Train Ride, TAG Play Kick Off Sesquicentennial Activities

By Diane Raynes
R-T Editor
If the first two activities of the Trenton Sesquicentennial are any indication, the city’s 150th birthday will be quite an event.

I had the chance to ride the Union Pacific Corn Belt Rocket from Carlisle, IA to Trenton on Thursday, then spent the evening watching some very talented individuals perform in the TAG production, “Maud and Essie at the Rock Island Station.” While it certainly was a busy day, I can say it was time very well spent.
The day began with a group of 100-plus individuals gathering in the parking lot south of the Ketcham Community Center to load buses and head off to Carlisle, where we were to board the train and head back home. What was to have started at 7:30 a.m. didn’t get under way until just after 8 a.m., but we arrived in plenty of time to meet the train, which was scheduled in Carlisle at 10:30.
While on the bus, we were treated to a video, accompanied by appropriate music, of railroad memorabilia collected by local residents. Many familiar names could be seen on the tickets, schedule books and other items that popped up on the screen during the 30-minute program.
The make-up of the group was interesting, with many current or former railroaders among those making the trip. And most of them were eager to share stories of their days with the railroad and in particular traveling the line we were on.
There were also parents with their children as well as several grandparents and grandchildren, with nearly all of the youngsters having never ridden a train before. To look at their faces during the trip was a sheer delight as they watched, wide-eyed, every little thing as the train passed by.
The train was able to bring four passenger cars with it, including one with an observation area. To me, however, the best car in which to see the countryside was the last car, which contained a large widow that wrapped around the back of the car and offered a giant view of the world.
Arriving in Carlisle at 10:20, we waited over 90 minutes before the train finally arrived. As we waited, area residents were pouring into town and lined the tracks in order to get a glimpse at the giant transport. You would have thought a very important person was coming to town the way the people turned out.
At around 11:40, the sound of the whistle could be heard and the smoke could be seen. People started clapping and I’m not sure whether it was for the arrival of the train or just the fact it finally got to its destination.
Once it got there, however, we were quickly loaded on and within 15 to 20 minutes were on our way back to Trenton.
In addition to those from Trenton who had purchased a ticket for this particular trip, we were joined by two gentlemen from Carlisle who wanted to ride the train and were invited to do so by the conductor. One of the men called his wife on his cell phone to tell her that while he didn’t know where Trenton was located, she was to get in the car, travel south on Highway 65 until she got to Trenton and pick him up when the train got there.
As we left Carlisle, we were greeted by an employee of the UP, who told us about the train and the railroad. The particular train we were on is called the “844,” which is the number of the engine and, according to the lady who talked with us, this particular engine has never been taken out of service or, as UP puts it, “never been out of the catalogue.”
The train ride took about 2 1/2 hours, going through towns such as Hartford, Beech, Melcher, Williamson, Chariton, Millerton, Corydon, Allerton, Clio, Lineville, Mercer, Princeton, Mill Grove, Spickard and Tindall, of which very few have any remnants left of their train heritage. Areas such as Buckeye Bend were also seen during the trip and with the former railroaders on board, we were able to hear many a tale about these areas.
Our group arrived back in town around 3:30 p.m., some two hours later that had been scheduled. We were greeted by hundreds of individuals who had gathered at the Laclede Street station to meet the train and the sight was quite amazing. We were then unloaded and headed for home, all with stories to last us for many years to come.
After a few hours rest, I headed back out to the Hoover Community Theater, where any tiredness I might have felt was vanquished within minutes of the opening lines from “Maud and Essie at the Rock Island Station.” From the Davey Crockett song by Drew Dolan, which opened the play, until the ending song performed by the entire cast, the sold-out crowd was entertained both musically and comically by the many talented individuals that live in this community. I won’t give away the story, but I will say I got a particular kick out of the singing sextet as well as Susan Provance and Katy Matheny, who had Maud and Essie nailed to a tee. It’s quite a show.
Events will continue today with the parade at 6 p.m. and the Wild West Entertainment at 8 p.m. A full day of activities are planned throughout the weekend, including musical shows at the Ketcham Center, a railroad show at the Rock Barn and a second performance of the Wild West entertainment. Bed races and a street dance will be downtown while a communitywide church service will be held on Sunday evening at First Baptist Church.
Complete schedules of events will be available at various venues throughout the weekend. And be sure to check the Republican-Times for photos and other information connected with the city’s 150th birthday celebration.