Our onboard educational programs are made possible because of partnership agreements made between the Midwest Rail Rangers and different railroads and other businesses/groups.
For example, our onboard educational programs on the South Shore Line are given in cooperation with NICTD (Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District), which operates train service in Illinois and Indiana.
Likewise, our educational programs on private rail excursions are able to take place thanks to the partnerships with a number of different private railcar owners. These individuals and groups handle the very complicated logistics of each excursion (maintenance of rail car equipment, itinerary, financials, selling tickets, etc.), which allows us to focus on telling passengers about what is out their window. Our live narration, route guide handout sheets, guidebooks, and special one-on-one interactions will no doubt enhance your ride aboard a historic 1950's or 1960's train car.
We are also proud to work in cooperation with the 20th Century Railroad Club. Located in Chicago, the club offers unique travel opportunities aboard Amtrak coach charters for rail enthusiasts, families, singles and groups. The Midwest Rail Rangers is proud to assist the 20th Century Railroad Club in not only providing narration and educational services on trips... but also working to develop trip itineraries for some of the shorter one, two, and three day weekend trips to fun and exciting destinations in the Midwest.
Below you will find a complete listing of our partners that we currently work with... or have work with in the past. If you would like to learn even more about a particular group, be sure to check out the link provided to their website.
We would like to thank our railroad partners for their support throughout the years. If you are a private railroad car owner, tour operator, or public rail entity, and would like more information on what the Midwest Rail Rangers can do for you, just contact our Board of Directors at board@railrangers.org. Being a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, we often are able to provide our educational service for no cost. In fact, our Guides even raise money for our onboard partners through onboard route guidebook sales.
SOUTH SHORE LINE PROGRAM PARTNERS
Here is a closer look at some of the organizations that the Midwest Rail Rangers partner with in order to bring you onboard educational programs on the South Shore Line in Illinois and Indiana:
NORTHERN INDIANA COMMUTER TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT (NICTD) Michigan City, Indiana
The South Shore Line is an electrically powered interurban commuter rail line operated by the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) between Millennium Station in Downtown Chicago and the South Bend International Airport, Indiana. The name refers to both the physical line and the service operated over that route. The line was built in 1901-08 by predecessors of the Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad, which continues to operate freight service. Passenger operation was assumed by the NICTD in 1989. The South Shore Line became partners with the Midwest Rail Rangers in August 2017, with Interpretive Guides providing onboard educational programs for passengers approximately twice per month. The South Shore Line operates with a fleet of 82 rail cars, including 58 single-level self-propelled cars, 10 single-level un-powered trailers, and 14 bi-level self-propelled cars.
For more information about the South Shore Line, please check out their website: www.mysouthshoreline.com.
INDIANA DUNES STATE PARK Chesterton, Indiana
In June 2019, the Midwest Rail Rangers signed a formal partnership agreement with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to be a partner of our onboard educational programs on the South Shore Line. Our Interpretive Guides undergo specialized on-site training at the Indiana Dunes State Park every year to gain knowledge to share with passengers on the train. Indiana Dunes consists of 2,182 acres of primitive, beautiful, historic and unique Hoosier landscape. It lies at the north end of State Road 49 in Porter County, and includes more than three miles of beautiful beach along Lake Michigan's southern shore. In the early 1900's scientists, recreationists and nature enthusiasts, recognizing the value and potential of the Indiana dunes area, fought to have the region preserved. As a result, in 1925, the state park was established.
Here is a closer look at some of the organizations that the Midwest Rail Rangers partner with in order to bring you onboard educational programs on private rail excursions --- both currently and in past years (listed in alphabetical order):
AMERICAN RAIL EXCURSIONS Madison, Illinois
American Rail Excursions, Inc. was a company specializing in nostalgic rail, overland cruises aboard our private rail passenger cars that have been painstakingly restored to better than original condition and reflects railroading's golden age. Travel with American Rail aboard private rail cars that held the most prestigious positions on America's most famous trains: The 20th Century Limited, The California Zephyr or The Crescent. Private rail car travel is like having a hotel suite on wheels, a fine restaurant with a five-star chef, an ever-changing view through your window as we travel across America, and room to get up and walk around. American Rail Excursions became a partner of the Midwest Rail Rangers in November 2015 thanks to the efforts of Roger Verbeeren. Our Guides presented programs in 2016, 2017, and 2018 on several American Rail Excursion Trips -- including to St. Louis, Chicago, and the Twin Cities.
