The
fall of 2009, we decided to head east to along the first interstate in America,
I-70. We once again headed across the wide Mississippi into Illinois and we found
a sign along the highway talking about the first State Capitol of Illinois, we pulled
off and what did we discover that a former mainline ran right next to the
former capitol in a depressed section.
The
rails are still shining, but, did not see any trains go by during our hour tour
of the capital.
Back
on the interstate, we found the town of Greenup. I was very surprised how well
the town had preserved depot.
We stay the first night at the Crowne Plaza Hotel inside the Indianapolis
Union Station. The station still serves AMTRAK by way of the tracks on the southside.
The Union Station was transformed into a mall, which like most intercity malls
has fizzled. The Crowne Plaza took over what remains and turned it into meeting
rooms. The old northside trainshed still has the tracks that have old pullman
cars that were pulled in and the rest of the hotel built around them. The
Pullman car suites have all the modern comforts of a hotel, just fit inside
half of the car. The images of passengers from days gone by, still wander the
halls in forms of plaster cast figureines.
The next morning we headed to Conner’s Prairie, which is best
Interactive Living History Farm, I have ever been to. Then we headed to
Columbus, Ohio, after spending 90 minutes at the Air Force Museum in Dayton. The
next day we started the day at the Wheeling, West Virginia Zoo. Yes, I said
Zoo. Why would I include a zoo in a train story you asked? This zoo has one of
the largest collection of model trains and scencs.
That
night we drove from Wheeling, WV, all the way to Roanoke, Virginia. We wanted to
see the world famous Virginia Museum of Transportation. Boy,
was Mrs. Shuttletrain, excited to see all the pieces
of the museum.
On the way back home, we stopped in one of the most railroad
heritage spots in the country, The C&O Heritage center, in White Sulpher
Springs, WV
The
final stop on this wandering was Hinton, West Virginia.
Thanks for wandering. Come back soon.
