In 2012, the 1940s rolled back into Baldwin City by rail. The era of big bands and World War II rolled in from Fremont, Nebraska, to offer Kansans the chance to experience the luxurious past of U.S. railways on the Kansas Belle Dinner Train.

“The essence of what we do is to put people on a train and take them for a ride, as well as obviously feed them dinner,” Kansas Belle Dinner Train General Manager Bruce Eveland said. “It is an experience few people have had. On an average load, a little less than half have ever been on a train.”

During the train rides, entertainment options may include a Saturday night formal, murder mystery show or a relaxed Sunday melodrama,

Eveland said that they estimate an increase in that percentage each year, as the older generation continues to age. For those under 60, he believes that most of them have never been on a train. It was this that led him to bring the experience to Baldwin City.

“Our approach is to re-create for people an experience they’ve never had, or at least replicate for the people who have been on a train the service they experienced when they did ride by trains,“ Eveland said.

The 22-mile ride to Ottawa from the Baldwin City Depot offers riders the rail experience as well as dining opportunities. A meal, catered by the 23rd St. Brewery in Lawrence, strives to re-create the formal train meals popular on 1940s railways.

“The dining experience was the essence of train travel,” Eveland said. “It was the fun thing to do. At a point in time some of the very best chefs in the country were employed by the railroads to work the trains or work in the commissaries to develop restaurants. The railroad had to have a reputation of good food on their trains to attract people to their line.”

However, the unique Baldwin City business hasn’t been without roadblocks, especially before relocating. It has fought against the challenges of mixing the modern railway system with the older concept of passenger carts.

“It’s hard to find an organization or a railroad to regard you as a cash-plus thing, because in reality you are hauling people,” Eveland said. “If something goes wrong, people sue. In other words if you have freight, they’d rather do that and forget the hassles of if something goes wrong.”

The Midland Railway of Baldwin City offered the solution to the train; the historical society that runs the organization focuses on tourist excursions, much like Eveland offers.

As a result of the move in 2012, Eveland looks forward to the opportunities growth in Kansas brings the line. After a weekend of hosting two groups from Iowa, Eveland mentions future goals for the train.

“We have another car or two that if we get the demand we would like to put it into usage,” Eveland said. “We brought one extra car down that is parked right now. The concept with that car is if we can find some help on getting it done, it is designed to be a handicapped accessible car. We have another car that potentially could be some small private dining rooms for some intimate dining.”