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{{Infobox organization
{{Infobox organization
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| map2_size =
| map2_size =
| map2_alt =
| map2_alt =
| motto ="More Than a Train Ride"
| merged =
| merged =
| successor =
| successor =
| formation = July 20, 2015
| formation = July 20, 2015
| extinction = <!-- use {{end date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| extinction = <!-- use {{end date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| type =Non-Profit 501(c)(3)
| type = Non-Profit 501(c)(3)
| status =Active
| status = Active
| purpose =
| purpose =
| headquarters =[[Barron, Wisconsin]]
| headquarters = [[Luck, Wisconsin]]
| coords = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LON|display=inline, title}} -->
| coords = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LON|display=inline, title}} -->
| services =Passenger rail interpretive programs
| services = Passenger rail interpretive programs
| language =
| language =
| leader_title =President
| leader_title = President
| leader_name =Robert Tabern
| leader_name = Robert Tabern
| leader_title2 =
| leader_title2 = Secretary
| leader_name2 =
| leader_name2 = Mike Pace
| leader_title3 =
| leader_title3 = Treasurer
| leader_name3 =
| leader_name3 = Amanda Anderson
| leader_title4 =
| leader_title4 =
| leader_name4 =
| leader_name4 =
| key_people =
| key_people =
| main_organ =
| main_organ =
| subsidiaries =
| subsidiaries =
| affiliations =Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad
| affiliations = South Shore Line, Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana Dunes State Park
| budget =
| budget =
| volunteers =12
| volunteers = 8
| slogan =
| slogan =
| remarks =
| remarks =
| formerly = APRHF Rail Rangers, Trails & Rails
| formerly = APRHF Rail Rangers, Trails & Rails
| footnotes =
| footnotes =
| name =
| name = Midwest Rail Rangers
| native_name =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| native_name_lang =
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| tax_id = <!-- or | vat_id = (for European organizations) -->
| tax_id = <!-- or | vat_id = (for European organizations) -->
| registration_id = <!-- for non-profit org -->
| registration_id = <!-- for non-profit org -->
| location =P.O. Box 184, Barron, WI 54812
| location = P.O. Box 615, Luck, WI 54853
| region =[[Midwestern United States]]
| region = [[Midwestern United States]]
| products =
| products =
| methods =
| methods =
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| website = http://www.RailRangers.org
| website = http://www.RailRangers.org
}}
}}
'''Midwest Rail Rangers''' is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to present on-board educational programs to railroad passengers in the [[Midwestern United States]] regarding such topics as history, ecology, and geology.
'''Midwest Rail Rangers''' is a non-profit organization specializing with on-board educational programs to railroad passengers in the [[Midwestern United States]] with information regarding history, ecology, and geology.


Guides with Midwest Rail Rangers provide interpretive programs on-board the [[South Shore Line]] between [[Chicago, Illinois]] and [[South Bend, Indiana]].<ref name=gem1>{{cite web |url=https://www.mysouthshoreline.com/news/item/258-history-rides-with-rail-rangers-upcoming-dates |title=HISTORY RIDES WITH RAIL RANGERS - UPCOMING DATES|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=November 22, 2019 |website=Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District |access-date=August 20, 2020}}</ref> The Midwest Rail Rangers partner with the [[Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad]].<ref name=gem2>{{cite web |url=http://www.railrangers.org |title=Upcoming Events |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2018 |website=MIDWEST RAIL RANGERS |access-date=August 20, 2020}}</ref>
Guides with Midwest Rail Rangers provide interpretive programs on-board the [[South Shore Line]] between [[Chicago, Illinois]] and [[South Bend, Indiana]].<ref name=gem1>{{cite web |url=https://www.mysouthshoreline.com/news/item/258-history-rides-with-rail-rangers-upcoming-dates |title=HISTORY RIDES WITH RAIL RANGERS - UPCOMING DATES|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=November 22, 2019 |website=Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District |access-date=August 20, 2020}}</ref>


The organization based in [[Barron, Wisconsin]].
The organization is based in [[Luck, Wisconsin]].


