Nickel Plate No. 765 Arrives in Chicago for Franklin Park’s Railroad Daze & Area Excursions

World renowned steam locomotive no. 765 arrived in the greater Chicago region Thursday night to appear at the Franklin Park Railroad Daze and operate en exclusive excursion this weekend. The locomotive is presently in transit to Metra’s Western Avenue Yard, with an arrival time expected in Franklin Park around 5PM.

On Saturday, June 11, this 400-ton historic steam locomotive will make an appearance at Franklin Park’s annual Railroad Daze festival followed by its first public excursion trip in the Chicago region in more than 20 years on Sunday, June 12. The locomotive and train will remain in the region and operate two, roundtrip excursions out of Chicago Union Station to the Galesburg Railroad Festival on June 25th and 26th.

Tickets for these excursions are on-sale now.

The special excursions will feature passenger cars from the 1930s-1950s and will include accommodations in standard coach, deluxe coach, and first class and dome car.

“We are thrilled to bring the dramatic sights and sounds of no. 765 to the region,” said Bill Otter, president of the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society (FWRHS). “We could not be more fortunate to be working with Metra, the Village of Franklin Park, the Wisconsin and Southern Railroad and the Iowa Pacific to bring this type of experience to thousands of area residents.”

Owned and operated by the FWRHS, no. 765 has operated passenger excursions and public exhibitions throughout the Midwest since 1979. The locomotive and train attract passengers from around the world for numerous sell-out excursions throughout the year. No. 765 was originally built in 1944, restored in 1979 and completely rebuilt in 2005 and is maintained by an all-volunteer crew