News : Holiday Express train ride brings hundreds to Vinton, Palo

Phil Borleske shares some history of the depot and its telegraph with Holiday Express riders.

The Rickels family were among the Holiday Express riders between Vinton and Palo.

A conductor helps passengers at the Vinton depot.

Children enjoyed playing on the old caboose on display near the Depot during the Holiday Express.

A wreath decorates the Palo Holiday Express.

VU Director Nathan Hesson and wife Ashley take photos as the train arrives.

A boy leans over to see if the train is coming yet.

Children watch the miniature train sets in action while waiting to board the large train.

Several children learned about the telegraph room.

Many famiies took time to see the miniature train display.

The Depot visitors heard history lessons and saw a miniature train set with Vinton-related items.

Gatsby Gloede plays in the depot's telegraph area.

Gatsby Gloede with the telegraph machine and typewriter in the depots wire room.

Volunteers provided cookies for the guests at the Depot.

Hundreds of people from eastern Iowa and beyond rode the Holiday Express between Vinton and Palo on Saturday. In Vinton, they arrived at the old Illinois Northern Depot, where a shuttle was available to take them to several locations to visit and shop throughout Vinton. The event raised funds for the United Way while also bringing many shoppers and visitors to the two cities on Saturday.

The train ride went very well, said Vinton Unlimited Director Nathan Hesson.

"We had the opportunity to welcome nearly 3,000 people to Vinton on Saturday and there were droves of people walking down 2nd Avenueto do shopping and find something to eat," he said. "This unique event was a great opportunity for people to not only ride a train through the beautiful Iowacountryside, but also for people to see the great community we live in."

There was also an opportunity for many people to relive the days when railroad travel was common in town like Vinton, and communication relied on telegraph operators.

Phil Borleske, a long-time railroad enthusiast, was on hand to share with the visitors many lessons about the history of the VInton Depot. He told them that passenger service and mail delivery continued through 1967. He also explained how the telegraph service worked, and how that the telegraph operator would communicate with the train conductor and engineers by typing a message he had received via telegraph and holding it to the train window on a long wooden pole.

Many volunteers made cookies on behalf of the Benton County Historical Society. Society member Barry Lefstad thanked the volunteers who helped make the event a success, as well as those who made the cookies. Volunteers from the Duane Arnold Energy Center also helped, along with Vinton Unlimited Director Nathan Hesson and other area residents.