Blackhawk holds monthly meetings that are open to the public and feature programs about railroading's fascinating past, interesting present and encouraging future. We also publish a bimonthly newsletter, the Spike & Tie, that covers local railroad news and history, along with updates on Blackhawk meetings, projects, special events, news and business.
A chapter of the National Railway Historical Society since 1969, Blackhawk includes working and retired professional railroaders, historians, railfans and those who simply enjoy trains. If this describes you, we invite you to join us.
We work with local communities, groups, historical societies, other organizations and the press in developing and promoting events and projects that recognize the railroad's significance and history. See our projects page to see what Blackhawk is doing to preserve railroad history and promote railroading's future.
All correspondence (other than membership) should be addressed to:
Board of Directors, Appointed and Elected Officers
A chapter of the National Railway Historical Society since 1969, Blackhawk includes working and retired professional railroaders, historians, railfans and those who simply enjoy trains. If this describes you, we invite you to join us.
We work with local communities, groups, historical societies, other organizations and the press in developing and promoting events and projects that recognize the railroad's significance and history. See our projects page to see what Blackhawk is doing to preserve railroad history and promote railroading's future.
All correspondence (other than membership) should be addressed to:
- Blackhawk Railway Historical Society
2009 Boehme St.
Lockport, IL 60441-4611
Board of Directors, Appointed and Elected Officers
- Bill Molony - President
- open - Vice-president, Program Director
- Bobbie Molony - Secretary
- Michael Riha - Treasurer, Webmaster
- Bruce Haffner - Director at Large
- John Eagan - Director at Large
- Peter Viall - Membership Chair
- Bill and Bobbie Molony - Newsletter Editors
About our name...
CB&Q's streamlined "Aeolus" departing Chicago Union Station with the "Blackhawk"
When founded in 1969, the original members decided to use the name Blackhawk in reference to the 19th century Native American tribal leader of the Sauk named Black Hawk, who led a defense of their territory covering a wide stretch of North and Northwest Illinois, Southern Wisconsin, and a part of Eastern Missouri; as well as a nod to the mid-20th century Chicago, Burlington & Quincy passenger train of the same name, as the group interests did not only apply to the immediate Chicago area, but also to the vast network of railroads throughout the Midwest that fed into Chicago, making it the "Railroad Capital of the World."
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Amtrak, resurrected the Black Hawk name for a state-sponsored service that ran through Rockford, Illinois to Dubuque, Iowa on ICG's Iowa Division from 1974 to 1981. (Amtrak photos by John T. Riha)
Efforts to restore service began in 2007, with the Illinois Department of Transportation looking to establish a new Chicago-Rockford-Dubuque route using Metra's Milwaukee Road-West district and a connection to Union Pacific's ex-C&NW line through Belvidere, IL to get to Rockford.
In 2023, it was announced that Metra will be using this route to run a Chicago-to-Rockford service starting in 2027.
Efforts to restore service began in 2007, with the Illinois Department of Transportation looking to establish a new Chicago-Rockford-Dubuque route using Metra's Milwaukee Road-West district and a connection to Union Pacific's ex-C&NW line through Belvidere, IL to get to Rockford.
In 2023, it was announced that Metra will be using this route to run a Chicago-to-Rockford service starting in 2027.
About Chicago Railroad History Month...
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In 2018 the Blackhawk Railway Historical Society, a chapter of the National Railway Historical Society (NRHS), embarked on an effort to recognize October as “Chicago Railroad History Month”. On October 24th of 1848 the first railroad train piloted by the locomotive “Pioneer” left the foot of Kinzie and Canal Streets traveling west to the Des Plaines River. Our goal was to recognize that pivotal moment in the city’s history and to promote the idea of a greater celebration in 2023, the 175th anniversary of that first train.
Click on the link below to download our letter explaining our role in promoting Chicago Railroad History Month. 
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