During my first two years at UNL (54-55) some ofthe football specials coming
out of Omaha were steam powered. Actually from what I've read the way it
worked was that the coaches used for the specials were deadheaded from Lincoln
to Omaha with steam power. Then operated, loaded, with diesel power from
Omaha to Lincoln and return to Omaha. The DHQ trains returning the equipment
from Omaha to Lincoln were steam powered.
My only memory is of seeing steam powered strings of coaches along Hwy 6
between Omaha and Lincoln so I'm not sure if the above arrangement is how it
was or not..Seems kind of convoluted to me. If someone has better info "let's
have it".
Pete
-----Original Message-----
From: Gerald & Virginia Edgar <vje68@hotmail.com>
To: cbq <cbq@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Fri, Oct 1, 2010 11:01 am
Subject: [CBQ] CB&Q promoting football specials
I recently forwarded to some of my Q friends info on the "Hawkeye Express' - a
small train (ex-C&NW Metra bi-levels & a 1st generation Amtrak loco at either
end) that takes fans from nearby Coralville (with lots of free parking) to
legendary Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. This practice began with the old Rock
Island because as luck would have it, their main was 100 yards from where
Kinnick was built. The Rock (now Iowa Interstate) has a 'cut' adjacent to the
stadium's west parking lot so wooden stairs were built & fans took special
trains to games. The practice stopped when Rock went under but began again a
few yrs ago using equipment owned by Iowa Northern (last used for a Colorado
ski train) on Iowa Interstate track.
The CB&Q promoted similar service albeit from Omaha to Lincoln as I just
learned from a Q authority the Q track in Lincoln is just 200 yards from where
Nebraska plays (sorry I'm an Iowa grad so til U of Neb joins the Big 10 next
yr, I have no reason to care about their stadium EXCEPT that it's on the Q!)
Apparently BN did not continue this practice. (nor Amtrak)
I have blotters, flyers & other memorabilia that the Q issued to promote the
football traffic to Lincoln. I'd guess there are NOT a lot of major stadiums in
USA right on a major RR's track. That said several RR's promoted special trains
to Bowl games as I have seen special menus for the Burlington taking teams to
Pasadena via their usual connections. The Q also printed special menus for
teams riding their trains to regular games: have examples of U. of Minnesota
and Illinois. They did the same for pro football & baseball teams.
What have the rest of you seen or are aware of? tks!
Gerald
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