Buildings and Grounds

There used to be a bridge to carry the CNS&M tracks from the elevated structure about Wilson Ave on the North South line, then south over Montrose Ave. and down a ramp to the ground level North Shore facility about Buena.  Some years ago the Museum was fortunate to acquire the three spans and two of the support steel 'piers'.  The two steel supports were re-purposed to support the new Central Pavillion area and are restored to hold the roof and on display.  For many years the three steel spans have resided just south of our car line tracks and east of the Springfield Ave platform.  On October 23 cranes were on site and the three spans were moved.  First, the short span was taken south to be adjacent and north of Yard 13.

The Lift

Next the cranes lifted the easternmost of the long spans.

Walking

With a crane on each end, the span was 'walked' east toward South Junction.

New Location

The span continued to moved, first turning south, and then traveling along the leads to Yard 13.  Ultimately it was paced just to the north of the area where the leads go due west.  And then the second long span was stacked atop the first one.

In early October our turntable bridge was moved and relocated on our core campus.  This is an ex C&NW bridge from Harvard, Illinois.  How long has it been sitting as the center of attention in the Thomas loading area?  Thirty years?  More?

The Lift

Two large cranes (70 ton and 100 ton) were on site as part of the preparations for the location work for an episode of the NBC series, Chicago Fire.  Timber mats were used to save the grassy areas, which were necessary for the later shooting. 

Headed South

With the bridge up in the air, the cranes simply walked away with it, first turning about 90 degrees and then heading south.

Obstacle

When they got to the car line tracks just east of Springfield station, the bridge was set down.  The cranes could not continue as they had been and still fit beneath the trolley wire.  The bridge was set down and the lead crane retracted the boom, and navigated its way over the car line tracks.  The backhoe shown here was kept busy picking up and leapfrogging the timber mats.

The Crossing

The lead crane pulled from the south while the one on the north lifted the bridge to allow it to swing to the south.

Traveling in Style

With the bridge safely moved across the car line tracks, the second crane crossed the line.  Then it was off to the races (figuratively) as they lifted the bridge and walked south to Yard 13, and then east to where the bridge is now stored on cribbing.

PFE 68428

Much of the work at IRM involves moving stuff around and rearranging the equipment for better access or to do a scheduled restoration task.  After all we bill ourselves as a MUSEUM IN MOTION.

Here is a wonderful photo from Phil Stepek who noticed that cars inside Barn 10 were being moved around a bit. It gives a great opportunity to see this in good clear light and to appreciate a fact.  Restoration was done about two DECADES ago. The lettering on this side of the car was done over FIFTEEN years ago and most of that time this car enjoyed indoor storage.  Protection under roof can clearly be seen as THE ONLY WAY TO GO.  It is NEEDED if we are to be serious about preserving railroad history.

Please enjoy this pic of our 1928 Pacific Fruit Express refrigerator car, and consider a donation so we may place additional cars into the next project, BARN 14.  Please donate to fund RISWFC, on line, or mailed to

Illinois Railway Museum

Box427

Union IL 60180

Here are some historic photos of CNW wood bodied cabooses.  Not our car, but similar so you can clearly see the what could be done if we manage to save this in the next barn.

Library of Congress Collection/Jack Delano Photo

Library of Congress Collection/Jack Delano Photo

It is easy to see how magnificent our caboose could be if it were to see a restoration.  But first things first.  We need to get funding to the level where this car could make its subscription price and be assured protection under roof for the future.  Can we make this happen?  Fund R10494

You all probably see many pleas begging for support for the next Barn on this site and on other web sites.  I also support those efforts particularly those to protect our Electric Cars.  Find RISWEC.

In case any of you are wondering and are dyed in the wool passenger car fans, there are efforts to save other cars and place them in the next Barn.  I have not heard much from the Passenger Car Department but in looking at fund balances, the ONE car that is closest to being funded is our rare Canadian National 24 duplex roomette sleeper, the INGRAMPORT.  Fund RINGRA

Illinois Railway Museum

Box 427

Union IL 60180

As you all have read by now we are actively pursuing funding and hopefully construction of a new Barn in the near future.  There are many worthy candidates.  I have had some inquiries on these two fragile wood bodied cabooses.  Are they BARN FODDER?

