WE GOT A
LOT OF
VOLUNTEERS TO TAKE YOUR CALL
RIGHT NOW.
>> THEY'RE
WAITING FOR
YOUR CALL, SO
PLEASE MAKE
YOU R
DONATION, pbswisconsin.org OR
1-800-236-3636. YOU
KNOW, FOR
30 YEARS
ROB HAS
TAKEN US
ON THESE
SCENIC AND
HISTORIC TOURS
ALL OVER THE
COUNTRY, AND YOU'VE BEEN
ABLE TO
- RIDE ALONG
WITH PBS WISCONSIN.
NOW
IT'S TIME FOR
YOU TO
SHOW YOUR
SUPPORT BY MAKING A
DONATION AT
1-800-236-3636 .
THE BEST WAY
YOU CAN
DO THA
T I S
BY BECOMING A
SUSTAINER. IT'S
FAST. IT'S EASY.
IT'S
ONGOING MONTHLY
SUPPORT FROM YOUR
CHECKING ACCOUNT
OR CREDIT CARD.
YOU CAN STOP
IT. YOU CAN
START IT
WHENEVER YOU
WANT, ADD TO
IT, SUBTRACT.
YOU STILL
GET A THANK YOU
GIFT. IT'S
FAST, IT'S
EASY. IT
WILL ONLY
TAKE A FEW
SECONDS. ASK
FOR YOURS
WHEN YOU
TALK TO
ONE OF OUR
VOLUNTEERS. 1-800-236-3636. >> AND
I'M BACK
AGAIN WITH
JUSTICE AND WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT
THE NATIONAL
RAILWAY MUSEUM, AN
UNBELIEVABLE LOCATION, AND YOU
HAVE SO MUCH HISTORY
AND INTERPRETATION
FOR FOLKS.
I'M JUS T
AMAZED OF
YOUR COLLECTION AS WELL.
AND THAT'S WHAT
EXCITES ME
ABOUT THESE
PACKAGES THAT
WE'RE G IVING
TO OUR
MEMBERS. IS
THAT WITH YOU
AND ILLINOIS
RAILWAY MUSEUM COMBINED
TOGETHER, THESE
TWO LOCATIONS
ARE THE
B EST
IN THIS
PART OF THE
COUNTRY FOR SURE. YOU GET
TO TAKE A
TRAIN RIDE,
TOO. >> WE HAVE SEASONAL TRAIN
RIDES AT
THE NATIONAL
RAILROAD MUSEUM.
YOU HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO
EXPLORE OUR GROUNDS.
WE HAVE
OVER 70
PIECES OF
ROLLING STOCK
INSIDE AND
OUTSIDE. WE
HAVE SOME
AMAZING LOCOMOTIVES. WE
HAVE THE
DWIGHT D.
EISENHOWER. WE HAVE THE BIG
BOY RIGHT
OVER THERE, WHICH
IS OVER
50 YARDS
LONG. IT IS
A HUGE
STEAM LOCOMOTIVE.
WE ALSO
HAVE ARROW
TRAIN NO.
2 AS WELL
AS TWO
PASSENGER CARS WITH
THAT LOCOMOTIVE. >> YEAH.
IT'S REALLY
LIK E
STEPPING BACK
IN TIME.
THAT'S ONE THING I
LOV E
ABOUT THESE
MUSEUMS. THEY'RE NOT
JUST INTERPRETATIVE.
THERE'S SO MUCH TO
DO THERE.
IT'S A TACTILE EXPERIENCE WHERE
YOU REALLY
LEARN ABOUT
HOUR RAILROAD HERITAGE. TO SEE
THE KIDS'
FACES LOOKING
UP AT THAT
MAMMOTH STEAM
ENGINE AND BEING
ABLE TO TOUR
THEM AND
THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO PLEASE CONSIDER
MAKING THAT
INVESTMENT. WE'LL GET
YOU PASSES TO
THE ILLINOIS
RAILWAY MUSEUM AND
THE NATIONAL RAILROAD MUSEUM.
AGAIN, THESE ARE
FAMILY PASSES,
FOLKS, AND
WE'LL GIVE
YOU ALL
THOSE GREAT THANK
YOU GIFTS AS
WELL. TALK A
LITTLE MORE ABOUT
THE ILLINOIS
RAILROAD MUSEUM.
WE HAVE NICK
KALLAS WITH
MICHELE. >> TELL
ME ABOUT
WHAT NEW
PROJECTS YOU ARE
WORKING ON?
>> WE'RE
WORKING ON THE
ELECTRIC LIGHTER, A
FAMOUS TRAIN. THERE
WAS A BIG
COMPETITION WIT
H THE
RAILROADS BETWEEN
CHICAGO AND MILWAUKEE.
SO YOU HAD THE
MILWAUKEE ROAD,
WHOSE HAT I HAVE
ON HERE.