Unfortunately, American Rail Excursions ceased operations in late 2018.
BLUE PINE RAIL Hammond, Indiana
The newest partner for the Midwest Rail Rangers is Blue Pine Rail, a company started up by Gideon Comanse and Keiwoon Krause --- both are two men in their 20's who enjoy private rail travel. They have one simple goal at Blue Pine Rail, to take their passengers back to a time when rail travel was the best way to travel, quality service was practiced and given, and the experience was like no other. Whether you are a fan of railroads, or a simple fan of nostalgia and memories, join Blue Pine on the rails today! The Midwest Rail Rangers partnered with Blue Pine Rail for the first time on June 30, 2019 for an excursion featuring two ex-Pennsylvania cars on the last run of Amtrak's Hoosier State train through Indiana and Illinois. The Midwest Rail Rangers look forward to partnering with Blue Pine Rail for many years to come on excursions they organize across the Midwest.
FRIENDS OF THE 261 Minneapolis, Minnesota
Based in Minnesota, the Friends of the 261 is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote public understanding of the history of railroading in the Midwest. The group owns a fleet of passenger cars, with most of them painted in Milwaukee Road maroon and orange passenger train colors which traveled with Milwaukee Road Steam Locomotive #261. These include the last operating Milwaukee Road "Skytop" glass backed observation car, the "Cedar Rapids" and a Milwaukee Road full-length Super Dome car. Our Interpretive Guides provided narration and route guidebooks for the group's steam excursions to Boylston, Wisconsin and Willmar, Minnesota in October 2015... and to Duluth, Minnesota in June 2016. We were also planning to provide a program and books for the Friends of the 261 Duluth trip in June 2018, however it was cancelled due to new regulations put in place by Amtrak. Interpretive Guides also volunteered for the Friends of the 261's North Pole Express fundraisers between 2015 and 2018.
For more information about the Friends of the 261, please check out their website: www.261.com.
FRIENDS OF THE CUMBRES & TOLTEC SCENIC RAILROAD Albuquerque, New Mexico
The Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, Inc. became partners with the Midwest Rail Rangers in May 2016. This 501(c)(3) non-profit organization shares with the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad Commission the stewardship of this unique railroad property of important historic significance and remarkable scenic beauty. The group's mission is to preserve and interpret the railroad and to support its operation for the people of Colorado and New Mexico who own it, and the tens of thousands of visitors who come to be transported back in time through the beauty of the San Juan Mountains. As a fundraiser for the group, the Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad organizes private rail excursions across the country. Midwest Rail Rangers Guides work on these trips to provide passengers with knowledge about what is out their window; this includes an October 2016 trip between Chicago Union Stations, Galesburg, Fort Madison, and our former headquarters city of La Plata, MO.
For more information about Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec, please check out their website:
www.cumbrestoltec.org.
IOWA PACIFIC HOLDINGS Chicago, Illinois
The Midwest Rail Rangers partnered with Iowa Pacific Holdings (and also the Indiana Department of Transportation) from November 2016 to February 2017 to have our Interpretive Guides aboard the "Hoosier State" train between Lafayette, Indiana and Chicago, Illinois. Narration was provided for Business Class passengers in the full-length dome car on select Sunday mornings. Our "Hoosier State" on-board educational programs covered such topics as the Battle of Tippecanoe, the Wabash River, and many historic buildings seen on the south side of Chicago. Unfortunately, when Amtrak took back over operations of the train in March 2017, our efforts were forced to come to an end. The Indiana Department of Transportation did help to get our on-board educational programs re-established on the South Shore Line between Chicago and South Bend later that year.
Unfortunately, Iowa Pacific Holdings ceased operations in 2021.