CNSM 1002

Many almost swoon at the mention of the North Shore Line.  If I said we had just discovered a hidden car that was almost unknown for 49 years, I suspect we would be getting calls from the post office to pick up our mail twice per day, the response would be so great.  Well, it is true!!  We have had this 1926 Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee wood bodied caboose since 1963, shortly after the line abandoned service.  As you might imagine, another half century (almost) of outdoor storage has not been kind to it.  Platforms rotted, steps fallen off, a tarpaper roof to help keep water at bay.  It is unique, historic, and its future is in question.  Fund R1002

CNW 10494

This one is a 1915 wood bodied Chicago & North Western caboose acquired by IRM in 1958, and it has lived outdoors ever since.  Some basic level of patching and repairs continue to be done, but you can clearly see that it is CLOSE to the end of the line.  The roof leaks and water gets into and behind the siding, and even the structural framing is being affected.   As long as equipment like this does not get under roof it is an uphill battle, a losing one at that!  Fund R10494

Yes IRM is only the second owner of these cars, and has owned them for more time than they spent with either of the original owners.  Railway preservation is at a crossroads in many areas of the country, and we have to face the issue of whether equipment saved for so long should continue to be saved.  Only today I read where the Kentucky Railroad Museum sold ELEVEN pieces of their collection for SCRAP, including four locomotives.  These wood cabooses would not bring much as scrap value but their future is by no means certain.

Many ask, why do these continue to see little attention and remain outdoors?  The answer is YOU!

Plans are underway for Barn 14 and it is not yet fully funded nor the space fully committed.  Most volunteers spend freely of their time and money to make IRM and the COLLECTION a better place; I cannot ask them to do more.  We cannot do this alone.  Substantial donations to either of these could assure them a space in the next building.  If not - well - look closely at the images.  Please vote with your dollars and help us decide if they can be saved.

Illinois Railway Museum

Box 427

Union IL 60180

You may have heard that plans are under way for a new BARN at IRM to be located over Yard 14.  This is exciting news and a major undertaking.  Now that plans are official and approved by the Board we only need the money.  The actual construction cannot start until funds are on hand.  The process for this to become a reality is that space is 'sold' on a subscription basis.  That is, any car or locomotive can assure its long term term preservation under roof by subscribing to such space, currently priced at $215 per foot.

There are many worthy candidates and fan favorites that continue to live outdoors and deserve such protection.  The inexorable march of time and mother nature contribute to continued decay and it is a very real possibility that some equipment on site for decades will soon be beyond the resources of us to restore them.  THIS IS THE TIME TO STEP FORWARD.

Of course in my area we have several fragile wood bodied freight cars needing help, and there are also electric cars and passenger cars residing outdoors.  Any donation can be made to help this along and make it a reality.  A donation to a specific restricted car fund is fine, but there are other ways to get the most bang for your buck.  There are a class or family of restricted funds available for on line donation targeted to each specific department.  Such as fund RISWFC for freight cars, and RISWEC for the trolleys.

http://www3.irm.org/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_11&products_id=1536

These are not specific to any one car, but the Collection Curators can release these funds for Barn construction split among the candidates that are not quite fully funded, add to the existing balance to 'fill it up', to pay their way in.  So yes, a donation to these department funds gives the most protection for the greatest good.  There are many needs for money at IRM including the General Fund, Land Acquisition, and Mortgage Retirement.  But for me I am putting my checkbook on the line to donate to indoor storage funds at year end to make this a reality and give our core collection, the equipment, hope for the future.

As an aside there are also overdue TRACK SPACE levies which have not been cleared from the books.  You have heard me beg for money to help clear those off the books and thank you to those who have responded to that.  The importance of clearing these debts is that any car not having paid off TRACK SPACE is not ELIGIBLE to subscribe to the Barn Space.  First things first, let's all help where you can in any amount you can.  There is a similar family of funds, not yet available for on line donations, for clearing unpaid track space accounts.  For example, RTRKFC for track space donations to the Freight Cars.  Please mail in any donations to those, and specify your favorite department.

For many years the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe was headquartered in a tall building fronting on Michigan Avenue in Chicago.  I can imagine John Reed gazing east over the "Avenue" and across the green expanses of Grant Park to the blue Lake Michigan waters.  There was a large SANTA FE sign atop the roof proclaiming to the world that this was the hub of one of the mightiest railroads in the land.

Time moves on and Santa Fe relocated those functions to a newer building in Schaumburg IL.  And eventually of course, in the merger fever decades, things changed again and we know it now as the BNSF.

That sign remained on that building and became a landmark of sorts to railfans, and indeed, to many Chicagoans.  Finally the word came down that the sign was to be dismantled and removed.  IRM put out feelers, and eventually succeeded in getting that sign donated and it arrived in Union last Friday.

Santa Fe

The sign is now on the lawn in front of our ATSF 92 locomotive - a suitable and stunning backdrop.  Note that the sign is of the same type and font as the SANTA FE on the side of the locomotive in the second coming of the famed warbonnet scheme.