On the Trail – “The Disused Stations of the Chicago Great Western Railroad” Videos
A well-done video series of the abandoned railroad stations along the Heritage Trail was created over the last couple of years by creators of the Be Historic Series from Eastmont Media. The couple has done extensive research for this video series of the Chicago Great Western Railroad, which ran from Chicago to Oelwein, Iowa, via Dubuque from 1885-1968. The narrators travel with GoPro video cameras on the bikes so the viewer is riding every mile of the Heritage Trail on fast forward, accompanied by music. They also make extensive use of drone shots as well, illustrating the modern day setting from an aerial perspective. They reimagine the railroad station buildings with modern day graphics based on historic photos and drawings. Sometimes they discuss the landscape features of the stations’ grounds. Furthermore, they focus on historical attractions, such as the Twin Springs Resort and their famous 4th of July celebrations. Interesting historical stories accompany the facts. In 1904, a husband-and-wife balloon act at Twin Springs went awry when a storm came up and blew the wife in the balloon several miles north. She wasn’t found until midnight in the woods near Sherrill. Scuffed up but alive, she survived a harrowing experience.
The video series is detailed and interesting, drawing from many historical organizations along the route. The extensive research and beautiful videography make this a series worth exploring.