Have a thing for trains? Railroad Days is for you

Since 1862, when Council Bluffs was named the eastern terminus for a transcontinental railroad, mighty engines and steel-driving men have shaped the region. On Saturday and Sunday, Omaha and Council Bluffs celebrate all things related to trains and tracks during Railroad Days.

A festival pass — $10 per family — is good for free admission at five festival sites and free bus transportation among the sites. Activities and exhibits are generally free, but you may want to bring cash for refreshments and souvenirs.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Here are details on the five festival sites. You may start your day at any of these locations. (For more information, see www.omaharailroaddays.com.)

Lauritzen Gardens

100 Bancroft St.

Among the 100 acres of landscaped gardens is a model railroad garden. It features seven G-scale model train lines running among dozens of buildings, trestles and bridges constructed of twigs and other natural materials. Kenefick Park displays Union Pacific Railroad’s Centennial No. 6900, one of the largest and most powerful diesel-electric locomotives ever built, and Big Boy No. 4023, one of the world’s largest steam locomotives.

Durham Museum

801 S. 10th St.

Situated in what used to be Omaha’s Union Station, many of the museum exhibits recall the region’s railroading heritage. Visitors can explore a Pullman car, lounge cars and a caboose and see a 100-foot O gauge model train layout. A special exhibit for the festival is U.P.’s No. 844 Steam Engine. Delivered in 1944, it was the last steam locomotive built for U.P. The museum also hosts Emily Anderson during the weekend. Anderson is retracing the route of Alice Ramsey, a 22-year-old who drove across the United States in 1909 in a Maxwell automobile. Anderson’s father built a replica of the 1909 vehicle using as many vintage automobile parts as he could find.

Union Pacific Railroad Museum

200 Pearl St., Council Bluffs

The museum chronicles the race to build the transcontinental railroad and 140 years of railroading in America. Visitors can try out hands-on exhibits that simulate the work of a telegraphy operator or a locomotive engineer. Of special interest during the festival are an exhibit on President Abraham Lincoln and model train displays by the N-Trak model train club.

Historic General Dodge House

605 Third St., Council Bluffs

This grand Victorian mansion was the home of Gen. Grenville M. Dodge, chief engineer of Union Pacific Railroad during construction of the transcontinental railroad.

Visitors step back in time, to see the house as it may have looked when Dodge and his family lived there.

Built in 1869, it has been a National Historic Landmark since 1961. For the festival, re-enactors from Wild West Creations and Sons of Union Veterans will bring the general’s western frontier experience to life.

RailsWest Railroad Museum 16th Avenue and South Main Street, Council Bluffs

Housed in what was once the Rock Island Depot, the museum focuses on Council Bluffs’ railroad history. Visitors can see railcars and locomotives. Inside the restored depot, built in 1899, is an HO-scale model train display.

Contact the writer:

444-1052, jane.palmer@owh.com