Illinois Railway Museum Blog

Here are the latest pictures of the site chosen to unload our 130 foot ex DRGW turntable.   Thanks to Mark Secko and his crew.    It will be quite impressive when it happens. As  I mentioned in the last blog; if you want to see this installed in your lifetime Please send in your donation and mark it for the TURNTABLE FUND!  Thanks  Roger 

The day many of you thought would never, ever dawn at Irm has come.   Yes, rail fans Irm's 130 foot ex DGRW turntable is now on the property.  It was switched onto our railroad about 11:30 this AM by the Belvidere way freight while making its way to West Chicago.   You can be proud that Irm saved this piece of railroad history.   Not every museum can pull this off so quickly within the time line permitted by the UPRR.    A Big thank to The Union Pacific Railroad for making this happen!   Lots of phone calls and hard  work by a number of  members.    Thanks to Dennis, JD,and Phil for working at the location at the  Burham shops in Denver, Colorado and to Nigel, Nick and Tom Schneider for all the behind the scenes advice and encouragement.        Now fans, its up to you whether this artifact of a bygone era gets installed within the next five years or it just sits  around until the paint fads into dull grey and starts rusting.   The membership stepped up with large donations for the Electroliner.    Now lets see if you all can do better and raise $700,000 for the installing of this truly worthy artifact!    Enjoy the pictures.   There will be more when its unloaded.    In the mean time send your contributions in for the TURNTABLE FUND!!        Thanks    Roger 

We have been focusing, for many years, on prepping the long out of service EL 556 for eventual interior painting.   Well, folks that time has finally come!      Now, with all the hard work that has been done to it in the last few years, those efforts are finally paying off. You will be able to ride this coach again this year.   Our very talented painter, Howard Geier has  begun painting the interior.   Thanks to all of the  volunteers; the hard work is  starting to pay off!    This car will be a "Thing of beauty"   I know, a lot of clichés, but it is amazing to see the difference.  Howard was also painting on this Friday, but I was not at Irm to catch any of the action.   I will take more pictures Saturday May 14.   There is even a more dramatic change coming.  Howard has started painting the ceiling.  What a beautiful contrast!!   This is going to be one beautiful interior when we get done.   Want to come out and help?  Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays are good times to volunteer in the coach dept.      Thanks  Roger