PATRICK HENRY CREATIVE PROMOTIONS Houston, Texas
The Midwest Rail Rangers partnered with Patrick Henry Creative Promotions in August 2017 for a special presentation aboard two of their private railcars through portions of Missouri, Iowa, and Illinois. Patrick Henry Creative Promotions is a food and beverage marketing agency for national hotel and restaurant chains; its employees also design award-winning menus and offer promotions. The company also owns a heritage dome lounge car called the "Warren R. Henry"... and an accompanying sleeper car, the "Evelyn Henry". Both are among the most luxurious railcars out there today and are a real treat to ride on. Several of our route guidebooks have also been donated to the small on-board library that travels in these cars... so be sure to look out for them if you're riding!
For more information about Patrick Henry Creative Promotions' private railcars, please check out their website:
http://phcp.com/the-train/.
PAXRAIL Chicago, Illinois
Paxrail, owned by Jim Evanson, became partners with the Midwest Rail Rangers in July 2016. The company currently owns and operates "Stampede Pass", which was built as dome-coach by the Budd Company in 1954 for the Northern Pacific's premier train, the North Coast Limited. It operated throughout the country in Amtrak service from 1971-1995 before being sold into private ownership. The car was briefly leased to the Grand Canyon Railway, where it bore the name "Kokopelli". In the late 1990's, the car was converted from a dome-coach to a dome-sleeper, with the addition of three bedrooms, a galley, and a lounge seating area. After the expiration of the Grand Canyon Railway lease, it operated in excursion and charter service out of Cincinnati for over a decade under the name "Observatory". Paxrail acquired the car in 2015 and named it "Stampede Pass". Paxrail has worked with the Midwest Rail Rangers to provide onboard educational programs in the dome car between Chicago and Milwaukee as recently as Summer 2018.
For more information about Paxrail, please check out their website: www.paxrail.com.
ZEPHYR ROUTE TOURS Saint Charles, Illinois
Headquartered in St. Charles, Illinois, Zephyr Route Tours is an original partner of the Midwest Rail Rangers, dating back to our group's formation in July 2015. It is run by President Mike Abernethy, who owns private railcar "Silver View", which was built by the Budd Company in 1947 for the Burlington Route Vista Dome Twin Cities Zephyrs. It provided first class parlor car service, and was the signature car to one of the most handsome trains ever built. "Silver View" is currently under restoration in Iowa by Mike Abernethy; in order to fund the process, Zephyr Route Tours organizes excursions on other private railcars. Signature trips have included runs to Galesburg and Hannibal in June... plus a fall colors trip to the Twin Cities from Chicago and Milwaukee. Midwest Rail Rangers Interpretive Guides can be found on almost every Zephyr Route excursion.
For more information about Zephyr Route Tours, please check out their website: www.zephyrroute.com.
20TH CENTURY RAILROAD CLUB PROGRAM PARTNERS
Here is a closer look at some of the organizations that the Midwest Rail Rangers partner with in order to bring you onboard educational programs on Amtrak coach charters organized by the 20th Century Railroad Club of Chicago:
20TH CENTURY RAILROAD CLUB Chicago, Illinois
The 20th Century Railroad Club, based in Chicago, partners with the Midwest Rail Rangers for many of their Amtrak coach charter trips. A formal agreement was established in November 2017. The 20th Century Railroad Club organizes charters across the Midwest and the country using private rail equipment and Amtrak coaches. If you like trains and travel, you should join the Club! Since 1971, "the Century" has been the first choice of Chicago area railfans who prefer to enjoy their hobby as members of a dynamic club offering a wide range of activities. The 20th Century Railroad Club is also the first choice of smart travelers, who know how enjoyable it is to take the train. Each year, the club schedules ten to twenty trips "for members only," including one day excursions on commuter and Amtrak trains, two or three day weekend adventures via Amtrak, and elaborate five to ten day Vacations with the Century. Midwest Rail Rangers Interpretive Guides provide narration on several 20th Century Railroad Club charters every year.
For more information about the 20th Century Railroad Club, please check out their website:
www.20thcentury.org.
Our onboard educational programs are made possible because of partnership agreements made between the Midwest Rail Rangers and different railroads and other businesses/groups.