== History ==
== History ==
The Midwest Rail Rangers was officially chartered on July 20, 2015. The organization is modeled after Trails & Rails, a formal partnership between [[Amtrak]] and the [[National Park Service]].
The Midwest Rail Rangers was officially chartered on July 20, 2015. The organization is modeled after Trails & Rails, a formal partnership between [[Amtrak]] and the [[National Park Service]].{{Citation needed|date=August 2020}}


In 1999, The [[National Park Service]] established the Trails & Rails program. Docents associated with the park service would travel aboard select [[Amtrak]] long-distance passenger trains to provide educational commentary.<ref>National Park Service. "[http://www.nps.gov/subjects/amtraktrailsandrails/about.htm Partnering to Connect People with Places]"</ref> Docents would point out interesting landmarks along the way to passengers, including the history of various towns the train was passing through, ecology, and geology of the landscape. A Chicago-based Trails & Rails program was established in 2000. The [[Illinois and Michigan Canal|Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor]] sponsored a Trails & Rails program on Amtrak's [[Texas Eagle]] between [[Chicago]] and [[St. Louis|Saint Louis]], Missouri that ran through 2004. The following year, Trails & Rails decided to move volunteers to the [[Empire Builder]] <ref>PR Newswire, July 12, 2005. "[http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/amtrak-builds-on-a-good-thing-empire-builder-to-get-fresh-new-look-54552687.html Amtrak Builds on a Good Thing: Empire Builder to Get Fresh New Look]"</ref> Between 2005 and 2010, volunteers presented programs in the lounge car between [[Chicago Union Station]] and either [[Winona, Minnesota|Winona]], [[Minnesota]] or [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|St. Paul, Minnesota]]. In September 2010, Trails & Rails ended all Chicago based programs.{{Citation needed}}
In 1999, The [[National Park Service]] established the Trails & Rails program. Docents associated with the park service travel aboard select [[Amtrak]] long-distance passenger trains to provide educational commentary.<ref>National Park Service. "[http://www.nps.gov/subjects/amtraktrailsandrails/about.htm Partnering to Connect People with Places]"</ref> Docents would point out interesting landmarks along the way to passengers, including the history of various towns the train was passing through, ecology, and geology of the landscape. A Chicago-based Trails & Rails program was established in 2000. The [[Illinois and Michigan Canal|Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor]] sponsored a Trails & Rails program on Amtrak's [[Texas Eagle]] between [[Chicago]] and [[St. Louis|Saint Louis]], Missouri that ran through 2004. The following year, Trails & Rails decided to move volunteers to the [[Empire Builder]]<ref>PR Newswire, July 12, 2005. "[http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/amtrak-builds-on-a-good-thing-empire-builder-to-get-fresh-new-look-54552687.html Amtrak Builds on a Good Thing: Empire Builder to Get Fresh New Look]"</ref> Between 2005 and 2010, volunteers presented programs in the lounge car between [[Chicago Union Station]] and either [[Winona, Minnesota|Winona]], [[Minnesota]] or [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|St. Paul, Minnesota]]. In September 2010, Trails & Rails ended all Chicago based programs.{{Citation needed|date=August 2020}}


