Rail history group bringing passenger trains to Cedar Rapids

While passenger rail advocates continue to work toward establishing a Chicago-Iowa City Amtrak route, an Amtrak train will run between Chicago and Cedar Rapids this summer. But if you want to ride, you'd better join the club first.

Members of  the National Railway Historical Society (NRHS) will have the chance  to ride an Amtrak special train from Chicago to an from their annual convention June 18-24 in Cedar Rapids. The event schedule also includes special trains from Cedar Rapids to and from Waterloo, Iowa City, Rock Island, and Newton.

Founded in 1935, the NRHS numbers more than 14,000 members in 160 chapters nationwide including one in Iowa. The non-profit group supports and promotes educational programs and train, railway and station preservation projects with grants, research, and volunteer labor.

The convention will also feature seminars and tours of area historic sites including Kalona, the Amanas, and Oelwein's Hub City Railroad Museum, but the big attractions will be the special trains operated over the Iowa Interstate, Iowa Northern, and Cedar Rapids and Iowa City (CRANDIC) routes. The Iowa Interstate trips to Rock Island and Newton will be powered by one of that railroad's steam locomotives, and all the trains will consist of historic passenger cars brought in by NRHS from around the country.

"It looks like they're trying to raise their profile a bit, and it should be quite an event," said Josh Sabin, the Iowa Northern's director of administration. The Iowa Northern will host Cedar Rapids-Waterloo and Cedar Falls-Manly roundtrips.

Convention events will be open to the public if there's space available after NRHS members have booked. To ensure a ride on the trains, local residents should consider joining the society. Dues are $36 or $37 a year, depending on whether a member chooses to be affiliated with a regional chapter.

Convention registration is $25 ($50 for non-members if and when that's available). Coach fares for the special trains range from $79 for the Cedar Rapidsa-Iowa City roundtrip on the CRANDIC to $139 for the Cedar Rapids-Waterloo train and $169 for the steam-powered trips to Newton and Rock Island. Club and lounge car fares are available at extra cost.

The Chicago Amtrak special June 17 and 25 is $149 coach.

Convention headquarters will be the Clarion Hotel & Convention  Center, 525 33rd Ave. SW.

For more information visit the

NRHS web site, write the National Railway Historical Society, 100 N. 20th St. Suite 400 Philadelphia, PA 19103-1462, or call (215) 557-6606.