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Great Dome Car Part of Illinois Zephyr Line During November

More than 100,000 people ride the Illinois Zephyr train line from Quincy to Chicago each year.  

Radio version of story

In addition to seeing it as a good means of transportation, some find riding the rails a nostalgic way to travel. An extra car on the train this month is making that even more true.  The Great Dome Car is a doubledecker, and the top level features large rounded windows designed to maximize the view.  The seating is a combination of restaurant style booths and built in chairs that make little seating areas.  Amtrak assigns the car to various routes throughout the year to help attract attention to train travel and get people to take an extra trip.  

Brian Nelson rides in the Great Dome Car, the same car he rode in as a child on family trips to North Dakota.
Credit Jonathan Ahl
Brian Nelson rides in the Great Dome Car, the same car he rode in as a child on family trips to North Dakota.

It worked for Brian Nelson, a marketing executive from Minneapolis.  He took a mini vacation so he could ride the Great Dome Car.  He’s a railroad enthusiast with a history of riding in this car. "This car was originally built in 1955 for the Great Northern Railway, for their train called the Empire Builder that still runs today.  It was originally the first class lounge car," Nelson said while taking his return trip in the Great Dome Car from Quincy back up to Chicago.  "And this whole upper level had mid-century modern love seats and downstairs had a really cool bar with a wild sort-of Indian red, black and orange motif," Nelson said.

He knows, because he rode in the car as a child.  "And as a little kid I just remember that do vividly, ordering a Coke from the bartender, and he is setting it up on the bar and pouring ice in the glass and all that stuff.  My mother took us as little kids back to her home in North Dakota and the best way to get there was on the train.  So I remember this car, and I just had to come back and ride it," Nelson said.

Nelson says he is impressed with how much of the car is in its original shape, and how well it has been modernized.  He also says the views across rural Illinois remind him of those boyhood trips to North Dakota. 

Many of the 30 people who rode in the car on a recent Monday morning in the observation deck took in the view.  "I just think it’s awesome.  You can see a lot because it’s much higher than the usual cars," said EvanHirstusis a fourth grader from Quincy.  He and his mom are regulars on this route to see family in the Chicago area, taking the Zephyr a couple of times a month. 

Roberta and Evan Hirstus of Quincy, riding the Great Dome Car on their way to see family in the Chicago area.
Credit Jonathan Ahl
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Jonathan Ahl
Roberta and Evan Hirstus of Quincy, riding the Great Dome Car on their way to see family in the Chicago area.

RobertaHirstussays it’s been a wonderful treat to ride in the Great Dome Car.  "Lastweek when the peak color was coming in, it was glorious to see golden corn fields, soybean fields, or the farmers out harvesting.  That’s just the perfect Americana icon. Yaknow, bringing home the harvest," Hirstus said. "Especially this time of year, there are a lot of wonderful things to see.  This is the heartland."

And it’s hard not to feel at least a little nostalgic, riding an observation car on a train through the Midwest.  The scenery may not be what some people think is picture perfect, but for many people who live in and visit the area, it’s a pretty nice view.  The Great Dome Car will be on the Illinois Zephyr Amtrak line from Quincy to Chicago through November22nd.

The inside of the upper level of The Great Dome Car
Jonathan Ahl /
The inside of the upper level of The Great Dome Car
The downstairs bar area on the Great Dome Car
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The downstairs bar area on the Great Dome Car
A young passenger takes in the view
Jonathan Ahl /
A young passenger takes in the view

Copyright 2013 Tri States Public Radio

Jonathan is the General Manager of Tri States Public radio. His duties include but are not limited to, managing all facets of the station, from programming to finances to operations. Jonathan grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago. He has a B.A in music theory and composition from WIU and a M.A in Public Affairs Reporting from The University of Illinois at Springfield. Jonathan began his journey in radio as a student worker at WIUM. While in school Jonathan needed a summer job on campus. He heard WIUM was hiring, and put his bid in. Jonathan was welcomed on the team and was very excited to be using his music degree. He had also always been interested in news and public radio. He soon learned he was a much better reporter than a musician and his career was born. While at WIUM, Jonathan hosted classical music, completed operations and production work, was a news reporter and anchor, and served as the stage manager for Rural Route 3. Jonathan then went to on to WIUS in Springfield where he was a news anchor and reporter covering the state legislature for Illinois Public Radio. After a brief stint in commercial radio and TV, Jonathan joined WCBU in Peoria, first in operations then as a news reporter and for the last ten years of his time there he served as the News Director. Jonathan’s last job before returning to Tri States Public Radio was as the News Director/ Co-Director of Content for Iowa Public Radio. During Jonathan’s off time he enjoys distance running, playing competitive Scrabble, rooting for Chicago Cubs, listening to all kinds of music and reading as much as he can. He lives in Macomb with his wife Anita and children Tommy and Lily.