While some of the gravel work had begun for Barn 15 back in October 2024, this past weekend, the first of the holes for the sonotubes have been dug. These will hold the concrete which will hold the galvanized steel posts, which will then attach to the wooden posts above ground.
Barn 15 is designed to be a 464 foot long building with four tracks, housing 1,784 feet of usable indoor track space at a total estimated cost of nearly $780,000. The Diesel Department has bought 835 feet of that indoor space for a little over $375,000, all funded by your donations and through your purchases in the Take The Throttle fundraising events. Some of our departments locomotives getting permanent inside storage are as follows:
- Amtrak 945
- Armco Steel B71
- Armco Steel E110
- Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe 543
- Conrail 4601
- Burlington Northern 1
- Burlington Northern 2
- Burlington Northern 3
- Chicago, Burlington and Quincy 9976
- Chicago and North Western 515
- Chicago and North Western 6847
- Chicago and North Western 7009
- Chicago and Illinois Midland 30
- Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific 4506
- Wisconsin Central 7525
The construction and completion of Barn 15 will get a significant number of diesels and a couple of electric locomotives in our collection out of the elements and preserved for future generations to enjoy. While time for construction of the building itself will take several months, obtaining an occupancy permit could be more than a year away. This is still a step in the right direction to get equipment out of the weather. We are continuing to fundraise for the next building, wherever that may be, to get the remaining equipment in our Diesel collection, as well as the many pieces of equipment on the way, placed inside. To support equipment preservation via indoor storage, please make your donation via this link. Thank you to all for your support!
Comments
Fri, 03-29-2024 21:26
We're slackers and spend more time working on the equipment in the shop than keeping all you readers updated. We'll work on it, but I'm sure updates [...]
Thu, 03-14-2024 08:02
What happened to the Department Blog? It's been over 2 years and I still regularly check for updates, but nothing comes...
Mon, 12-27-2021 16:28
Happy New Year to all the Departments at the Illinois railway Museum! Thanks for all the good work you do in railroad preservation. Ted Miles, [...]
Wed, 10-13-2021 13:33
Was the CB&Q 1309 every transported to IRM?I’ve been reading old issues of Rail&Wire and the car was mentioned several times.
Mon, 06-07-2021 22:40
I was wondering if in the model layout display what scale would you guys be using and would you be displaying model train history as well? Just [...]
Wed, 06-02-2021 17:27
Nice to see 428's cab back on. Looking forward to when it is operable!
Tue, 06-01-2021 16:47
I hope the work will continue on the UP #428. Now that they are the museum's connection to the national railroad network; she would be very [...]
Sat, 04-17-2021 23:07
What is the status of 126, the Milwaukee Buffet car that is in S. Dakota? Any guess on when or if it will get to IRM?
Wed, 04-14-2021 21:09
Perhaps it is time to scrap the remains of the c, B & Q 7128 to make room for the Villa Real. Ted miles, IRM member
Wed, 04-14-2021 15:26
Hi IRM my name is Jason and I was wonder If you guys would be willing to save a CN Dash8-40cm they are currently being retired by CN and being [...]
Fri, 04-09-2021 19:56
Bear in mind that the Nebraska Zephyr is an articulated train set, so cars cannot be inserted at will. Although cars and/or a second engine could be [...]
Wed, 03-31-2021 11:37
I believe Silver Pony is currently on the back burner, and has been put into storage in one of the barns. The car needs a lot of work done to it's [...]