I haven't heard anything recently on Train Festival 2009, and was wondering how things were going. The website blog isn't current either (unless I'm missing something). Are there any recent photos of the work going on, or any updates on anything else that will be there.

From a June 1st release:

TrainFestival 2009 is moving full steam ahead. The festival site is nearly finished and ready for the large expected crowds. All parking lots are ready for thousands of cars as well as bus transport between lots and the festival. The miniature railroad is nearing completion with trains expected to run on it in the next two weeks. For anyone that has been at the Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso, MI before, they will not recognize the facility now. New Tracks, switches, miniature railroad, landscaping and much more. The #1225 even got a new paint job and several upgrades.

SP Daylight #4449 Update

Southern Pacific #4449 (The Daylight) and her crew are gearing up and getting ready for their 2500 mile trip to TrainFestival 2009 from Portland, OR. The "Daylight" will be departing Portland on July 3 at 8:00am heading east to Michigan. A complete schedule is available at the TrainFestival website. Tickets are also available to ride behind the Daylight.

Mainline Steam Fundraiser

The Steam Railroading Institute, Friends of Southern Pacific #4449 and Friends of the 261 are working together to sell tickets on the Milwaukee Road "Super Dome". You can buy a day pass to ride in style behind the #4449 through the Rockies for as little as $299/day. There are a limited number of tickets for each day. Proceeds from the sales are split between the steam locomotive operators.

Tickets Selling Fast

If you are wanting to take a ride behind the "Daylight" at TrainFestival 2009, you should order your tickets soon. Only 200 coach tickets remain for Thursday. All other trips behind the 4449, 765 and 1225 are SOLD OUT. Pre sale tickets have exceeded our expectations. All of the "Night Photography" tickets are SOLD OUT as well as the "Run a Steam Locomotive" time slots. There are still plenty of hourly trips available behind Little River Railroad 4-6-2 #110.

You can also purchase tickets to ride behind the #4449 out of Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Chicago and Durand for as little as $114.

Volunteer Opportunities

If you are wanting to be a volunteer at TrainFestival 2009 please visit our website and click on the Volunteer link of the left of the page. All of the details are included in that form. We need to have all volunteers register two weeks prior to the festival to assign duties. There will be a volunteer station to check in at the visitors center at the Steam Railroading Institute.