Local band UpRoar rocked the Railroad Fest for hours. PHOTO BY MICHAEL CHOO CHOO DAV

TAMA – Boom, boom, boom went the speakers as the music blasted down Third Street in Tama; people drank, ate, grooved, and shook every once in a while as a train went by; this was Railroad Fest 2024.

This is only the second year that The Tama Pump has put on the Railroad Fest, which is bigger than ever. The growing event hosted three STC class reunions: 1999, 2004, and 2014. Pump co-owner and event organizer Nate Doran could be caught having a good time and even cutting a rug during the event as he celebrated with his old class of 1999 buddies. Jeff Niedermann, the other Pump co-owner and event organizer, could be found greeting partygoers at the entrance to the event throughout the night.

“We stepped our game up. We got Dave’s Mini Donuts, we got the Pitchfork here, prime rib sandwiches, and hamballs with the best cheesy potatoes I’ve had in a long time,” Niedermann said.

Visiting Dave’s Mini Donuts, The Pitchfork, the keg trailer, or if you just went and grabbed something from The Pump itself, deliciousness was all around. And just before midnight, as the party started to slow and things started to wrap up, Moony’s sat up for all of your late night burger needs.

Those in attendance got food and entertainment, as you could sit at a table savoring your hamballs all while having your face melted with the awesomeness of local cover band UpRoar. The live music started at eight and rocked till 11. As the night wore on, more and more people had moments of spontaneous physical glee. As UpRoar played your jam, ripped those chords, and hit that beat, your will to stay still seemed to vanish, and soon you were shaking things you didn’t know you had.

The Pitchfork served up great food all night. PHOTO BY MICHAEL CHOO CHOO DAVIS

Whether you attended Railroad Fest 2024 because it was your class reunion or because you just wanted some mini donuts and beer; a good time was had by all. Throughout the night, the street sometimes shook because a train was passing through, other times due to the band rocking so hard. The fun, the party, and the celebration have hit pause for now, but don’t worry, it’ll get going again, next year, at The Pump’s Railroad Fest 2025.

The Railroad Fest was hosted the reunion of the class of 1999. PHOTO BY MICHAEL CHOO CHOO DAVIS

The Railroad Fest reunited the South Tama alumni of 2004. PHOTO BY MICHAEL CHOO CHOO DAVIS

Moony’s popup burger joint set up towards the end of Railroad Fest to fill those late night food orders. PHOTO BY MICHAEL CHOO CHOO DAVIS

The keg trailer served people all night. PHOTO BY MICHAEL CHOO CHOO DAVIS

Dave’s Mini Donuts served up little bags of deliciousness. PHOTO BY MICHAEL CHOO CHOO DAVIS