BILL GAITHER/The Register-MailKevin Midgett and son Cade Midgett, 2, ride the carousel Friday night at the Railroad Days carnival. The Midgett family is from Charlotte, N.C., and is in town for a family reunion and also to take advantage of this weekendÕs festival.
Railroad hailed for past, future importance
Speakers laud BNSF, museum, RR Days volunteers
Saturday, June 23, 2007
GALESBURG - The 30th annual Railroad Days kicked off with a low-key ceremony Friday evening outside the Galesburg Railroad Museum and attended by about 35 people, including a few waiting for the next Amtrak train.But if the dry weather is a portend for the weekend, no one will care how many people heard the words of welcome.
"What started as an open house for Burlington Northern employees has grown into Galesburg's premier summer event," said Mayor Gary C. Smith before reading the proclamation made the weekend event official.
"The railroad is the heart and soul of this community and the area around it," he added.
State Sen. Dale Reisinger, R-Peoria, said he had a sudden brainstorm before taking the microphone. He mentioned the inability of the Illinois General Assembly to agree on a state budget.
Perhaps, he said, the 118 state representatives, 59 senators and governor should be placed on a train and driven around the state of Illinois.
"Nobody could get off the train until we had a budget," he said with a laugh.
Reisinger said the railroad is a big part of Galesburg's past, but it should be considered a valuable part of its future, too.
That sentiment was echoed by State Rep. Don Moffitt, R-Gilson, who said the railroad will continue to provide jobs for the city.
Railroad Days, he said, is a way to honor and thank BNSF for what it does for Galesburg.
"It's also a way to thank all the wonderful railroad workers who take pride in their work," he said.
Mike Godsil, president of the Galesburg Railroad Museum board, spoke briefly to point out that board members and others volunteered their time to prepare the old Pullman car which was put on site near the museum in April.
"They put in many hours of time and talent," he said.
Before ending the brief ceremony, Bob Maus, president of the Chamber of Commerce, presented plaques of appreciation to Ron Hatch, who has used his artistic skills to provide the official Railroad Days poster for many years, and Jamie Bjorkman, longtime chairman of Railroad Days.
The event continues in downtown Galesburg through Sunday.
<0xE0E4> The fee for Railroad Days railyard bus tours was incorrect in Thursday's paper. The bus tour costs $4 per person. The 40-minute tour leaves every 30 minutes from Mulberry Street, north of the depot, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and Sunday.
