Sioux City History Week & National Train Day - Saturday, May 7th

Our first big event of the year is schedule for Saturday, May 7th running from 10am till 4 pm. This year we are combining two events into one fun filled day. This year, along with anchoring the week long Sioux City History Week celebrations we are also celebrating Amtrak’s 40th birthday with National Train Day festivities.

Over the fall and winter, progress has not stopped at the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District located in the Riverside neighborhood of Sioux City, Iowa. As a matter of fact, improvements are coming in leaps and bounds. The dedicated group of volunteers has been busy and so have the construction crews. The newly saved Machine/Blacksmith shop will be open for public viewing. This is the future home of the St Louis Corliss steam engine that we saved from the bottom of KD Station before it was torn down. You can talk with the people involved with its rescue and find out the latest updates on the restoration and plans to bring it back to life. Also on display will be some old belt driven lathes, drill presses and other machines that would have actually been used in the machine shop.

Our newest building, the civil engineering exhibit hall will be open and our feature exhibit the Nebraska Central Railroad will actually have trains running on it for public display for the first time in over 15 years. This 75 foot x 15 foot HO scale layout has been getting worked very hard since it was reassembled from storage last fall. If you saw it last fall at AG/Rail you’ll be amazed at the progress that has been made. The buildings are lighted once again, track has been removed, replaced and re-wired. Buildings that we originally thought were destroyed beyond repair have been masterfully put back together and returned to their rightful spots on the layout. While there is still a considerable amount of work yet to be done, you'll be pleased and excited over the progress that has occured. Please give our dedicated model railroad volunteers a firm handshake and a resounding WELL DONE for the amount of work that has been accomplished in such a short period of time.

Other things you’ll note are the many new interpretive display boards that have been added to increase your enjoyment and learning while looking at the various exhibits. A new feature being added for this event is the Hayrack Ride Tours. Jump on the hayrack ride and learn about the complex as you travel around the complex from one location to another. Jump off at a building and go inside and learn more then get back on the hayrack and travel to the next stop. You are sure to learn something new, fun and fascinating while visiting the complex on this ride. If you still would like to learn more about Sioux City and its relationships with the railroads you defiantly won’t want to miss the one and only Dr. Rudy Daniels giving another one of his great talks in the Machine/Blacksmith Shop at 1:30 pm. Also, if you get hungry, you can feed your family and help others in need the same time. The Trio Group from WITTC will be on hand with hot eats. All the proceeds from the food sales go toward scholarship funds and other worthwhile charities that this wonderful group provides for.

Make your plans now! Invite your friends, neighbors, grandparents, grandkids, aunts and uncles this is the family outing you’ve been waiting for. Come celebrate Sioux City and the railroads. Come on out to the Milwaukee Railroad Historic Shops at 3400 Sioux River Road, “Where history, science and technology are coupled together”.
Admission: $5 for adults, $2.50 for kids. Motor car rides are $1.