Take a free ride on the Mazo line

An editorial  —  7/18/2008 5:25 am

Looking for something different to do this weekend?

Head out Sunday to Mazomanie and take in the Gandy Dancer Festival. The Mid-Continent Railway Museum at North Freedom and the Wisconsin and Southern Railroad are sponsoring the festival for the second year in a row to promote the importance of rail for America's future transportation needs.

"Gandy dancer" is a name that railroad maintenance workers were once called as they passed through cities and towns putting down ties and rails to connect the country by rail.

Last year's festival was held on Madison's near east side, on a portion of the property that will someday become a central park. This year's has been moved to Mazomanie to celebrate the grand opening of the Promenade, a new park given to Mazomanie by Fred Westland. It sits directly across Brodhead Street from Mazo's historic railroad depot.

There will be free train rides supplied by Wisconsin and Southern from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Tickets will be distributed to parents and kids beginning at 9 at the depot.

There will be live music all day long plus a bluegrass jam session at 4. Special music for the kids will break out at 1 and 3. There will be juggling acts, model train displays, a blacksmithing demonstration and some speeches about trains, including one from our own Editor Emeritus Dave Zweifel at noon.

The Mazomanie location for the festival is particularly fitting since there has long been talk of making the community the western terminus of a commuter rail system for Dane County, an idea that is taking on more importance as the price of gasoline continues to threaten family budgets.

The entire festival, except for the food tents, is free and will take place rain or shine. It's a good way to have some family fun and learn more about how rail can provide America with a viable transportation option.

An editorial  —  7/18/2008 5:25 am