The next three days will feature the train rides on the Fourth, the annual parade, Firecracker 5K run, street dances, car show, pony pull, talent show, bingo, duck races, mini-tractor pull, antique tractor show, flag retiring ceremony, dunk tank, kiddie train, bouncing inflatables, butterfly garden, historic slide show and plenty of food, games and other fun.Find the full schedule of events on Facebook under “Oxford Sesquicentennial Celebration” by scrolling down the posts.Possibly the most visible part of the celebration is taking shape on the west side of the Masonic Temple building downtown, where local artist Kim Fuller is painting a giant commemorative mural. A portion of the ticket cost is remitted back to Central States to offset some of the volunteer expenses. In the years where a steam locomotive is not used, the train is pulled by diesels. Note: the Baseball Fireworks have their own page here The winding blacktop through farmland takes you over Clear Creek, past St. Mary’s Catholic Church and then over the Rhine Creek bridge into the heart of town.Schwab thinks the sesquicentennial might be reviving some local pride.“This celebration is a big deal to people,” she said.

And you can always submit a display if I don’t have it!

Happy to support our surrounding communities! Thank you again everyone for your help! 6988 will pull the Oxford trips and has the distinction of pulling the last revenue steam freight train in China in 2005. Stay tuned as we may have more info coming soon. The train is not air conditioned. The fire departments keep most of income from ticket sales and all the revenue from vendor sales. Today we helped celebrate two birthdays due to social distancing! The origins of the QJ are from the American ALCO and Baldwin locomotives delivered to the former Soviet Union in 1931. We had a blast celebrating this little guys birthday today with Tiffin Fire Department, Iowa! Join Oxford First Responders, Iowa and the Oxford Fire Department, Iowa from 4 - 8 p.m. Saturday for soup, cinnamon rolls and more! #westandtogether

On the morning of the 4th it will operate over to Oxford to be in place for the first trip.

Thank you Sleepy Hollow RV Park & Campground near Oxford, Iowa for hosting us again. Fireworks will be shot off at dusk on July 3rd by the water tower.

Other members on the core committee not previously mentioned are Harry Dolder, Kiva Shogren, Doug Hill, Marty Reihman and Angie Conrad.“It’s been a long process and was a challenge to convince people this was really going to happen,” Schwab said. The train itelf pulled by the 6988 will consist of a tender, supplemental water car, tool car and five coaches with a diesel locomotive on the rear end to facilitate with reverse movements. The train will be pulled by steam to Iowa City and the diesel will handle the return movement to Oxford, since there is no turntable in Iowa City. The last ride is at 5:30PM! You can also browse for fireworks … Get yours today before they are gone!!

After the trips it will return to South Amana for the night and return to Newton on July 5. Santa riding on one of our fire trucks during the Holiday Wave at The University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital! 7081 were purchased and brought to the United States in 2006 by Rail Development Corporation, the Iowa Interstate Railroad’s parent corporation. They will not detrain in Iowa City.

Coal is augured into the fire box via a mechanized stoker but it is supplemented by hand shoveling. Private Fireworks Shows.