Chuck and I visited the Monticello Railway Museum in Monticello, IL during the summer of 2007 and learned about an event they have every spring and fall called Throttle Time. During these few days of the off-season, interested railfans can come and learn how to operate one of the museum locomotives under the direct supervision of a MRM engineer.
The cost is only $100 donated to the museum and for an additional $23 I get to ride along so I can film Chuck as he learns and then operates the Milwaukee Road NW-2 #1649 this coming Sunday. This is going to be another fun weekend for us as we start off with Saturday in Rochelle at Railroad Park visiting with our Dixon, IL friends who are meeting us there. Then we plan to spend the night close by so we can be at the Monticello Railway Museum by no later than 9:30 AM.
It is necessary to arrive an hour before Chuck's scheduled Throttle Time so he can watch and learn how to operate the locomotive before he takes control. Of course I will report back with all the details, images, and video.
Get out there and watch some trains this weekend! It's going to be good weather around our area of the Midwest.
