Celebrating America

America’s Largest Celebration of Railroading Comes to Illinois

ATTENTION: Some additional air conditioned cars have been added to the 2 hour Walcott trips. The Walcott trips will consist of Air Conditioned cars and open window cars. If you have a health need and want to request an Air Conditioned, you can do so at the main gate.

Tickets are available for sale at the main gate of the event only. NO ONLINE SALES are being taken. Look for the “Will Call” sign at the event located at 1801 1st Ave, Rock Island, IL. Tickets will also be available at the main gate of the event. If you have questions you can call 800-747-7800.

Nebraska Zephyr to attend Train Festival 2011 – Read More

Coming July 21-24, 2011, the sounds of steam whistles, the clickety-clack of steel wheels on rails and the excitement from children of all ages will take over Rock Island, IL. in Schwiebert Riverfront Park.

This city located in the heart of the United States on the mighty Mississippi River, is part of a region known as the Quad Cities, which includes the riverfront cities of Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa, and Moline/East Moline and Rock Island in Illinois.

Rock Island has a rich and colorful railroad history, and tens of thousands of train lovers will ascend on the Quad Cities for America’s largest celebration of railroading, Train Festival 2011.

Visitors will have the many options of rarely traveled passenger train excursion routes as well as Mississippi River excursions by boat right from downtown Rock Island in Schwiebert Park.

Steam and Diesel Locomotives from around the country will be on display for visitors to tour the cabs, take photos, watch demonstrations and much more. Huge model train layouts will be on exhibit from around the country and railroad vendors from around the globe will be selling unique, one-of-a-kind train items and mementos that you won’t find anywhere else!

Families will be able to take an all day excursion or shorter 2 hour train rides behind various vintage locomotives. Scaled down miniature trains will be hauling passengers around the grounds of the event as well. Children’s areas will keep the little ones busy for hours.

Train Festival 2011 is being produced by Prestige Rail Marketing and sponsored by the Quad Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau and the City of Rock Island.