This is sad and just ain't right

Since it's close to me physically I got a little interested and did some digging around with people my boss (donor) knows...

Two of the cars are sitting in Hawarden, IA. They got repainted and were used for a "Polar Express" type of holiday ride. From what I'm told they only got used for that once because they didn't make any money from it and they're just sitting in a rail storage yard over there. For context, Hawarden is a less than one horse town about 30 mins from me right on the Missouri river.

Sounds like the Hawkeye Express doesn't exist anymore outside of that one lonely car sitting in Dell Rapids rotting away. There were 6 cars total, so even if they wanted to use it again someone would have to buy back the remaining 4 cars, (if the 3 unaccounted for even still exist), repaint, and get them going again. You couldn't just have one or two cars running because there's no way that math works out.

I'm guessing with the kinds of winters we get 'round these parts that none of them are in good shape or being maintained. I'd hardly think whoever owns them is doing anything to winterize/maintain them.

Found this article from a local news place.
 
It would be cool to see the cars come back to campus and just be displayed somewhere. The express isn't ever coming back I suspect. But, you could put them on campus somewhere and peeps could take pictures of it. Its a bit of history and a bit art, I suppose.
 
For those who grew up in NW in the 90s, the owner of the local Hardees in Spirit Lake had a genius idea to buy and ship a full sized passenger railcar to his restaurant and use it as a dining car. He even set up fake rail tracks for it to sit on. However, the idea was a flop for two reasons. One, Hardees is not exactly a place where one is looking for an upscale dining experience. More importantly, it did not connect to the restaurant. You had to order your food, get it, and walk across the parking lot to eat on the train? Very few people bothered to do that. It was a massive flop and eventually the spot became a Burger King and I think someone finally removed the train. Some brilliant ideas should stay on the napkin.
 
My dismay is that the Hawkeye Express was something very unique which represented Iowa City and the Hawkeyes perfectly. People who rode it, especially the out-of-towners, were treated to something special.

I know of no other similar venue anywhere.

Practically speaking, it certainly lessened congestion around the Kinnick area which as we know is a traffic nightmare
 
Seth53 said:
My dismay is that the Hawkeye Express was something very unique which represented Iowa City and the Hawkeyes perfectly. People who rode it, especially the out-of-towners, were treated to something special.

I know of no other similar venue anywhere.

Practically speaking, it certainly lessened congestion around the Kinnick area which as we know is a traffic nightmare
Click to expand...
Sad
 
In the late fifties and early sixties, during a golden era of Iowa football, taking the train from Des Moines to Iowa City was a big deal. It was a rolling party. My father and mother did it many times, and Dad mentioned that on more than one occasion they were so "tipsy" that they never made it into the stadium.

Football then was a big cocktail party. Men were in blazers and ties and women were dressed up as well. Lots of cigarettes and cigars. Iowa was a national power under Evy. The men liked to wear "I-caps" that were black with a gold block I on the front of the brim. I remember my Dad, wearing the i-cap, black blazer, rep tie and a cigarette in one hand and a big glass of bourbon in the other. Wow, I thought he had it all.

As a very young boy with my father in law school in Iowa City in the mid-fifties, there would be big parties after the home games. One house would volunteer and it would be wall-to-wall with young married couples (law students and others) drinking, smoking, eating and partying. They often brought their own booze. Nothing fancy but a lot of dance music.

I would sneak down the stairs and watch without anyone knowing I was there. Lots of excitement and good times, particularly after a big Hawkeye victory.

They are all gone now, but the memories remain.
 
Too bad the athletics department can't run a line. It does help with congestion and it is unique. Purdue would kill for access like this.
 
NorthKCHawk said:
For those who grew up in NW in the 90s, the owner of the local Hardees in Spirit Lake had a genius idea to buy and ship a full sized passenger railcar to his restaurant and use it as a dining car. He even set up fake rail tracks for it to sit on. However, the idea was a flop for two reasons. One, Hardees is not exactly a place where one is looking for an upscale dining experience. More importantly, it did not connect to the restaurant. You had to order your food, get it, and walk across the parking lot to eat on the train? Very few people bothered to do that. It was a massive flop and eventually the spot became a Burger King and I think someone finally removed the train. Some brilliant ideas should stay on the napkin.
Click to expand...
when I lived in LA, there were some popular train car diners. Be cool to find a place downtown for George's gyros https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/food/california/train-car-restaurant-socal
 
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