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
Peyton/Taylor
Friends of
Geneva Station
updated 7/3/2026
Newsletter
Geneva METRA
Geneva Station New Hours
Weekdays 5am to 9pm
Staffed by Metra Customer Service
Station is closed on weekends
Don't Miss Your Train!
Trains sometimes arrive on South Track (Platform 2)
PA says board on
PLATFORM 2
7 minutes before
scheduled arrival
UNLESS
Expect Train
To Arrive on
Platform 1
Scroll down for more Metra News
Passengers share how to board the
inbound to Chicago trains at La Fox
JJ Keigley, Mike Best, and Roger Wilhelmi, W. Chicago, Batavia, and Geneva residents, share their stories and experiences from their combined 135 years of working on the railroad. Be ready for an entertaining and informative session and for Mark Llanuza's photos.
FEATURED VIDEO
At the end of video, JJ Keigley, an immensely popular Metra conductor for 17 years, is shown being honored in a very moving ceremony on ABC 7 , Windy City Live, “Chicagoans you need to Know”. Metra honors JJ by naming the UP West Corridor the “JJ Keigley Corridor” - .
Yesterday & Today
Rail Tour
Metra has been asked to do the following:
expand station hours
on weekends
and
move the Platform 1 shelter closer to main station
and provide outdoor seating closer to the station
Rail Fans Geneva Chapter &
Friends of the Geneva Metra Station
has asked Metra to provide a
Station that is a
Welcoming Presence for Metra Passengers
To open station on Saturday Sunday and Holidays
with Customer Care staff to
welcome passengers
help with tickets
provide boarding information
Provide ‘Volunteer Ambassadors’ to assist Metra Customer Care staff
and to be a presence on weekends
Decorate station’s interior reflecting: Metra is happy you’re here and
Welcome to our beautiful station’
Provide Metra ‘perks’ information panels and information board
Example: “ride Metra free with a ‘Broadway in Chicago’ ticket
Provide Local Railroad History Panels
Provide covered outdoor seating within 10 yards of the station
Provide a ‘Rail Viewing’ area for rail fans and for future rail fans (children).
This is Union Pacific’s main freight artery between Chicago and the West Coast,
thus an excellent place to watch frequent freight and passenger trains
Note
Metra has shown they do care about providing ‘a positive experience for passengers before train boarding.
Geneva Station Wish Lists
Summer 2025/6
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.
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