Its good to see Mid Continent scaling down and raising cash to put into operations and completing restoration projects and not just collecting pieces that couldn't be restored in any near future.
Hello Stanley The one problem with your statement is "What is the near future?" Remember once these items are gone their is no turning back. You can't touch coal from a picture, you can't hear the brakes from an interurban or diesel, you can't touch a bed or feel the sheets from one either. Roger
Hello, Roger, Raphael, and all.
1. Roger, thank you for your efforts to get this car for IRM. It will make a great addition to our collection.
2. Raphael, while this car served with two "local" lines, it did NOT run on the Chicago and Northwestern.
3. When the "Mount" series were first put in service in 1923, they served on the Illinois Central "Floridian" as open platform 10 section observation sleepers. After Mt. Harvard was retrofitted with air-conditioning in 1935, it saw service with the Southern Pacific. Pullman converted the car to a 10-Section Buffet Lounge Solarium Observation in 1939. Shortly afterwards, it was sold to the Milwaukee Road, which used it on several trains including the Columbian and the Arrow. Mt Harvard was retired from Milwaukee Road service and donated to the first of several museums in 1961.
4. Mt. Harvard's going straight into museum ownership instead of being used as a maintenance of way car helps account for its very good condition.
5. With YOUR continued generosity and support, the Mt. Harvard will be brought to Union and fully restored to her late-pre-war glory.
Thanks.
Brian J. Patterson.
There needs to be a small correction to what you have said here.
In 1961, "Mt. Harvard" was donated by the Pullman Co. to the Wabash Frisco & Pacific Rail Road Association of St. Louis. Ten years later, it was sold to two Mid-Continent members and moved to Fond du Lac. It was resold to another member in 1972, and was shipped to North Freedom April 26, 1973. In 1987, "Mt. Harvard" was donated to Mid-Continent. Restoration was proposed in 1995 with a gift donation. The car was moved into the museum's Car Shop.
Hello Warren The Mt. Harvard has the Pullman Mechanical system. Basically two Spicer drives one off each axle One runs the generator and the other runs the air conditioner. It has an ice hatch on roof to load the ic boxes in thee buffet. Roger
Do the generator and air conditioner work? If the generator works, the car could be used as the tail car for night ops. Thanks for your generous donation, Roger.
You mentioned the fund is called MT. HARVARD. How can I donate to this fund? What payment methods are accepted? PayPal would be convenient but I can do check or CC also.
(If you can accept online PayPal payment you would probably get more casual / spontaneous donations.)
Hello Glyn The fund, Mt. Harvard, has been set up. You can contribute either by sending a check, or money order in the mail, CC OR you can call the office and ask For Jan and personally make the same contribution. Telephone # is 815-923-4391 You can do the same online. Roger
Individual donations in any amount the donor chooses may be made by check or money order. Write "Mt Harvard" in the "for" or "memo" line of your check or money order made payable to "Illinois Railway Museum" and mail to:
Illinois Railway Museum
7000 Olson RD
Box 427
Union, IL 60180
In addition to mailed donations, online donations through the IRM Online Store should be available this week. Once available, online donations via the IRM Online Store can be made in $25 increments up to an amount of the donor's choice.
The Illinois Railway Museum is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, all donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
Can someone add a donation option for the Inglehome to the museum store since it's a popular service car, and an obs car on the coach train just makes it look that much better? The 1309 and Mt. Harvard should be able to wait a little longer. Let's fix the INGLEHOME!
Hello Stephen The museum store can not always be adjusted for every request. Therefore, I suggest you either mail in your donation or better yet, call in the museum office and talk to Jan. 815-923-4391 She will be able to take your credit card # over the phone for the Inglehome. BTW, thank you for thinking of the obs car. Roger Kramer