The city finally blinked and officially recognized Chicago Railroad History Month. It took way too long to get these bureaucrats to honor our past but we forced their hand. We won this fight and now we make sure they actually respect the legacy of the workers who built this city.
August 23, 2018
Final supporters
On November 20th, 1848 the diminutive locomotive "Pioneer" carried a train of dignitaries to a location 10 miles west of the city, returning with a load of grain sacks. This first revenue train to operate in Chicago would rapidly lead to the construction of hundreds of miles of tracks crisscrossing the city. The railroads would become a major factor in the growth of the city and its influence in nation's commercial life and social landscape. The railroads would erect 6 great stations in downtown, temples of transportation designed to efficiently handle thousands of daily passengers and inspire awe in those who passed through them. The suburbs burgeoned thanks to a robust system of commuter trains that made the rush hour a daily part of the city's rhythm. Freight trains departed and arrived with raw materials and the goods manufactured by the many factories and businesses that called the city home. Poet Carl Sandburg saw this and eloquently summed up the city in the immortal phrase "Hog Butcher, Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat, Player with Railroads and Freight Handler to the Nation".
In 1948 the 100th anniversary of the Pioneer's inaugural journey was celebrated by a great Railroad Fair that brought many of the nation's railroads to a location on the city's lakefront. There were exhibitions of trains and equipment, historic exhibits and a daily theatrical extravaganza all open to the public. Since that time the fortunes of America's railroads have waxed and waned with the changing economy. Most of Chicago's great downtown railroad terminals fell victim to the wrecker's ball. Tracks were removed as industries vanished. Yet the city is still a robust railroad town and remains the focal point of the nation's rail network. Freight trains still ply the tracks, commuter trains carry people to and from work or the many city's attractions, Amtrak operates the nation's passenger trains from their hub in Union Station. Railroads continue to play a vital role in the economic health of the city.
Sadly Chicago and Chicagoans have forgotten what the railroads mean to the city and region. There have been no civic celebrations of the railroads since that grand event in 1948. This petition seeks to rectify that collective amnesia by asking that the Chicago City Council declare a "Chicago Railroad History Month". It is hoped that this recognition would spur civic and private events focused on both the rich history of the role railroad's played in Chicago's, and their continuing role in the city's future.
Updates
June 27, 2018
The city officials who ignored our history are finally starting to sweat now that this movement is picking up real speed. They thought they could erase our railroad legacy without a fight but they were dead wrong.
Reached 100 supporters
June 27, 2018
31 Comments
People need to learn the truth about railroads. So much misinformation. When I tell people I work for the railroad, typical response is "I didn't realize they still ran trains"
Please designate November as a time to recognize the railroads significant contribution to the city of Chicago. It’s one way to extend the history to generations to come and to remember the networking provided in a concrete way before the era of Smart Phones. Thank you for your serious consideration.
Born & raised and ran my first locomotive in Chicago,and am still runing steam locomotives & other steam macheniry.
Railroads have touched the lives of every Chicagoan and had a profound impact on the city and its history. There many stories to tell, from industrialization and western expansion, to issues surrounding labor, race, and gender. Chicago remains the railroad hub of North America--a distinction worth celebrating!
Chicago served as the railroad hub of the nation, and the railroads helped shape the city, the nation, and the world. A history month for railroads would serve to educate the population as to the importance of railroads in the past and present!
Chicago needs railroad history month because the rrailroads are a major part of Chicago;s history. Better yet Chicago needs to continue making railroad history by adapting the Midwest High Speed Railroad Associations Cross Rail Chicago plan by having Electrified run through commuter and ultimately high speed rail service running from O"Hare Field though Union Station and downtown Chicago and also serving Mc Cormick Place and connecting to all major cities in the mid west through Chicago.
I LIKE TRAINS
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The city finally blinked and officially recognized Chicago Railroad History Month. It took way too long to get these bureaucrats to honor our past but we forced their hand. We won this fight and now we make sure they actually respect the legacy of the workers who built this city.
