| Last updated on January 6, 2026
View the pages of the 1948 Official Guide Book. This is an online supplement to Classic Trains magazine's Winter 2017 issue.
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Thanks for the support, guys. It has been almost 2 years since I pointed out this error. Guess no one checks these comments or reads them. In a data driven society, just counting the comments is enough to calculate viewership. I too have a book from the real fair. I was there, at least according to my parents. It was in 1948; I was 1, going on 2 and already train crazy. A lifelong infection.
Ward Kimball and Walt Disney visited the Railroad Fair at the suggestion of Mr. Disney’s secretary. Walt asked Kimball if he’d like to accompany him since they both were interested in trains. They rode aboard Santa Fe’s “Super Chief” to Chicago. From what I’ve read, the engineer found out about the celebrities aboard the train and invited them to ride in the cab for a short time. While at the fair, both Kimball and Disney operated locomotives in the pageant. I have a copy of the program from the 2nd year of the fair that I purchased on eBay.
Here is a PDF of the 1948 Guide from the living history of Illinois site: http://livinghistoryofillinois.com/pdf_files/1948%20Chicago%20Railroad%20Fair%20Official%20Guide%20Book%20Wheels%20a-Rolling.pdf
It would really be nice to see the real Guidebook. My mom and dad both attended, loved it and talked about all they saw.
I agree I would like to see the 1948 Rail Fair pictures.
Will this ever get fixed?
These pictures are NOT the 1948 Chicago Railroad Fair pictures. Looks more like a recent show in Spencer.
Yes, it’s “Streamliners At Spencer” from several years ago.