YOU HAD
THE CHICAGO NORTHWESTERN
AND THE NORTH
SHORELINE, AN ELECTRIC COMPANY. IN
1941 THEY
DEVELOPED A
GH-SPEED TRAIN, TWO
OF THEM.
THEY RAN
BETWEEN CHICAGO
AND MILWAUKEE.
THEY'D START OUT IN
MILWAUKEE AND
CHICAGO AT THE SAME TIME
AND IN
AN HOUR
AND 45
MINUTES YOU'D
BE IN
DOWNTOWN MILWAUKEE
AT 6TH
AND MICHIGAN. IT'S AN INTERESTING TRAIN.
IT'S WELL-KNOWN
BY A LOT
OF PEOPLE.
THAT COMPANY QUIT
IN 1963.
SO THE
REAL HISTORY
IS AT
THE
LINOIS RAILWAY MUSEUM.>>
THE ONLY
PLACE YOU'RE
GOING TO BE
ABLE TO SEE
THAT TRAIN.
>> A REAL ELECTRIC LINER
THAT HAD
E LECTRIC
BURNERS. >> WHEN
WILL I T
BE READY TO
SEE? >>
WE'RE TRYING TO
HAVE IT
OUT FOR
THE BI-CENTENNIAL.
IT HAS BEEN PAINTED BACK
TO ITS
ORIGINAL COLORS AND WE
PUT IT
OUT ON
DISPLAY ONCE IN A
WHILE FOR
SPECIAL OCCASIONS.
BUT THE VOLUNTEERS
ARE WORKING ON
THE INTERIOR
OF IT.
IT HAD A
TAVERN LOUNGE CAR.
IF YOU
CAN IMAGINE
IF YOU'RE
IN CHICAGO
AT THE
L STATION
AND THIS THING
PULLS UP AND
YOU SEE
SOMEBODY
EATING A HAMBURGER,
EATING A
BEER, WHY
CAN'T I
BE ON
THAT TRAIN?
>> YOU WANT TO BE
ON THAT
TRAIN. WELL, YOU
CAN SEE
THIS TRAIN
SHORTLY WHEN YOU MAKE A
DONATION FOR
$240. YOU
WILL GET
P ASSES
TO THE
ILLINOIS RAILWAY MUSEUM. BUT
YOU'VE GOT TO
MAKE A DONATION AT
1-800-236-3636. >> I
TELL YOU,
WHAT A GREAT
WAY, $20
SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP TO GET
BOTH OF
THESE GREAT
HISTORIC OCCASIONS
WITH THE
LARGEST COLLECTION.
COMBINE THEM TOGETHER. YOU
COULD SPEND
WEEKS IN
THERE AND
STILL NOT
GET TO SEE ALL OF
THE COLLECTIONS THEY HAVE
AND ALL
THE DOCUMENTATION.
CONSIDER MAKING THAT
INVESTMENT. TAKE
SOME PRIDE
IN YOUR
TWO LOCAL RAILWAY
MUSEUMS HERE WHEN
YOU MAKE THA
T CONTRIBUTION.
NOW, IF YOU WANT
TO S
TEP IT
UP A LITTLE BIT
AND STILL
GET THE
MUSEUM PASSES,
BOTH O F
THEM, AND
GET YOUR CHOICE
TO RIDE
ON A DINNER
TRAIN OR A
FAMILY PIZZA
TRAIN ON THE
WISCONSIN GREAT NORTHERN, BUMP
IT UP TO
$30 SUSTAINING
MEMBERSHIP AND
WE'LL GIVE YOU
YOUR CHOICE TO HAVE A
NICE CHILDREN FOR
TWO. YOU
GOT AN ANNIVERSARY
COMING UP, A
BIRTHDAY. WHAT I
LOV E
ABOUT IT,
THESE ARE
THE ONLY ONES IN
THE COUNTRY.
GREG AND MARDELL
AND THEIR
TEAM HAVE
PUT TOGETHER
PRIVATE DINING
ROOMS. THESE ARE
FRAMED IN SO
THERE'S NO ONE ON EITHER
SIDE O F
YOU. YOU GET
YOUR OWN
PRIVATE ROOM AND
THEY ALSO
HAVE IF YOU
WANT TO BE IN
THE OPEN
ROOMS LIKE IT
WAS TRADITIONALLY BACK
IN THE DAY.
THAT'S ONE THING
I LOVE ABOUT
THE PRESENTATIONS
THE Y DO
HERE. YOU
WILL REALLY
ENJOY THAT
DINNER TRAIN. THE
SCENERY IS
JUS T
GORGEOUS UP THERE. YOU GOT
THE WOODS,
THE FOREST,
THE FARMLAND,
THE RIVER.
ALL THAT'S
COMPACT IN
THESE ROUND TRIPS.
SO IF
THAT ONE
WORKS FOR
YOU. - OR
IF YOU WANT THE
FAMILY PIZZA
TRAIN, THINK ABOUT THAT.
