Partners
Blackhawk has partnered with numerous other organizations in our efforts to study, celebrate and preserve our area's railroad history.
Here are some convenient links to some of our partners in chronicling railroad history...
Here are some convenient links to some of our partners in chronicling railroad history...
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A-Reliable Printing
Serving all of your printing and mailing needs since 1991 in Glen Ellyn, Illinois...including our Spike & Tie newsletter. |
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Americal Legion Post 66
The American Legion fiercely advocates for the unique needs of every generation of veterans, service members, and their families who pledge to protect our nation. Post 66 in Griffith, Indiana is the current home of our Indiana Swap Meets. |
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Center for Railroad Photography & Art
Created to inform “the public about railroad photography and art through education, research and public service programs,” the Center selectively collects high-quality photographs and works of art related to railroading and railroad workers and hosts exhibitions, monthly Zoom presentations, a YouTube channel, and an annual conference. |
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Central Electric Railfans' Association
One of the nation's premier railfan organizations, hosting regular programs and events about electric railroading (both past and present). |
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Chicago Area Railroad Historians A Facebook group dedicated to the railroad history of the City of Chicago and surrounding area. |
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Chicago History Museum
Caretakers of millions of authentic pieces of Chicago history, including several displays about Chicago's railroad history. |
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Chicago Junction Radio Show
A monthly 1-hour radio program produced at the studios of the Windy City Hometown Entertainment Network featuring a round table discussion of all aspects of railroading and modeling. Programs can be heard on Jack FM 89.7 WRHS FM Norridge and podcasts of all shows can be found at the Windy City Hometown Entertainment Network website. |
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Decay Devils Northwest Indiana preservation group dedicated to preserving the region's historic past, including Gary Union Station and EJ&E 765. |
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The EJ&E Archive Not an organization, but a fan site full of information on one of our favorite "fallen flag" railroads, the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern. Been some years since getting an update but has a lot of historic information. |
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The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, Inc. The FWRHS hosts passenger train excursions, private charters, exhibitions, and education outreach activities with Nickel Plate 765 and a variety of other vintage railroad equipment throughout the Midwest, while holding regular work sessions and open houses at its restoration facility in New Haven, Indiana during the year. |
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Historic Pullman Foundation The Foundation is committed to telling the stories of Pullman’s past—of industrial innovation, immigration, labor rights, social justice, urban planning, and preservation—all while creating a new forward-looking story. |
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Hoosier Hobbies Your complete virtual hobby shop on Facebook and eBay, and an anchor at our Indiana Swap Meets. With over 40 years of experience in the hobby, they have a reputation for providing honest, friendly and efficient service to hobbyists worldwide! |
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Illinois Traction Society A non-profit organization striving to preserve the history of the Illinois Traction System and Illinois Terminal Railroad for historians, modelers, and the railfans of today and tomorrow. |
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Illinois Railway Museum's Libraries and Archives In addition to the largest vintage railroad equipment collection in the Western Hemisphere, IRM maintains three libraries: Pullman Library, the Strahorn Library, and the CTA Historic Archive. |
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Joliet Area Historical Museum
From the former Ottawa Street Methodist Church in downtown Joliet, the museum's main exhibition gallery serves as an introduction to the many stories of the Joliet area and its people with exhibits enhanced by state-of-the-art audio-visual presentations, life-size models, award-winning touch screen visuals. |
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Joliet Railroad Museum
Opened in 2024 in historic UD Tower, the museum features information on the railroads that operated lines through Joliet and their ensuing legacies, presents the story of the 1910-1912 track realignment and elevation project, and also features the mechanisms and controls that coordinated the movement of trains through this critical junction. |
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Lake States Railway Historical Association
The LSRHA a non-profit organization with an archive facility located in Wisconsin that continues to expand efforts to preserve and provide access to its unique railway history collections. |
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Lockport Township Park District
Provides park areas and recreation programs in order to enrich the quality of life of the community. Also, owner and caretaker of the historic Gladys Fox Museum where we hold our monthly meetings. |
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Midwest Rail Rangers
A non-profit organization presenting onboard educational programs across the Upper Midwest. |
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National Railway Historical Society
The NRHS supports train, railway and station preservation with a variety of programs, including: Heritage Grants for preservation projects, photo and film archives, events (including an annual National Convention), Rail Camp for high school students, publishing, and more. |
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Norfolk and Western Business Car 300 Preservation Society Inc. Nonprofit organization wholly dedicated to the preservation and operation of Norfolk and Western Business Car 300 and sleeping car "Hollins College" |
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Pullman National Historic Park
The park tells the story of one of the first planned industrial communities in the United States, the sleeping car magnate who helped create it, and the workers who lived there. The district is significant for its influence on urban planning and design, as well as its role in American labor history, including the 1894 Pullman Strike and Boycott. |
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Rail Passengers Association
Working for more frequencies on existing routes and adding new routes, as well as acting as a voice for Amtrak, commuter and transit passengers. |
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Railroad Station Historical Society To encourage the preservation and growth of historical knowledge of railroad stations/depots and other railroad/railway structures worldwide. |
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Railway Mail Service Library Foundation Foundation was founded in 2017 as a nonprofit and is dedicated to the preservation of the Railway Mail Service Library (RMSL) collection. |
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Russell Fierce's Chicago RR Shows
Railroad Collectables & Model Train Show and Sales held at the Kane County Fairgrounds in St. Charles, Illinois |
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Seneca Historical Guild Honoring the railroad's contribution to the town's history by restoring their 1912 Rock Island depot and a 1960s Rock Island caboose. |
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Shore Line Interurban Historical Society Dedicated to covering the extensive history of Chicago's interurbans, streetcar lines, elevated railways and commuter railroads. |
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South Shore Conventions & Visitors Authority The South Shore CVA is a sales and marketing organization that leads the hospitality industry and aids its partners through the development and support of attractions throughout the region. South Shore CVA sells South Shore Line Posters based on reproductions of the originals (as pictured to the left,) and new posters inspired by the original designs painted by Mitch Markovitz. |
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Wabash Railroad Historical Society Dedicated to preserving memories of the Wabash Railroad, which one time served the preserved Symerton Depot. |
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Will County Historical Society Connecting people and organizations to the rich history of Will County, Illinois including the Heritage Village in Lockport, including the preserved Symerton Depot. |