
DG 'Rusty' Alderson,
TOAST President
Mostly 1830 -1930
Rusty's
All American
Stories
​
Not an official Metra Site
Gilded Age & Train Historian
Train Railfan
Historical Characters, Lincoln Family,
Frontier Arizona, Early Railroads

TOAST email: GAstorybook@gmail.com
SFriends edition
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Thank you for taking time to listen to one or more
of my stories.​
Scroll down to enjoy more stories.​
Rusty
RECENT REQUESTS
Geneva Metra Rider Alerts
updated March 31, 2025
Riding the Rails
Trains sometimes arrive
on South Tracks (Platform 2)
​
If train will arrive on Platform 2,
an anouncement will be made
7 minutes before scheduled train
Tap Here for details about
'Track Anxiety' in Geneva
and shelter options
.
What you see, don't see along the way


DG 'Rusty' Alderson
Gilded Age & Railroad Historian
Master Story Teller
Amtrak Tour Guide & Tour Organizer
Robert Todd Lincoln reenactor
20 year xTucson/Phoenix resident
President T.O.A.S. T.
Growing up adjacent to train tracks started my love for trains. Over the years I have gathered rail stories, organized 60 train excursions (involving thousands of riders), served as an Amtrak tour guide and train museum docent in Arizona and Illinois.
** How do we know where we are going ... if we don't know where we have been?
Popular Long Distance Train Trips
Chicago to Los Angeles
Chicago to Oakland
CHECK OUT THIS 5 minute video
of an AMAZING TRAIN TRIP
Amtrak
Popular
1st Chocolate Brownie
Chocolate-a health food
History of Chocolate
1st Ice Cream Sundae
Candy bar named for horse
and more
Connection to St. Charles
Connection to Mooseheart
Walt Disney's Connection
to St Charles
to Mooseheart
Walt Disney's Secret
and more
President pardons Tad's Turkey
Famous Dog in Smithsonian Museum
Elephants Save St. Louis Bridge
Pit Bull visits Kansas City - Yikes!
​Artist Made Cats Loveable
Geneva put Al Capone in Jail
St Charles Pickle Capital of the World
Batavia Food Co Corporate headquarters
and much much more
Trains

A Little History and a Ride Along the Rails
Amtrak
Chicago to Los Angeles
Amtrak
Chicago to Oakland

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.
​
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” - .
Stories your History Teacher
didn't have time to share

Topic Areas
History Makers
How Railroads Won the West
Places & Events
A. Lincoln Family
Frontier Arizona
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The following are available
by REQUEST
Rusty wants to be your
History Story Concierge
​ .
For most of us, high school was boring .. as our teachers provided the 'foundation' (think dates, etc.).
​
Thus, there was little time left for stories.
​
Rusty has been on the hunt for those entertaining and informative stories that would have made history class actually enjoyable.

Before, During, After
Gilded Age
Featuring
FORGOTTEN HISTORY MAKERS
and events
between 1830 and 1930
history teachers didn't have time to share
Series to choose from
.Email Rusty for information​
​
or call Rusty 224 449 1420
a Geneva number​​
​
This is a complimentary service​
Series 2
History Slices
History Makers 1830 - 1930
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He wanted to paint but his dad wanted him to be an engineer ... his painting today is worth millions, his invention was revolutionary.
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Lincoln Family 1830 -1930
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Why did Robert Todd Lincoln wished he never played golf on that January 1906 day in Wheaton, IL
Gilded Age Living 1830 -1930
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​​This doctor's method and prescription for dealing with stress ... well, let's say were interesting
Early Railroads 1830 -1930
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This railroad baron took on a mistress, who he eventually married. Upon his death, he subsequently married his nephew (also a RR Baron) and together they established a renowned museum.
Frontier Arizona 1830 -1930
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Going beyond the TV Westerns
Places and Events 1830-1930
The first Las Vegas is not where
one would ever imagine
Series 1
Stories by Theme
Early Railroads &
Gilded Age History Makers
How RR Barons Met Their Wives
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Hist Makers Who Died Broke
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They Impacted History
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Sons of Legendary Fathers
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California Rail Barons
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Disgraced Powerful Men
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Creative Frauds
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Game Changers
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Interesting Railroad Men
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How They Found Their 'Gold'
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Sons Who Were Duds
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Unusual Events
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Series 3
Monthly Stories
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He painted the Masters in the Louvre, but failed to sell his painting in America, thus having to turn to Plan B; his invention changed communication. .
2. The new railroad would put its future on t he line when it accepted an dare to race
a horse.
3. Louise's father told George, an immigrant, he wasn't good enough for his daughter.
George set out to prove him wrong.
4. What was so valuable 1000 years ago that led cacao traders from Central America to
trade with Native Americans in the Four
Corners Region (AZ, UT, CO, NM).
5. The father’s assassination helped to create
a company his son would become CEO
some 30 years later at the age of 56 and
would serve as CEO & Chairman of the
Board for 25 years before retiring at
age 79.
6. The question of the day regarding horses
led to an invention we enjoy today.
7. No one realized that this new invention
could some day shrink the nation.
8.. Beautiful, sophisticated women leading
cause of stress, among other conditions
leads to Americanitis
Request Themes
for the following:
​
Gilded Age Women
A. Lincoln Family
Frontier Arizona

​​T.O.A.S.T.​
NEWSLETTER
​
March Edition
Information and/or to
schedule a call with Rusty
​
​
or call Rusty directly
224 449 1420
​ (10am - 8pm Mon-Sat)


​​RED CABOOSE
TRAIN
TALKS & TOURS
​
Yesterday/Today
