NM Eagle Project

Until the 1960s, two rail lines passed through Wheaton.  The competition of the times was between the Chicago & Northwestern and the Aurora & Elgin.  Which express train could deliver passengers fastest from downtown Wheaton to the train station in Chicago?  The Aurora & Elgin won the competition at 28 minutes.  Aurora & Elgin no longer exists and the only remaining line is Union Pacific.  Without competition, the shortest time is 42 minutes.  What happened to the Aurora & Elgin tracks?  What now remains is called the Illinois Prairie Path, considered to be one of DuPage County's greatest treasures.  Yes, they made lemonade from lemons.

NM's Eagle Service Project was to help keep the Illinois Prairie Path pristine.  A large number of railroad timbers soaked with a tar substance needed to be removed.  As part of his project, these timbers would be removed.

This project was near completion on on April 29, 2006.

This page last reviewed/updated 04/25/2007 09:45 PM