Silvis, IL
Railroading Heritage of Midwest America (RRHMA)
4.9· 22 Google reviews
Trip at a Glance
Source checked 2026-08-22- TypeSeasonal mainline heritage-rail excursions from RRHMA-Silvis
- LocationSilvis, IL
- Rating4.9 ★22 Google reviews
- UpcomingSat, Sep 26
About Railroading Heritage of Midwest America (RRHMA)
Railroading Heritage of Midwest America is a nonprofit preservation organization based at the former Rock Island shops in Silvis. The remaining 2026 public-ride offer is the Liberty Rocket: two separately ticketed mainline day trips departing RRHMA-Silvis on September 26 and 27. Friends of the 261 in Minneapolis remains a separate venue and identity despite the shared organizational family.
Plan a Liberty Rocket Excursion
Choose the visit that fits your groupMainline excursion riders
Ride to West Liberty
Choose the September 26 day trip: depart at 9 a.m., reach West Liberty around 11 a.m. for a one-hour layover, turn at the South Amana wye around 2 p.m. and return around 6 p.m. The published 8.5-hour duration conflicts with that nine-hour clock interval, so allow nine hours. Current checkout lists Streamliner $149 plus $1.50, P70 $139 plus $1.50 and sold-out Selma $249.99 plus $1.50; box lunch is included. Verify live inventory.
Mainline excursion riders
Ride to Bureau Junction
Choose the September 27 trip: depart at 10 a.m., reach Bureau Junction around 12:30 p.m. for a 1.5-hour layover and return around 4:30 p.m. Current checkout lists Streamliner $129 plus $1.50, P70 $99 plus $1.50 and sold-out Selma $229 plus $1.50; barbecue is included. Its planned locomotive is separate from Saturday's trip.
Ticket shoppers
Compare seating classes
Review the Streamliner, open-window P70 and Selma descriptions without treating allocations as remaining inventory. Children age 4 and under ride free, but the reviewed pages do not establish whether a separate free reservation is required; confirm before travel.
Visitors with mobility or access questions
Review access before booking
Use the explicit non-ADA boundaries and contact RRHMA well in advance for individual needs.
Ticket purchasers
Read the conflicting terms
Official terms say both nonrefundable and 50% refund 30+ days out, and both no exchanges and possible exchanges 60+ days out with a $15 fee. Check the live terms rather than relying on a simplified promise.
Upcoming Events
Official schedule information
2026 special-event calendar
Schedule information was checked against the linked official source. Dates, availability, and operating conditions can change. Check the live official calendar ↗
Plan Your Visit
- ArriveBoth trips board only at RRHMA-Silvis, 1101 2nd Avenue North, Silvis, Illinois. Arrive 45 minutes before departure.
- ParkingTicketed guests use first-come parking. Lots open at 8 a.m. Saturday and 8:30 a.m. Sunday. No overnight parking and no parking fee is stated.
- AccessibilityThe excursions are explicitly not ADA compliant or fully accessible. Expect uneven floors, ramps, terrain, stairs, narrow passages and narrow restrooms. Give advance notice and bring a fit companion; individual staff lift capacity is limited to 50 pounds.
- WeatherTrips run rain or shine. Delays, timing changes, cancellation and equipment substitution remain possible.
- Remaining DatesThe complete current public excursion calendar contains two Liberty Rocket departures: September 26 to West Liberty and September 27 to Bureau Junction.
- SaturdayThe West Liberty trip departs at 9 a.m., reaches West Liberty around 11 a.m., allows about one hour there, turns at the South Amana wye around 2 p.m. and returns around 6 p.m.
- SundayThe Bureau Junction trip departs at 10 a.m., reaches Bureau around 12:30 p.m., allows about 1.5 hours there and returns around 4:30 p.m.
- Duration ConflictThe Saturday page says about 8.5 hours while its 9 a.m.-6 p.m. clock interval is nine hours; allow nine hours. Sunday is about 6.5 hours.
- Saturday FaresStreamliner $149 plus $1.50 online fee; P70 $139 plus $1.50; Selma checkout $249.99 plus $1.50 while marketing says $249. Selma is sold out. Box lunch included.
- Sunday FaresStreamliner $129 plus $1.50; P70 $99 plus $1.50; Selma $229 plus $1.50 and sold out. Barbecue included.
- ChildrenChildren age 4 and under are free. The reviewed pages do not establish whether a free child requires a separate reservation; confirm before travel.
- Planned PowerThe operator plans Union Pacific DDA40X 6936 for Saturday and ATSF B40-8W 537 for Sunday, but reserves equipment substitution. Restoration subjects and photographs are not ride-power proof.
