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Thanks to everyone who helped made the 1999 Green County Depot Days a huge success! During the 2 day event, over 2,200 people rode the ex-Illinois Central rail line that runs between Madison, WI and Monroe, WI!
Click here for the complete 1999 Depot Days story.
Depot Days was featured in Railfan magazine as the only event of its type in the United States. At Depot Days we honor the rich legacy left here in south central Wisconsin by the Milwaukee Road, Illinois Central, and Chicago & Northwestern Railroads.
Depot Days events included train rides, rail motorcar rides through the historic Stewart Tunnel, working telegraph system between three of the counties remaining depots. All nine communities in Green County focus on their individual railroad history. Also taking place over the weekend were many model railroad, railroad collectible and artifact displays, railroad music, tours of 5 depots, two of which are on the National Registar of Historic Places, locomotive and caboose tours, hobo history and stew, and much more. At Depot Days, you will find something for every age group. We are located just 2.5 hours from Chicago, 2 hours from Milwaukee, 30 minutes from Madison, and 1 hour from Dubuque.
Lots of people joined in the fun of celebrating Depot Days weekend in Monticello and Belleville, Wisconsin. Beginning at 10:00 AM both days, The Wisconsin Heritage Rail Corporation offered Speeder car rides on the former Illinois Central Railroad across some of Wisconsin's finest farmland, and through the 1260 foot long Stewart Tunnel. There was also be a national speeder car convention and dinner. Check back for more details!
For more information, click here to see the April 11, 1999 Wis. State Journal newspaper article.
FRIDAY NIGHT, APRIL 23 - Kick off motorcar run with dinner. Meet at Cargill Feed Plant, 1025 E. Lake Ave, parking lot at 7:00 PM. Set on siding at 7:15PM, depart at 7:30 PM sharp. We ran north through the historic Steward Tunnel to Belleville. Arrived at Belleville at 8:30 PM. We eat at Borland's Restaurant/Bar. Cash food and beverage. Departed Belleville at 9:30 PM, ran north to the small Town of Basco. Here we turned motorcars and returned to Monticello.
SATURDAY, APRIL 24 - Meet at Cargill plant at 8:30 AM to set on. Group did split with half deadheading to Belleville.
The passenger motorcar rides left Monticello starting at 10:00 AM with service on the hour until 6:00 PM. They go north to the Tunnel, and back to Monticello.
The passenger motorcar rides left out of Belleville at 10:30 AM with the last run starting at 4:30 PM. They go south to the tunnel and north back to Belleville. With this schedule, there should be no conflicting movements through the tunnel, and you will be back to Monticello in time for the motorcar operator's banquet.
On Saturday and Sunday, before and after the motorcar runs, the line was open to all participants to operate on their own time to tour the entire railroad line.
SATURDAY NIGHT - MOTORCAR BANQUET - At the Monticello House, 149 N. Main Street, Monticello, Wisconsin. Social Hour was at 7:00 PM with dinner at 8:00 PM. Menu included salad, beef, chicken, vegetable, mashed potatoes and gravy, coffee, tea, milk and dessert. Banquet ticket also included a raffle drawing and entertainment by Larry Penn, Railroad Historian. Seating was limited to 150 people and tickets were sold on a first come, first served basis. We asked that as many motorcar owner/operators attend as possible. Tickets were distributed on Saturday morning at 8:30 AM during set on. Those arriving late on Saturday, got their tickets from Wade at banquet time.
SUNDAY , APRIL 25 - Set on will be at 8:30 AM and run the same schedule as Saturday. This was a county wide event open to all motorcar owners/operators. No fees or insurance required.
Thank You!
Wade Wittenwyler
W4514 Wittenwyler Road
Monticello, WI 53570
This
site Created & Maintained by: Jim Kalrath © 1998, 1999
Changes Last Made: April
27th, 1999