Illinois Railway Museum Blog

Bill Wagner will be visiting in two weeks for the official dedication of the Wagner Loop.  We are scheduled to hold a brief ceremony on Saturday, August 08 at 11:00am.  We may provide some service with the Chicago Marmon that day.

If all goes as planned, the Chicago Marmon, along with other coaches, will be in service for Member's Day on Saturday, September 19.  We will be having regularly scheduled trolley bus operations in 2016.  Watch for the museum calendar coming with your December issue of Rail & Wire for the schedule.

Chicago Marmon 9553 heads toward for the office for a much needed washing on 07/22/2015

In the Motor Bus Department:  Master mechanic Vince Allen, along with Fred McGullam and John LeBeau, continue to work on the CMC 605.  It is now at the point where it starts reliably.  They are currently working on the transmission which appears to be the final hurdle in getting it fully operational.

Julie Piesciuk has been working feverishly on emptying and cleaning all the motor coaches.  She has done a fantastic job on the CMC 605, and the CTA 8715.  She has also done the Chicago Marmon trolley coach 9553 and will shortly complete the Janesville 412.  We hope to have several of these open and available for inspection during our Vintage Transport Extravaganza on Sunday, August 02.

We are in the process of cleaning and reorganizing the Hoffman Garage (and the immediate area around it).  Thanks to everyone mentioned above for helping out in this endeavor, plus B&G Superintendent Dave Diamond.  If you visit over the next few months, don't be surprised if you see empty space inside, vehicles outside, vehicles inside not in perfect rows, and things in unusual locations.  We hope to have this project complete by winter to make the garage and surroundings a little more visitor-friendly in 2016.

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who has helped us out and the show of support from other volunteers and visitors alike.  We look forward to continued progress!!!