TAKE THE
KIDS AND THE
GRANDKIDS AND GO
UP THERE
AND ENJOY
THI S
TEN-MILE ROUND
TRIP THROUGH
THE SAME
BEAUTIFUL SCENERY
AS THE
DINNER TRAIN,
BUT YOU
GET SOM
E WISCONSIN CHEESE WITH
YOU R
PIZZA. THE KIDS
LOVE IT.
IT'S FUN. FAMILY
ORIENTED. THE ONLY
TIME I
SAW PEOPLE'S
PHONES OUT IS
WHEN THEY WERE
TAKING PICTURES. IT'S A
BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCE
UP THERE.
IF YOU
CAN'T MAKE
UP YOUR
MIND WHICH ONE
YOU WANT,
COME ON
BOARD AT A
LITTLE BIT MORE,
$35 SUSTAINING
MEMBERSHIP, YOU
GET THE MUSEUM
PASSES AND BOTH
THE DINNER TRAIN
AND THE
FAMILY PIZZA TRAIN.
SO YOU
CAN MAYBE
SHARE THESE
AS GIFTS WITH
FRIENDS OR
FAMILY. OF
COURSE YOU'RE
GOING TO GET
THE DVD SET,
THE GUIDEBOOK
AND THE
DRINK TUMBLER.
SO THINK
ABOUT THAT
INVESTMENT AND WE'LL GO
AHEAD AND
GET THAT
SO WE'LL
TOSS IT BACK TO
MICHELE. >> I
WOULD RECOMMEND
THE PIZZA
TRAIN
BECAUSE NOTHING
GOES BETTER
TOGETHER THAN
PIZZA AND
TRAINS, ESPECIALLY IF
YOU'RE A KID
OR A FAMILY.
BUT NO
MATTER WHAT
MEMBERSHIP LEVEL
YOU DONATE
AT, ALL
OF
ESE SUGGESTED LEVELS
YOU GET
TWO OTHER
BENEFITS. ONE O
F THEM
IS "AIRWAVES,"
OUR PROGRAM GUIDE.
THE OTHER
IS PBS
PASSPORT, WHICH
IS AN
EXTENSIVE ONLINE
LIBRARY OF
PBS SHOWS, PBS
WISCONSIN
OWS.IT'S
LIKE NETFLIX
FOR PBS.
YOU CAN
BINGE WATCH
YOUR FAVORITE
SHOWS AS OPPOSED TO
WAITING FOR THEM TO
COME ON
WEEK AFTER
WEEK. THAT
IS AVAILABLE
AT ANY OF
THE LEVELS
THAT WE HAVE
TALKED ABOUT
RIGHT NOW. WHAT
IS IMPORTANT
IS THAT
YOU BECOME A MEMBER.
IT'S EASY TO
DO. 1-800-236-3636
. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR YOUR
SUPPORT. >> ONE THING
I LOVE
ABOUT LIVE
TV IS
I CAN
JUST WALK
BACK INTO
THE PICTURE. SO WE ARE
WRAPPING UP
THE 30TH
ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL PROGRAM
THAT HAS BEEN MADE
POSSIBLE BY
OUR PBS WISCONSIN
FAMILY, OUR MEMBERS.
NOW, FOLKS,
WE KNOW SOM
E O F
YOU ARE
THINKING ABOUT
THIS, YOU
GOT TO
TALK TO
LOVED ONES,
YOU THINK
I MISSED MY
OPPORTUNITY WHEN
WE GO
TO ANOTHER
GREAT SHOW.
NO. WRITE THE
PHONE NUMBER
DOWN. WRITE THE
WEBSITE DOWN.
WE'LL BE HERE
TOMORROW, THE NEXT
DAY. WE ASK
THAT YOU GET
IN TOUCH
WITH US DURING
THIS FUND-RAISING DRIVE.
SO PLEASE CONSIDER
MAKING THAT
INVESTMENT AND THANK YOU FOR
ALLOWING ME TO
COM E
INTO YOUR
HOMES FOR 30
YEARS AND
BRING YOU
ALL THESE
GREAT RAILROAD
ATTRACTIONS. THE
RAILROADS BUILT
AMERICA AND
YOU BUILT PBS WISCONSIN.
SO CONSIDER
THAT INVESTMENT. >>
1-800-236-3636 IS
HOW YOU
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT. WE
CANNO T D
O THIS
WITHOUT YOU.
GO TO
pbswisconsin.org AND
MAKE YOUR
DONATION NOW
AND THANKS.
♪
! [ Train whistle blows ]
♪♪
-♪ Get on board ♪
♪ We're ready to go
♪
♪ See the world
from the scenic railroad ♪
♪ From the snowcapped
mountains to the sunny coast ♪
♪
♪ On the "Great Sceni
c Railway Journeys" ♪
♪♪
- Announcer: The following prog
ram
is an encore presentation.
To give your support, call us at
1-800-236-3636
or visit us at pbswisconsin.org.
[mellow acoustic music]
♪ ♪