(Orleans)– The “Spirit of The Lakes” passenger train made its maiden excursion Saturday from Orleans to Ocheyedan and back. It was the first time since 1954 a passenger train had run on the line.
It was a day of both making and re-living memories. Bonnie Wunder of Lake Park was among those on board. She recalled riding a train from Spirit Lake to go rollerskating in Arnolds Park for a dime in the 1940’s.
Winona Elliott of Lake Park was also on Saturday’s train ride. She told KUOO news she’s been riding trains since she was five. Elliott said she’s gone as far away as Korea and China to ride trains and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to do it locally.
John Larkin is President of the Iowa Northwestern Railroad, which owns and operates the track between Superior and Ocheyedan. The idea of the passenger excursion was his. Larkin told KUOO news they want to make more improvements and repairs to the passenger cars before they start offering rides on a regular schedule. He says they hope to start late this month. A regular schedule will be announced at that time.
The cars for the excursion came from a rail line in Canada and were shipped here by rail from Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan.