In late 2012, the American Passenger Rail Heritage Foundation (APRHF), a 501(c)(3) non-profit rail history organization, approached Amtrak and the National Park Service about establishing a new Trails & Rails program on the [[Southwest Chief]] between Chicago and [[La Plata, Missouri]]. Since there were no National Park Service units along the route at the time, it was agreed that the APRHF would manage the day-to-day operations of the program, with additional oversight provided by Trails & Rails National Coordinator James Miculka, who was based in [[College Station, Texas]]. A group of 30 Chicago-based Trails & Rails volunteers were chosen, and the first program took place on May 18, 2013. During its two-and-a-half year run, the APRHF-sponsored Trails & Rails program through Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri reached out to over 50,000 Amtrak passengers, with more than 200 programs given.<ref>Miculka, James E., National Park Service Volunteer-in-Parks Report. [http://www.trainweb.org/outsidetherails/FY14stats.xls "FY 14 Trails & Rails Statistics Final]"</ref><ref>Morris, Bonnie. Mendota Reporter, June 18, 2013, "[http://www.mendotareporter.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&page=72&story_id=7500 Mendota on line for Trails & Rails program on Amtrak] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324023035/http://www.mendotareporter.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&page=72&story_id=7500 |date=2016-03-24 }}"</ref><ref>Bruner, Monica. KTVO-TV, July 11, 2013, "[http://ktvo.com/news/local/all-aboard-for-trails-and-rails All aboard for Trails and Rails]"</ref> In June 2015, Trails & Rails National Coordinator Jim Miculka informed the APRHF Board of Directors that he wished the end the partnership agreement. The final Trails & Rails program on the Southwest Chief between Chicago and La Plata took place on July 19, 2015.{{Citation needed}}
In late 2012, the American Passenger Rail Heritage Foundation (APRHF), a 501(c)(3) non-profit rail history organization, approached Amtrak and the National Park Service about establishing a new Trails & Rails program on the [[Southwest Chief]] between [[Chicago]] and [[La Plata, Missouri]]. Since there were no National Park Service units along the route at the time, it was agreed that the APRHF would manage the day-to-day operations of the program, with additional oversight provided by Trails & Rails National Coordinator James Miculka, who was based in [[College Station, Texas]]. A group of 30 Chicago-based Trails & Rails volunteers were chosen, and the first program took place on May 18, 2013. During its two-and-a-half year run, the APRHF-sponsored Trails & Rails program through Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri reached out to over 50,000 Amtrak passengers, with more than 200 programs given.<ref>Miculka, James E., National Park Service Volunteer-in-Parks Report. [http://www.trainweb.org/outsidetherails/FY14stats.xls "FY 14 Trails & Rails Statistics Final]"</ref><ref>Morris, Bonnie. Mendota Reporter, June 18, 2013, "[http://www.mendotareporter.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&page=72&story_id=7500 Mendota on line for Trails & Rails program on Amtrak] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324023035/http://www.mendotareporter.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&page=72&story_id=7500 |date=2016-03-24 }}"</ref><ref>Bruner, Monica. KTVO-TV, July 11, 2013, "[http://ktvo.com/news/local/all-aboard-for-trails-and-rails All aboard for Trails and Rails]"</ref> In June 2015, Trails & Rails National Coordinator Jim Miculka informed the APRHF Board of Directors that he wished the end the partnership agreement.{{Citation needed|date=August 2020}} The final Trails & Rails program on the Southwest Chief between Chicago and La Plata took place on July 19, 2015.{{Citation needed|date=August 2020}}


After the elimination of Trails & Rails program on the Southwest Chief, the American Passenger Rail Heritage Foundation announced the creation of the APRHF Rail Rangers. Trails & Rails holds an exclusive agreement to provide narration services on Amtrak trains, the APRHF Rail Rangers decided to focus its efforts on providing interpretive programs on non-Amtrak passenger trains, group charters, and at railroad museums. The name Rail Rangers pays homage to the organization's roots with Trails & Rails, as Rail Rangers was slated to be the original name of Trails & Rails before a last-minute change by Amtrak.{{Citation needed}}
After the elimination of Trails & Rails program on the Southwest Chief, the American Passenger Rail Heritage Foundation announced the creation of the APRHF Rail Rangers. Trails & Rails holds an exclusive agreement to provide narration services on Amtrak trains, the APRHF Rail Rangers decided to focus its efforts on providing interpretive programs on non-Amtrak passenger trains, group charters, and at railroad museums. The name Rail Rangers pays homage to the organization's roots with Trails & Rails, as Rail Rangers was slated to be the original name of Trails & Rails before a last-minute change by Amtrak.{{Citation needed|date=August 2020}}


In December 2018, it was announced that the Rail Rangers would be splitting off from the APRHF in order to form an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The name was officially changed to the Midwest Rail Rangers <ref>Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, December 14, 2018 Web Post. "[https://www.wdfi.org/apps/CorpSearch/Details.aspx?entityID=M105060&hash=339252928&searchFunctionID=c671dd7f-039c-4b11-bd5b-2662bb751028&type=Simple&q=MIDWEST+RAIL+RANGERS/ ‘Midwest Rail Rangers’ Certificate of Non-Profit Status]"</ref> on December 14, 2018. On-board educational programs on both the [[South Shore Line]] and private rail excursions continue to operate.<ref>Exciting News About the Future of Rail Rangers for 2019 and Beyond, December 2018 TrainWeb Post. "[http://www.trainweb.org/outsidetherails/RRsplit2018/]"</ref>
In December 2018, it was announced that the Rail Rangers would be splitting off from the APRHF in order to form an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The name was officially changed to the Midwest Rail Rangers <ref>Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, December 14, 2018 Web Post. "[https://www.wdfi.org/apps/CorpSearch/Details.aspx?entityID=M105060&hash=339252928&searchFunctionID=c671dd7f-039c-4b11-bd5b-2662bb751028&type=Simple&q=MIDWEST+RAIL+RANGERS/ ‘Midwest Rail Rangers’ Certificate of Non-Profit Status]"</ref> on December 14, 2018. On-board educational programs on both the [[South Shore Line]] and private rail excursions continue to operate.<ref>Exciting News About the Future of Rail Rangers for 2019 and Beyond, December 2018 TrainWeb Post. "[http://www.trainweb.org/outsidetherails/RRsplit2018/]"</ref>