August 23, 2018
Final supporters
On November 20th, 1848 the diminutive locomotive "Pioneer" carried a train of dignitaries to a location 10 miles west of the city, returning with a load of grain sacks. This first revenue train to operate in Chicago would rapidly lead to the construction of hundreds of miles of tracks crisscrossing the city. The railroads would become a major factor in the growth of the city and its influence in nation's commercial life and social landscape. The railroads would erect 6 great stations in downtown, temples of transportation designed to efficiently handle thousands of daily passengers and inspire awe in those who passed through them. The suburbs burgeoned thanks to a robust system of commuter trains that made the rush hour a daily part of the city's rhythm. Freight trains departed and arrived with raw materials and the goods manufactured by the many factories and businesses that called the city home. Poet Carl Sandburg saw this and eloquently summed up the city in the immortal phrase "Hog Butcher, Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat, Player with Railroads and Freight Handler to the Nation".
In 1948 the 100th anniversary of the Pioneer's inaugural journey was celebrated by a great Railroad Fair that brought many of the nation's railroads to a location on the city's lakefront. There were exhibitions of trains and equipment, historic exhibits and a daily theatrical extravaganza all open to the public. Since that time the fortunes of America's railroads have waxed and waned with the changing economy. Most of Chicago's great downtown railroad terminals fell victim to the wrecker's ball. Tracks were removed as industries vanished. Yet the city is still a robust railroad town and remains the focal point of the nation's rail network. Freight trains still ply the tracks, commuter trains carry people to and from work or the many city's attractions, Amtrak operates the nation's passenger trains from their hub in Union Station. Railroads continue to play a vital role in the economic health of the city.
Sadly Chicago and Chicagoans have forgotten what the railroads mean to the city and region. There have been no civic celebrations of the railroads since that grand event in 1948. This petition seeks to rectify that collective amnesia by asking that the Chicago City Council declare a "Chicago Railroad History Month". It is hoped that this recognition would spur civic and private events focused on both the rich history of the role railroad's played in Chicago's, and their continuing role in the city's future.
Updates
June 27, 2018
The city officials who ignored our history are finally starting to sweat now that this movement is picking up real speed. They thought they could erase our railroad legacy without a fight but they were dead wrong.
Reached 100 supporters
June 27, 2018
31 Comments
Walt Disney attended the 1948 Railroad Fair - it resulted in the inspiration that became Disneyland. Some days Walt would tire of the office and go to the park to be a hogger on his own train!
People need to learn the truth about railroads. So much misinformation. When I tell people I work for the railroad, typical response is "I didn't realize they still ran trains"
Please designate November as a time to recognize the railroads significant contribution to the city of Chicago. It’s one way to extend the history to generations to come and to remember the networking provided in a concrete way before the era of Smart Phones. Thank you for your serious consideration.
Born & raised and ran my first locomotive in Chicago,and am still runing steam locomotives & other steam macheniry.
Railroads have touched the lives of every Chicagoan and had a profound impact on the city and its history. There many stories to tell, from industrialization and western expansion, to issues surrounding labor, race, and gender. Chicago remains the railroad hub of North America--a distinction worth celebrating!
Chicago served as the railroad hub of the nation, and the railroads helped shape the city, the nation, and the world. A history month for railroads would serve to educate the population as to the importance of railroads in the past and present!
Chicago needs railroad history month because the rrailroads are a major part of Chicago;s history. Better yet Chicago needs to continue making railroad history by adapting the Midwest High Speed Railroad Associations Cross Rail Chicago plan by having Electrified run through commuter and ultimately high speed rail service running from O"Hare Field though Union Station and downtown Chicago and also serving Mc Cormick Place and connecting to all major cities in the mid west through Chicago.
I LIKE TRAINS
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Walt Disney attended the 1948 Railroad Fair - it resulted in the inspiration that became Disneyland. Some days Walt would tire of the office and go to the park to be a hogger on his own train!