Thanks for making time to listen to a few of my stories.
I have always been interested in American history but heading a children's charity and raising a family did not allow time. Upon retirement I spent several years re reading those history books that I had just read in school to pass the test. During these reads, I paid particular attention to record (for retelling) those interesting and informative stories my history teachers didn't have time to share.
I organized Santa Express Trains to the North Pole for 10 years during my tenure with the children's charity. This intensified my passion for trains which I had had from youth. Upon retirement, I continued feeding my train passion by riding most of Amtrak's trains, even serving as an Amtrak tour guide.
My train passion went through the roof when I learned Robert Todd Lincoln arguably set the record for riding the most miles on trains before age 25, and while Secretary of War he traveled by train to many military places out West, AND at age 55 replaced George Pullman as the CEO of nation's largest rail manufacturing company, the Pullman Palace Car Co. Robert serve as CEO for 11 years and then continue as chairman of the Board for another 14 years! He definitely became a railroad baron.
With this knowledge, I chose to become a Robert Todd Lincoln reenactor. I found only 2 books on Robert Todd Lincoln. Yet, these books contained valuable information and stories I found delight in sharing as his reenactor.
For information and stories about
Robert Todd Lincoln tap here Mary Todd Lincoln tap here

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DG 'Rusty Rails' Alderson,
T.O.A.S.T. President
SPOKESPERSON FOR
listed groups
Master Storyteller
University Lecturer
Amtrak Tour Guide
Gilded Age & Railroad Historian
Robert Todd Lincoln Reenactor
Founder/CEO children's charity
Organized 60 Excursion Train Trips
Lived Phoenix, Tucson, San Francisco,
Lake Tahoe, Joliet IL
Current resident of Geneva

Rusty as
'R. Todd Lincoln'
and La Fox Station News
Geneva Station Wish List and
Station
Reimagined
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REQUESTS
Please email Rusty If you
don't see your name
Ben
The following stories are available free by REQUEST
Mostly 1830 -1930
T.O.A.S.T
All American
Stories
INFORMATIVE AND ENTERTAINING
STORIES
AMERICA GROWS UP
STORIES ABOUT THOSE GILDED AGE
PERSONALITIES OUR HISTORY TEACHERS
DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO SHARE
Railroad Stories
THOSE WHO IMPACTED RAILROADS
RAILROAD BARONS & THOSE WHO LOVED THEM
The LINCOLNS & RAILROADS
ARIZONA FRONTIER RAILS
PLACES & EVENTS ON THE RAILS
STORIES YOU'LL LOVE
CHOCOLATE
ANIMALS
WALT DISNEY
SPORTS
GENEVA, ST. CHARLES, BATAVIA
These are stories our
history teachers didn't
have time to share.
This is a Free service

Station
Reimagined
Geneva Station Wish List
Enhance passenger safety when crossing from
Platform 1 to Platform 2 by requiring
all Chicago bound trains arriving on
Platform 2 to stop approximately 50 feet
before 3rd St. crossing
Currently: When Chicago bound train arrives on track 3, late arriving passengers must decide: go under the
downed gates or wait until gates go back up.
Some trains stop approximately 50 ft before the
3rd Street crossing, stay stationery for 15 seconds,
which allows the downed gates to go back up and
passengers can cross tracks.
However, some trains stop at the 3rd St Crossing
and the gates remain down. Passengers are unable
to cross unless they go under the downed gates.
Update: As of October 9, 2025,
extended the station hours!
The station will be staffed from 5am to 9pm
Monday thru Friday
Keep Geneva station open on weekdays until
6pm and open on weekends 8am to 9pm
Currently, station closes at 1pm on weekdays and
is closed on weekends
Provide viable shelter and seating
Currently, on platform 1, there is no viable shelter or
seating
only available shelter is 100 yards from station; on seating (unprotected) is 50 yards from station
Provide Station Signage:
Currently, there is no signage to help passengers,
There are train times (monitor) and wall schedules
Provide Safety Alert when freight trains
pass station on track #1
Currently, freight trains on track 1 pass by within 15 ft of passengers standing on Platform 1
Note: Union Pacific website says passengers should
be 24 feet from track
Upgrade Station and Station Area:
Enhance passengers pre boarding experience ...
including
improving station aesthetics
Increase station hours
provide passenger shelter and seating
provide boarding info signage
signage to alert passengers to safety issues
Its time to upgrade Geneva's Metra Station and area to provide a positive pre boarding experience for passengers boarding after 1 pm on weekdays and on weekends?
What would you want in a reimagined station and area?
Email your thoughts and ideas

Community Ideas Are Welcomed