== Public Rail Programs on the South Shore Line ==
== South Shore Line ==


The main focus of the Midwest Rail Rangers is to provide on-board educational programs on select departures of the [[South Shore Line]] between Chicago's [[Millennium Station]] and [[South Bend Airport station]]. Programs feature live narration in one designated car, free route guide sheets, route guidebooks (for purchase), and a Junior Ranger program for kids and teens aboard. Eastbound programs take place on Train #503, which departs Chicago-Millennium Station at 8:40 am CT and arrives at South Bend Airport Station at 12:10 pm ET. After an hour layover, Guides present a program for westbound passengers on Train #506, which departs South Bend Airport at 1:05 pm ET and arrives into Downtown Chicago at 2:39 pm CT. Upcoming program dates are posted on the non-profit's website dedicated to its South Shore Line programs at [http://www.DunesTrain.com www.DunesTrain.com]. These programs are presented in partnership with the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District.<ref>Trainweb Report, July 5, 2017. "[http://www.trainweb.org/outsidetherails/RRSouthShore2017/]"</ref><ref>Trains Magazine, July 10, 2017. "[http://cs.trains.com/trn/f/742/p/263956/2978726.aspx]"</ref><ref>Lakeshore Public Radio, July 11, 2017. "[http://lakeshorepublicradio.org/post/rail-rangers-join-south-shore-line-passengers-ride#stream/0]"</ref>
Midwest Rail Rangers provides on-board educational programs on select departures of the [[South Shore Line]] between Chicago's [[Millennium Station]] and [[South Bend Airport station]]. Programs feature live narration in a designated car, free route guide sheets, route guidebooks (for purchase), and a junior ranger program for kids and teens aboard. Programs takes place on various train departures year-round.<ref>Trainweb Report, July 5, 2017. "[http://www.trainweb.org/outsidetherails/RRSouthShore2017/]"</ref><ref>Trains Magazine, July 10, 2017. "[http://cs.trains.com/trn/f/742/p/263956/2978726.aspx]"</ref><ref>Lakeshore Public Radio, July 11, 2017. "[http://lakeshorepublicradio.org/post/rail-rangers-join-south-shore-line-passengers-ride#stream/0]"</ref>


In partnership with the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, the Midwest Rail Rangers have also researched, written, and published a 120-page railroad route guidebook for the [[South Shore Line]]. This route guidebook, entitled "Outside the Rails: A Rail Route Guide from Chicago to South Bend Airport" <ref>Outside the Rails Book. "[https://www.amazon.com/Outside-Rails-Route-Chicago-Airport/dp/1365876519]"</ref> covers the history of the communities along the route of the [[South Shore Line]], including [[Chicago]], [[East Chicago]], [[Hammond, Indiana|Hammond]], [[Gary, Indiana|Gary]], [[Portage, Indiana|Portage]], [[Michigan City, Indiana|Michigan City]], [[Hudson Lake, Indiana|Hudson Lake]], and [[South Bend]].<ref>[https://www.newcarlislegazette.com/single-post/2018/04/05/RAIL-RANGERS-RETURN-TO-SOUTH-SHORE-LINE "Rail Rangers Return to the South Shore Line"] ''New Carlisle Gazette''. Retrieved 2018-04-05.</ref>
In partnership with the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, the Midwest Rail Rangers have published a 120-page route guidebook for the [[South Shore Line]].<ref>Outside the Rails Book. "[https://www.amazon.com/Outside-Rails-Route-Chicago-Airport/dp/1365876519]"</ref><ref>[https://www.newcarlislegazette.com/single-post/2018/04/05/RAIL-RANGERS-RETURN-TO-SOUTH-SHORE-LINE "Rail Rangers Return to the South Shore Line"] ''New Carlisle Gazette''. Retrieved 2018-04-05.</ref>

== Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad "Sky Parlour" Partnership ==
The Midwest Rail Rangers have a partnership agreement with the [[Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad]], which is located near [[Trego, Wisconsin|Trego]], [[Wisconsin]]. On select weekends in the spring, summer, and fall months, volunteers with the Midwest Rail Rangers present on-board educational programs aboard the railroad's Sky Parlour Car. What is now called the Wisconsin Great Northern's Sky Parlour Car once served as a [[Hi-Level]] [[lounge car]] on the [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway]] (1956-1971), See-Level lounge car on [[Amtrak]] (1971-1995), and most recently as a Pacific Parlour Car on Amtrak's [[Coast Starlight]] train. The Rail Rangers present a free program for passengers that includes showing off various historical displays and artifacts about the historic railroad car.<ref>[https://www.apg-wi.com/spooner_advocate/free/historic-car-book-and-film-debut-in-wgn-s-fleet/article_146235d2-e385-11e9-9d57-77e48085ac75.html "Historic car, book, and film debut in WGN’s fleet"] ''Spooner Advocate''. Retrieved 2019-09-30.</ref><ref>[http://www.trainweb.org/outsidetherails/WGN2019/ "Midwest Rail Rangers - Sky Parlour "Open House" Event"] ''Trainweb.com''. Retrieved 2019-09-15.</ref>


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.railrangers.org Midwest Rail Rangers], the official website of the Midwest Rail Rangers program
* [http://www.railrangers.org Midwest Rail Rangers], the official website of the Midwest Rail Rangers.
* [http://www.midwestrails.com Outside the Rails Route Guides], the official website of Outside the Rails Route Guidebooks, an affiliate of Midwest Rail Rangers
* [http://www.midwestrails.com Midwest Rail Rangers Store], the official store of the Midwest Rail Rangers.
* [http://www.dunestrain.com Midwest Rail Rangers on the South Shore Line], the official website of the Rail Rangers program on the South Shore Line
* [http://www.trainpodcast.com TrainPodcast.com], download informational train route guide podcasts from the Midwest Rail Rangers.
* [http://www.trainweb.org/outsidetherails Midwest Rail Rangers @ Trainweb], the Midwest Rail Rangers @ TrainWeb Page.
* [http://www.pacificparlourcar.com Pacific Parlour Car], information from the Midwest Rail Rangers about Pacific Parlour Cars.
* [http://www.amtrakdome.com Amtrak Dome Car #10031], information from the Midwest Rail Rangers about Amtrak's Last Dome Car.
* [http://www.loungecars.com Railroad Lounge Cars], information from the Midwest Rail Rangers about Railroad Lounge Cars.
* [http://www.parkbadges.com Park Badges], information about the Junior Midwest Rail Rangers Program for Kids


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:Passenger rail transportation in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Passenger rail transportation in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Passenger rail transportation in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Passenger rail transportation in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Trains]]
[[Category:Railway associations]]
[[Category:National Park Service]]
[[Category:National Park Service]]

Latest revision as of 18:33, 25 February 2024

Midwest Rail Rangers
FormationJuly 20, 2015
TypeNon-Profit 501(c)(3)
Legal statusActive
HeadquartersLuck, Wisconsin
Location
  • P.O. Box 615, Luck, WI 54853
Region
Midwestern United States
ServicesPassenger rail interpretive programs
President
Robert Tabern
Secretary
Mike Pace
Treasurer
Amanda Anderson
AffiliationsSouth Shore Line, Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana Dunes State Park
Volunteers8
Websitehttp://www.RailRangers.org
Formerly called
APRHF Rail Rangers, Trails & Rails

Midwest Rail Rangers is a non-profit organization specializing with on-board educational programs to railroad passengers in the Midwestern United States with information regarding history, ecology, and geology.

Guides with Midwest Rail Rangers provide interpretive programs on-board the South Shore Line between Chicago, Illinois and South Bend, Indiana.[1]

The organization is based in Luck, Wisconsin.

