Well October 3rd.

This weekend is a special anniversary for the Elkhart area in Michiana really as a whole, and it's 175 years of the railway here in our area.

And Brant is here to tell us all about the event that's going to be happening at the museum.

Brant.

Well, congratulations.

I guess the this area has had a rich history with the railway, and you guys are remembering it and preserving it for us in our in our community.

Yes.

And I think it's very important for people to understand, what the real industry has done to our area and of course, the United States in general.

I realize people don't like to wait for trains and whatnot, but it was the railroads, really, that built America.

It was not the highways.

I mean, highways didn't really come into about the 40s and 50s.

But 175 years is kind of remarkable when you think about it.

That's pre-Civil War.

And you wouldn't think in 1851 they would have something as modern as a steam locomotive coming through the area.

The reports that we have found that were written talked about the train coming into the village.

This is Elkhart, the village south of the village in the forest.

And that's where the current rail is right now, which is really downtown Elkhart.

But at the time, it was south of the village in a forest.

So obviously a lot of things have changed since then.

That's true.

And you're preserving that information and everything in between.

And coming up on October 3rd is an event to celebrate that.

Can you give us a sense of what kind of things are going to be happening and what people can experience?

Yeah, we wanted to make sure that people get a a sense of how real developed here in Elkhart.

So obviously the museum itself will be open and then the outdoor activities.

We do have a blacksmith, which of course they would have had in the 1800s.

And he'll be building some things, making things out of actually railroad spikes.

We'll have a live steam locomotive.

It's a miniature locomotive.

It's on rails.

On roller bearings so he can steam it up and run it.

It just won't move forward or backward.

But he can demonstrate how a steam locomotive works.

Well, of course, you know, the food trucks and and some other tables of some other organizations here, as well as live entertainment.

We have some musicians coming in.

Some games and activities for kids.

Kona ice will be here.

And the Kona Ice will be free.

We do have some food trucks that you'd have to purchase from, and admission is free, so everything is free.

It's a very family friendly event.

That's pretty awesome and it's a great place to visit.

It's a great place for the family to visit.

There's something for all ages, and you guys, even right now, are putting in some last finishing touches on, painting one of the cabooses.

And so there's a regular upkeep going on, and you guys are doing a great job of preserving that so the rest of us can experience it.

Yeah, we appreciate that.

Yeah.

I'm I'm in my painting attire today.

I'm not in my, museum attire.

I need to mention also, we hope to be running our authentic 1950s era amusement train, the Century Flier.

And of course, those rides will be free as well.

So.

And the weather?

So, so far sounds like it's going to cooperate.

So it should be a great day.

And will this happen?

Rain or shine?

This will happen rain or shine.

And it runs from 11 to 4.

The museum is open from 10 to 5, but the event itself will run from about 11 to 4.

Well, Brant, thank you so much for all that you guys are doing there at the museum and we look forward to seeing you on October 3rd as we celebrate 175 years of railway here in the area in Elkhart, sure has grown a lot from the village to where it is today.

It certainly has, yes.