For 57 years (on December 18th) Burlington Northern's locomotive 3006 has sat idle at the Galesburg, Illinois depot. After completing 2.3 million miles of travel in its 30 year active lifetime, the 225 ton steam engine serves as the lead attraction at the train museum. With a little luck perhaps its steam boiler could roar back to service again and invoke wanderlust for me.
From America's heartland, a statue of Abraham Lincoln overlooks Galesburg, Illinois. Sworn into office today, the 45th president of the United States joined his predecessors in creating the latest chapter of the American experience.
At Galesburg, Illinois' Railroad Days one of the main attractions was a Lincoln themed encounter. On the one hand the Lincoln Funeral Car replica was on display for the 150th anniversary of the funeral procession through several states. On the other hand 'Abe' himself with his wife Mary Todd addressed the crowd on the very topics that are in our news today - liberty, slavery, freedom, and the Union. Among the scores of listeners were two motorcyclists who sincerely enjoyed the actual words from a visionary President over 150 years ago.
