Uploaded July 2010 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
For several years during the 1960's, the Illini Railroad Club operated an annual week-long "Journey to Yesterday" from Chicago to Colorado. In May of 1966, my brother, sister and I rode what I believe was the last of these. It was our first railfan experience as adults. Equipped with a new 8mm movie camera and a Norelco portable tape recorder, we took movies and tape recordings of the trip, and then I waited patiently all these years for somebody to invent the home computer and the necessary software so that I could put them together.
The first leg of the "Journey" featured an all-coach excursion train running roundtrip Chicago to Galesburg. At Galesburg, those who signed up for the whole week transferred to a mixed coach/sleeper train which seemed to include at least one piece of equipment from every railroad in the country -- truly a train of many colors. This train left Galesburg near dusk and arrived in Denver, CO in time for breakfast. This video presents that first day of the trip.
For several years during the 1960's, the Illini Railroad Club operated an annual week-long "Journey to Yesterday" from Chicago to Colorado. In May of 1966, my brother, sister and I rode what I believe was the last of these. It was our first railfan experience as adults. Equipped with a new 8mm movie camera and a Norelco portable tape recorder, we took movies and tape recordings of the trip, and then I waited patiently all these years for somebody to invent the home computer and the necessary software so that I could put them together.
The first leg of the "Journey" featured an all-coach excursion train running roundtrip Chicago to Galesburg. At Galesburg, those who signed up for the whole week transferred to a mixed coach/sleeper train which seemed to include at least one piece of equipment from every railroad in the country -- truly a train of many colors. This train left Galesburg near dusk and arrived in Denver, CO in time for breakfast. This video presents that first day of the trip.