- CarsStreamliner seating has 44 seats, air conditioning and restrooms; the open-window Iowa Interstate P70 has 72 seats; Selma is a 1912 business car. Equipment may change.
- RefundsIf RRHMA cancels, it refunds the ticket price less online fees. Customer cancellation terms conflict and should be reviewed directly.
- Terms ConflictOfficial terms say both nonrefundable and 50% refund 30+ days out, and both no exchanges and possible exchanges 60+ days out with a $15 fee. Do not resolve by assumption.
- ContactRRHMA publishes a contact form rather than a public event phone or email; use it for access, child-ticket, terms and equipment questions.
Find the Depot
The Trains
The two event pages plan Union Pacific DDA40X 6936 for West Liberty and ATSF B40-8W 537 for Bureau Junction, subject to substitution. No other restoration subject, guest locomotive or dated photograph establishes current ride power. Passenger-car descriptions are product-specific and do not guarantee the final consist.
History
Rock Island planned the Silvis shop complex.
Construction began on the Silvis shops.
Rock Island use of the Silvis complex ended.
Railroading Heritage of Midwest America was founded.
RRHMA acquired and expanded the Silvis property and received donated Union Pacific heritage equipment.
Union Pacific 6936 returned to operational status.
ATSF 537 was restored and repainted in Warbonnet colors.
Two Liberty Rocket departures remain published for September 26 and 27; the planned, substitutable September 27 assignment would be ATSF 537's first mainline power role since revenue service.
See full history
RRHMA was founded in 1991. Rock Island planned the Silvis shops in 1902 and began construction in 1903, using the complex until 1980. RRHMA acquired and expanded the roughly 90-acre property in 2022, the same year Union Pacific donated Challenger 3985, locomotive 5511, Centennial 6936 and cars. Locomotive 6936 returned to operation in 2023, and ATSF 537 was restored and repainted in Warbonnet colors in 2024. Its planned September 27, 2026 Liberty Rocket assignment would be its first mainline power role since revenue service, subject to substitution.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many RRHMA excursions remain in 2026?
Two: West Liberty on September 26 and Bureau Junction on September 27, both from RRHMA-Silvis.
Where do passengers board?
Only at RRHMA-Silvis, 1101 2nd Avenue North in Silvis. Arrive 45 minutes before departure.
How long is Saturday's trip?
The page says about 8.5 hours, but its 9 a.m.-6 p.m. clock interval is nine hours. Allow nine hours and expect possible delays.
What equipment is planned?
UP 6936 is planned Saturday and ATSF 537 Sunday, but RRHMA reserves substitution. No gallery image is assignment proof.
Are the trips ADA accessible?
No. RRHMA explicitly says the experience is not ADA compliant or fully accessible and lists uneven terrain, stairs, ramps, narrow passages and narrow restrooms.
Can staff lift mobility equipment?
Individual staff lift capacity is limited to 50 pounds. Give advance notice and bring a fit companion; do not assume boarding accommodation.
Are young children free?
Children age 4 and under are free, but the reviewed pages do not establish whether they need a separate reservation. Confirm before traveling.
Is parking available?
First-come guest parking opens at 8 a.m. Saturday and 8:30 a.m. Sunday. Overnight parking is prohibited; no parking fee is stated.
What is included with the fare?
Saturday includes a box lunch and Sunday includes barbecue. Seating class, online fee and sold-out status vary by trip.
What happens if RRHMA cancels?
RRHMA says it refunds the ticket price less online fees. Customer-initiated refund and exchange terms conflict on the official terms page.
Do the trips run in rain?
Yes, rain or shine, subject to delays, timing changes, cancellation and equipment substitution.
Is Friends of 261 the Silvis boarding venue?
No. Friends of 261 in Minneapolis remains a separate venue and identity despite the shared organizational family.
Sources & Verification
Source-checked August 22, 2026. This free profile has not yet been claimed or confirmed by the operator.
- Official RRHMA homepage and identity
- Official Liberty Rocket overview
- Official Saturday ticket and itinerary page
- Official Sunday ticket and itinerary page
- Official terms and conditions
- Official contact form
- Official organization history
- Official equipment inventory
- Official Union Pacific 6936 page
- Official ATSF 537 page
- Official passenger equipment page
- Official Silvis shop history
- Official Silvis expansion announcement
- Exact licensed operator hero
- Exact licensed operator image 2
- Exact licensed operator image 3
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- Exact licensed operator image 6
