Illinois Railway Museum Blog

I am not the guy setting this up, but my understanding is that retail sales will be conducted roughly during our regular operating hours. There will be multiple copies of some material, and there are plans for some unique replica or reproduction items. Bob Kutella

#1.1 Robert Kutella on 2013-06-30 04:52

Slightly unrelated to the electroliner, why hasnt the "little joe" ran? i've been coming to the museum since i was 4 and have never seen it run, the info plaque says its in operatble condition.

#2 Adam on 2013-07-02 11:26

Again, I am not in charge of that department but here are some of the issues. It has Barn Space at the south end of Barn 9 so to get it out and under wire involves switching and moving some 800 feet of equipment, and the same when it is time to put it away. At 88 feet long there are areas off limits to that long and heavy locomotive. Being from the South Shore it does not run on our standard 600 volts DC (what do they use - 1500 volts?). So while it is 'operable' there are other control and electrical issues and it would never run at speed on our line. Add in the fact that it uses pantographs for current collection. Those are not compatible everywhere we have wire strung. It HAS operated at slow speed and for special occasions. But it is not well suited to be out on the line every weekend or to provide passenger service on the railroad. Bob Kutella

#2.1 Robert Kutella on 2013-07-02 15:32

Thanks for the response, you are correct though, during the early Insull era the South Shore was converted to 1500 volts, I cant remember the specs on the original system. Well its nice to know he's moveable.

#2.1.1 Adam on 2013-07-03 11:40

When I went to Museum Showcase Weekend I could not find a way to donate towards this project? was there a donation box somewhere on the grounds where I can donate towards this project on my next visit.

#3 Matthew Gustafson on 2015-10-07 12:20

I hope to see the famous Electroliner running again. I want to bring in a painting of the Electroliner I did myself, I want to give it to the IRM and maybe they would hang it write next to the real thing. If anyone would like to see it, search on YouTube "My first vistit to the Illinois Railway Museum" it should be at the end of the video.

#3.1 JoeyLovesTrains Morrow on 2015-10-22 21:30

You mention in the header that you would like to have the Electroliner operational by its birthday. Was it?

#4 David Guillaudeu on 2018-04-11 11:28

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