BLACKHAWK RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
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Community

Blackhawk remains active reminding the public of the railroad's importance and role in the community.
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Operation Lifesaver

The Blackhawk and its members fully support the goals of Operation Lifesaver, a national, nonprofit safety education group dedicated to public safety around trains and railroad property.
​
Blackhawk members were on board this Union Pacific Operation Lifesaver Special with local elected and law enforcement officials learning the grade crossing and trespassing issues the railroad experiences daily on their line south of Joliet.

Rail Advocacy

Blackhawk members are involved in the Heritage Corridor Alliance, a collection of officials from on-line communities that are is pushing for increased service on Metra's ex-GM&O Heritage Corridor line between and Chicago and Joliet.  Blackhawk members are also on Metra's Citizens Advisory Board, whose job is to meet with the Board of Directors quarterly and provide counsel on how the commuter railroad's policies, programs and services affect the area's constituents.

Blackhawk also provided historical background information for the Illinois Valley Commuter Rail Feasibility Study
, a preliminary survey for proposed commuter rail service on the former Rock Island from Ottawa to Joliet, Illinois.  This route hasn't had scheduled passenger service since 1978.

Finally, Blackhawk believes improved railroad service can be a positive economic influence for a community and we make our resources and knowledge available to government and community leaders when there is a planned expansion of railroad service in a particular area.  Blackhawk believes that with the proper planning, such expansion of railroad service can not only be safe, and not deter from the quality of life, but can also improve an area's economic base.

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Rail Camp Scholarship

RailCamp is the National Railway Historical Society's railroad education program for teenagers, which gives young men and women of all backgrounds and abilities the experience of working on the railroad in both a historic and contemporary setting, helping to spark an interest and a potential career path in railroading and/or railroad preservation.  

​
Blackhawk was one of the few NRHS chapters that provided a full scholarship to this program.

Homewood Railroad Park

Blackhawk addressed the village council to encourage community support for the building of a viewing platform and railroad equipment display in Homewood, Illinois, which opened in spring of 2007.


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In 2020, a parking lot expansion and the addition of a ramp to the under track access tunnel to the platforms will result in GP10 #8408 and the caboose being moved to a new location, just north of where they currently sit. ​
Contents © 2022 Blackhawk Railway Historical Society, Inc. - an Illinois not-for-profit corporation.  
The Blackhawk Railway Historical Society, Inc. is a chapter of the National Railway Historical Society  and  is not affiliated with the former Blackhawk Films or the ​Chicago franchise of the National Hockey League.  

Contact Us

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Join Us
    • Newsletter
    • Meetings
    • Chicago Railroad History Month
    • Indiana Swap Meet and Program
    • 50th Anniversary Gallery
    • The Railroads of Will County >
      • Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe
      • Chicago & Alton
      • Chicago & Eastern Illinois
      • Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific
      • Elgin, Joliet & Eastern
      • Illinois Central
      • Michigan Central
      • The Milwaukee Road (CM&G/CTH&SE)
      • Wabash
      • Shortlines and Industrials
      • Proposed Railroads
      • Interurban Railroads
  • Schedule
  • Projects
    • Chicago Railroad History Month
    • Depots >
      • Joliet >
        • History
        • Passenger
        • Railfan
        • UD Tower
      • Symerton
      • Lockport
    • Museums
    • Publications and Documents >
      • EJ&E Documents
    • Community
    • Equipment
  • Connections
    • Railroad History Partners
    • Local Railroad Attractions
    • Regional Museums & Heritage Railroads
    • Model and Garden Railroading
    • Operating Steam Locomotives
    • Today's Railroads >
      • Regional, Short Line and Industrial Railroads
    • Santa Trains
  • Store