Steam locomotive brings 1940s train era back to life

The Joliet Rocket returned for a second year, recreating the 1940s train era with a steam locomotive, historic railcars and re-enactors on weekend trips that included food service, vintage cocktails and more between Joliet and Chicago.

“The Joliet Rocket brings to life an era when passenger trains were part of a glamorous, adventurous and competitive industry wherein railroads rolled out the red carpet to entice passengers to travel by train,” according to a release from the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, which partnered with Metra for the excursion.