Boone Rail Excursion Trip: Ride the Historic Iowa rails

This day trip has sold out. An identical day trip is being offered on Monday, October 16. Refer to the details of that tour by clicking on the Boone Rail Excursion trip entry listing on October 16.

Be a part of the Golden Age of railroad travel from yesteryear when you join Plus 60 members for a special charter train excursion on the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad (BSVRR) on Thursday, October 19, 2023. Take time to unwind and relax as the world rolls by your window. Sense the spirit of the past as the BSVRR embraces Iowa’s fall season landscape and preserves the romance of the journey.

You’ll enjoy lunch on the rails as you travel through the beautiful Des Moines River Valley in climate controlled comfort aboard the historic “City of San Francisco” or “City of Los Angeles” dining cars. The diesel-powered train crosses the 156’ tall Bass Point Creek High Bridge, the highest single-track interurban railroad bridge in the United States. After passing through the old coal mining town of Fraser, the lunch train climbs its way back out of the river valley as you make your way across some of Iowa’s rich farmland to the end of the line.

The original railroad got its start in 1893 when the town of Fraser became the center of newly discovered coal deposits and transportation was needed to move the coal. A new line was built from Fraser to connect with the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad. By 1907 the line had reached Fort Dodge and Des Moines with the line electrified by Fraser’s new power plant. In 1912-13, the current 156’ tall steel high bridge over Bass Point Creek was constructed replacing the original wooden trestle. Severe flooding from the Des Moines River in 1954 on the Fort Dodge line made electric lines inoperable and were replaced by diesel engines. By 1968 the entire line was purchased by the Chicago and Northwestern Railway and continued operating some portions of it until 1983 when it was purchased by the Boone Railroad Historical Society for $50,000.

Before boarding the train for a Noon departure, a local docent will provide a walk-through 11:00am tour of the James H. Andrew Railroad Museum, a beautiful 9,000 sq. ft. facility housing more than 4,000 rare and unusual railroad artifacts, featuring a research library, theater and memorabilia from all eras of railroading in Iowa. With its extensive collection, there is something of interest for everyone.

The cost of the trip is only $142 per person which includes roundtrip deluxe restroom-equipped motorcoach transportation between Davenport and Boone, Iowa, admission to the railroad museum, the 2-hour train excursion, and on-board catered lunch. Unfortunately, due to the historic nature of the cars, they are not handicapped accessible. You must be able to board and disembark both the chartered motorcoach and the railroad cars via the coach steps.

The lunch menu consists of your choice of entrée: Hamburger, Pulled Pork Sandwich, Pesto Chicken Salad Sandwich or Vegetarian Mac & Cheese. Provided sides are Cole Slaw and Potato Chips. The chef’s choice for dessert is usually a brownie & ice cream. Included beverage choices are Water, soda, lemonade, iced tea, or coffee. Beer and wine adult beverages are available for purchase.

Put this on your must-do bucket list! To register, use the clip-out registration form published August 20, September 3, and September 10 on the Sunday Plus 60 page in the Quad-City Times and Dispatch/Argus newspapers or Click HERE to view and print the trip’s Registration Form. Legibly complete, and send the registration form with your enclosed non-refundable check payment payable to “Quad City Plus 60 Club” to the mailing address listed on the form. Passenger substitutions are allowed. Text or call John at (309) 738-6826 if you have questions or need registration assistance.

Please mail your trip registration so that it is postmarked no later than Wednesday, September 13. Registrations are processed in postmark order until the day trip fills or September 16, whichever occurs first. All aboard!