History

[edit]

The Midwest Rail Rangers was officially chartered on July 20, 2015. The organization is modeled after Trails & Rails, a formal partnership between Amtrak and the National Park Service.[citation needed]

In 1999, The National Park Service established the Trails & Rails program. Docents associated with the park service travel aboard select Amtrak long-distance passenger trains to provide educational commentary.[2] Docents would point out interesting landmarks along the way to passengers, including the history of various towns the train was passing through, ecology, and geology of the landscape. A Chicago-based Trails & Rails program was established in 2000. The Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor sponsored a Trails & Rails program on Amtrak's Texas Eagle between Chicago and Saint Louis, Missouri that ran through 2004. The following year, Trails & Rails decided to move volunteers to the Empire Builder[3] Between 2005 and 2010, volunteers presented programs in the lounge car between Chicago Union Station and either Winona, Minnesota or St. Paul, Minnesota. In September 2010, Trails & Rails ended all Chicago based programs.[citation needed]

In late 2012, the American Passenger Rail Heritage Foundation (APRHF), a 501(c)(3) non-profit rail history organization, approached Amtrak and the National Park Service about establishing a new Trails & Rails program on the Southwest Chief between Chicago and La Plata, Missouri. Since there were no National Park Service units along the route at the time, it was agreed that the APRHF would manage the day-to-day operations of the program, with additional oversight provided by Trails & Rails National Coordinator James Miculka, who was based in College Station, Texas. A group of 30 Chicago-based Trails & Rails volunteers were chosen, and the first program took place on May 18, 2013. During its two-and-a-half year run, the APRHF-sponsored Trails & Rails program through Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri reached out to over 50,000 Amtrak passengers, with more than 200 programs given.[4][5][6] In June 2015, Trails & Rails National Coordinator Jim Miculka informed the APRHF Board of Directors that he wished the end the partnership agreement.[citation needed] The final Trails & Rails program on the Southwest Chief between Chicago and La Plata took place on July 19, 2015.[citation needed]

After the elimination of Trails & Rails program on the Southwest Chief, the American Passenger Rail Heritage Foundation announced the creation of the APRHF Rail Rangers. Trails & Rails holds an exclusive agreement to provide narration services on Amtrak trains, the APRHF Rail Rangers decided to focus its efforts on providing interpretive programs on non-Amtrak passenger trains, group charters, and at railroad museums. The name Rail Rangers pays homage to the organization's roots with Trails & Rails, as Rail Rangers was slated to be the original name of Trails & Rails before a last-minute change by Amtrak.[citation needed]

In December 2018, it was announced that the Rail Rangers would be splitting off from the APRHF in order to form an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The name was officially changed to the Midwest Rail Rangers [7] on December 14, 2018. On-board educational programs on both the South Shore Line and private rail excursions continue to operate.[8]

South Shore Line

[edit]

Midwest Rail Rangers provides on-board educational programs on select departures of the South Shore Line between Chicago's Millennium Station and South Bend Airport station. Programs feature live narration in a designated car, free route guide sheets, route guidebooks (for purchase), and a junior ranger program for kids and teens aboard. Programs takes place on various train departures year-round.[9][10][11]

In partnership with the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, the Midwest Rail Rangers have published a 120-page route guidebook for the South Shore Line.[12][13]

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "HISTORY RIDES WITH RAIL RANGERS - UPCOMING DATES". Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District. November 22, 2019. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  2. ^ National Park Service. "Partnering to Connect People with Places"
  3. ^ PR Newswire, July 12, 2005. "Amtrak Builds on a Good Thing: Empire Builder to Get Fresh New Look"
  4. ^ Miculka, James E., National Park Service Volunteer-in-Parks Report. "FY 14 Trails & Rails Statistics Final"
  5. ^ Morris, Bonnie. Mendota Reporter, June 18, 2013, "Mendota on line for Trails & Rails program on Amtrak Archived 2016-03-24 at the Wayback Machine"
  6. ^ Bruner, Monica. KTVO-TV, July 11, 2013, "All aboard for Trails and Rails"
  7. ^ Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, December 14, 2018 Web Post. "‘Midwest Rail Rangers’ Certificate of Non-Profit Status"
  8. ^ Exciting News About the Future of Rail Rangers for 2019 and Beyond, December 2018 TrainWeb Post. "[1]"
  9. ^ Trainweb Report, July 5, 2017. "[2]"
  10. ^ Trains Magazine, July 10, 2017. "[3]"
  11. ^ Lakeshore Public Radio, July 11, 2017. "[4]"
  12. ^ Outside the Rails Book. "[5]"
  13. ^ "Rail Rangers Return to the South Shore Line" New Carlisle Gazette. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Midwest_Rail_Rangers&oldid=1210249895"