Arriving at the Illinois Rail Museum, Union IL, about 14:45. Apparently not a small operation! There were several trains -- passenger and freight -- operating as we arrived.
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The signal was operating when we got there.
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Don't know which railway used these signals, but they're sure different than what we get in Canada.
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The spiel is all here on this sign. See them at http://www.irm.org. (Note: some portions of the website were not working, 6-Aug-2007. The best pages are at http://www.irm.org/history/index.html.)
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This set of Rock Island Heavyweights pulled in and discharged passengers just as we arrived.
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The last Burlington Zephyr in operation, possibly in existence, was operating. (Lucky shot with the slow digital camera.)
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Illinois corn along part of the four mile rail line. (Don't get me started on real Illinois corn vs. Minnesota or Manitoba corn -- but the length of the season makes a BIG difference!)
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Passengers on the train. Admission to the museum includes rides on any operating train. (Delays are included at no extra charge, on rare occasions.)
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A couple of switchers -- Frisco ("Everywhere West"), and a Minnesota Transfer Ry.
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The Burlington Zephyr taking from the window. (In motion -- I got lucky again!)
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SP 1518, especially for Ian L.
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A nice Milwaukee Road bay window caboose.
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Looking at the switch and signal tower (built in 1890 in Spaulding, IL). A Burlington Northern U-boat is visible at the head end of the train of cabeese in the distance.
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The caboose "crew" waves as we pass each other.
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BN 5383, apparently victim of a recent repainting program, holds just past the tower.
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The museum has an extensive display of streetcars, most of which were formerly with the CTA (Chicago Transit Authority)
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Barn 3 - "Passenger Cars, Business Cars, Private Cars." There are 9 Barns, 2 garages (for trolleys, busses, and trolley/busses), in addition to the steam shops and diesel shops.
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Signage for visitors to Barn 3.
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The Pullman-Palace car, "Ely".
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The IRM has displays about many aspects of rail. Here, we see what could only be described as mixed signals.
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If you thought that there were enough operating trains, here are 4 tracks of static display locos.
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Each track is several cars long, as well. (The RDC has shots coming up later.)
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A shot of Display Barn 9, with the decorative retaining wall that says "Minneapolis, St. Paul, & Sault Ste. Marie Railroad Co." -- the Soo Line is one of our roads.
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I like trains, I like LEGO, but wasn't expecting to find the toys mixed up...
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Grand Trunk Western 8380 sits awaiting some TLC
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We had just be discussing where to find a signal shack for a garden shed...
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Something for all those CN types back home.
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This is a "Portable Substation", belonging to the Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Co., dating from 1925.
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Not sure what kind of trucks these were, but if you've ever wondered, it IS OK to mix flat-back wheelsets with ribbed back. :-)
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CB&Q 637, a cute little 4-6-4 (IIRC) on display in display barn 9.
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I forget now which engine this is. I think Santa Fe 2903, but am not sure.
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A Burlington RPO
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Sorry -- but I can't recall why this was an unusual loco. I seem to think it was sent to or brought from a Soviet block country.
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Yes -- that's a GG1. In fact, it is the furthest west a GG1 has ever been.
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The explanatory plaque on the GG1 -- 8,500 HP!
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Funny -- the GG1 looks the same from this end...
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An old arrival/departure table. The Mpls - St. Louis Rocket was of major interest.
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The rest of the cars of Burlington's Nebraska Zephyr
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An old ALCO in front of the Zephyr cars.
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Another one of UP's DD things. Bigger really IS better.
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An F-unit in bright green.
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Minneapolis, Northfield, and Southern. Might have to model this to go with August's boxcar...
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A turntable, awaiting restoration or rustoration.
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August takes on water outside the IRM steam facilities.
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An FP-45 (SDFP 45) that you are allowed to enter, including the cab and engine compartment.
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The SD-45 blurb.
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August waits for clearance, leaving Union for Marengo.
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Trains are a good way to spend hours and hours. Used bookstores are a good way to spend hours and hours. Fortunately, this combination of the two was closed -- or we might still be there.
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The signals building seen behind an unusual stop sign.
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The blurb for the "T" RDC. I may have ridden on this car (or one like it) from Boston to Wenham, MA, years ago.
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MBTA RDC number 10.
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The UP X-18, gas turbine engine. Also home of a hornet or two. (Gee... do they like yellow?)
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X-18's blurb.
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Somehow, it seems bigger than most engines.
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Don't block the tracks!
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Cabeese, reefers, and rolling stock. And more rolling stock. And even more rolling stock.
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Another Illinois Central, from the time before Canada invaded.
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The heavyweights again.
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A Rock Island Heavyweight coach with Milwaukee Road F-unit 118-C in the foreground.
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Milwaukee Road 118-C as the museum starts to close.
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This is an operating Fairbanks-Morse "Baby Trainmaster". Boy, does it sound different than an ElectroMotive!
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The cab -- this unit was clearly a switcher, not a road unit.
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If I have connected the dots correctly between the information and the engines, this is the first switcher built in Fairbanks-Morse's new (at the time) factory.
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The end of the road -- the IRM uses funny bumpers!
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Trains waiting to be put away at the IRM, as we leave Union, IL. What a great afternoon!
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