Rock Island Line is a Mighty Good Road

Epworth, Iowa is the site of a small park that offers something from the last century - a train caboose. This one is from the Rock Island railroad which probably passed through this small community in northeast Iowa. In the 1930s a song about the rail line was composed and sung by inmates from the Arkansas State Prison. In the 1950s a re-worked version of the song became a hit for several musicians on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Still, the line is the road to ride. Know that.

Bill Mundt and the Oelwein Railyard

It is not necessarily the extensive railroad artifacts found at the Oelwein Railroad Museum (also known as Hub City Heritage Corporation) that impresses a visitor. It is the enthusiasm and knowledge of the museum’s president Bill Mundt (top photo.) On a recent stop at one of 42N country’s largest collection of railroad cars and gear, Bill provided a personal one-hour tour of the various buildings and rail cards, including a look inside this 1950 diesel locomotive (seen above) located in Oelwein, Iowa.

Annually in mid-August Oelwein celebrates railroad days. This year the museum volunteers are refurbishing a wooden Rock Island Railroad caboose for display, one of only two of this type known to be in existence. Seek out Bill or one of the other volunteers to give you an informative peek at the not too distant past. Know that.