| Revision as of 01:34, 3 August 2009 editChicagolandRailfan (talk | contribs)3 edits →Notable equipment← Previous edit | Revision as of 12:22, 10 September 2009 edit undoTimberWolf Railz (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Pending changes reviewers992 edits Miscellaneous updates, added link for IRM photographs, & confirmed IRYM marks (further discussion; w/ references).Next edit → | ||
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| {{Infobox SG rail| | {{Infobox SG rail| | ||
| railroad_name=Illinois Railway Museum| | railroad_name=Illinois Railway Museum| | ||
| image=EMD E5 at IRM.jpg| | |||
| ⚫ | locale=]| | ||
| ⚫ | image_caption=The only surviving ] is used regularly on the museum's excursion trains, usually pulling the '']''.| | ||
| ⚫ | start_year=1953| | ||
| marks=IRYM<ref name="FRA-Guide97">{{cite web |url=http://safetydata.fra.dot.gov/publicobjects/guide97.pdf | title=Federal Railroad Administration}} Railroad Codes – Appendix A-8 p. 144</ref><ref name="RRPA-photo">{{cite web |url=http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1545176 | title=Railroad Picture Archives – Image}} IRM Rolling Stock Photograph</ref><ref> AAR Railroad Reporting Marks – I</ref>| <!-- This information is based on numerous federal data sources and visual confirmation of railroad-owned rolling stock. Please see Talk:Illinois Railway Museum. --> | |||
| old_gauge=| | |||
| length={{Specify}}| | |||
| ⚫ | locale=]| | ||
| ⚫ | start_year={{start date|1953}}| | ||
| end_year=Present| | |||
| hq_city=] | hq_city=] | ||
| }} | }} | ||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | The '''Illinois Railway Museum''' ('''IRM''') is the largest ] in the ] and is located in ], {{convert|55|mi|km}} northwest of ]. The museum is situated at 7000 Olson Rd.<ref></ref> | ||
| ⚫ | The '''Illinois Railway Museum''' (] '''IRM''', ] '''IRYM'''<ref name="FRA-Guide97"/><ref name="RRPA-photo"/>) is the largest ] in the ] and is located in ], {{convert|55|mi|km}} northwest of ]. The museum is situated at 7000 Olson Rd.<ref> Contact Address</ref> | ||
| The museum was granted its tax-exempt status in 1957 and its mission is to demonstrate the vital role railroads have played in the growth of the Chicago area as well as the United States as a whole. | |||
| The museum |
The museum was granted its tax-exempt status in 1957 and its mission is to demonstrate the vital role railroads have played in the growth of the Chicago area as well as the United States as a whole. There are over 400 pieces of prototype equipment in its collection as well as numerous displays. Visitors may ride on some of the museum's electric, steam and diesel powered trains from April through October. | ||
| == |
== Overview == | ||
| ] | |||
| === History === | |||
| The museum was founded in 1953 by ten individuals (one of the founders was Howard Odinius from Milwaukee) who joined together to purchase ] interurban car 65. | The museum was founded in 1953 by ten individuals (one of the founders was Howard Odinius from Milwaukee) who joined together to purchase ] interurban car 65. | ||
| ⚫ | Originally called the '''Illinois Electric Railway Museum''', the name was changed to IRM in 1961 to reflect the museum's expanding scope. The museum was initially located on the grounds of the Chicago Hardware Foundry in ]. In 1964 the museum's entire collection was relocated to Union along the former ] of the ] ]. Two years later, operations were begun using ] interurban car 415, and in 1967 the first steam engine was operated. The first storage barn was erected in 1971. In 1981 a one-mile (1.6 km) ] loop was constructed. A {{mi to km|4.9}} railroad line was built during the 1980s and early 1990s. | ||
| ] interurban train operating at the Illinois Railway Museum in 2003]] | ] interurban train operating at the Illinois Railway Museum in 2003]] | ||
| ⚫ | Originally called the '''Illinois Electric Railway Museum''', the name was changed to IRM in 1961 to reflect the museum's expanding scope. The museum was initially located on the grounds of the Chicago Hardware Foundry in ]. In 1964 the museum's entire collection was relocated to Union along the former ] of the ] ]. Two years later, operations were begun using ] interurban car 415, and in 1967 the first steam engine was operated. The first storage barn was erected in 1971. In 1981 a one-mile (1.6 km) ] loop was constructed. A {{mi to km|4.9}} railroad line was built during the 1980s and early 1990s. | ||
| ⚫ | == Operations == | ||
| ⚫ | === Operations === | ||
| The museum's operations are primarily concentrated around its main campus just east of Union, Illinois. Train rides are offered on the main line as well as the streetcar loop. Electric trains are operated from April through October, and diesel and steam trains from the beginning of May through the end of September. ] operations occur the first Saturdays of June, July, September and October. IRM is one of only two railway museums in the country that operates both electric and diesel trains. It is the only museum that offers trolley bus rides. | The museum's operations are primarily concentrated around its main campus just east of Union, Illinois. Train rides are offered on the main line as well as the streetcar loop. Electric trains are operated from April through October, and diesel and steam trains from the beginning of May through the end of September. ] operations occur the first Saturdays of June, July, September and October. IRM is one of only two railway museums in the country that operates both electric and diesel trains. It is the only museum that offers trolley bus rides. | ||
| == Equipment and structures == | |||
| ⚫ | ==Physical |
||
| ] car 431 sits in a barn at the museum]] | ] car 431 sits in a barn at the museum]] | ||
| ⚫ | === Physical plant === | ||
| The Illinois Railway Museum has the most extensive physical plant of any rail museum in North America. The main campus is located at {{coord|42|13|40.0|N|88|31|38.08|W|}}. In addition to the museum's revenue trackage, the main campus in Union includes: | The Illinois Railway Museum has the most extensive physical plant of any rail museum in North America. The main campus is located at {{coord|42|13|40.0|N|88|31|38.08|W|}}. In addition to the museum's revenue trackage, the main campus in Union includes: | ||
| * ten equipment storage barns with a total of about {{convert|2|mi|km}} of track under cover | * ten equipment storage barns with a total of about {{convert|2|mi|km}} of track under cover | ||
| Line 35: | Line 42: | ||
| IRM also owns two off-site ], the Pullman Library in downtown Union and the Strahorn Research Library in downtown ]. | IRM also owns two off-site ], the Pullman Library in downtown Union and the Strahorn Research Library in downtown ]. | ||
| == Notable equipment == | === Notable equipment === | ||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| Among the equipment preserved at IRM is: | Among the equipment preserved at IRM is: | ||
| * one of only two ] '']'' trainsets ever built (under restoration) | * one of only two ] '']'' trainsets ever built (under restoration) | ||
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| * the museum's ], built in 1851 for the ], is the oldest train station west of the ] in regular use | * the museum's ], built in 1851 for the ], is the oldest train station west of the ] in regular use | ||
| * the museum also maintains an historical collection of 17 ] from ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]. | * the museum also maintains an historical collection of 17 ] from ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]. | ||
| <gallery> | |||
| ⚫ | Image:Union Pacific 18.jpg|One of only two surviving examples of ] ] is kept in non-operating condition. | ||
| ⚫ | Image:SP 1518 20050716 Illinois Railway Museum.JPG|] ], the first ] built. | ||
| ⚫ | Image:Milw 760 at IRM.jpg|] 760, the first locomotive built by ]. | ||
| Image:IC 201 20050716 IL Union.jpg|] 201, a ] at the Illinois Railway Museum. | |||
| </gallery> | |||
| == Organization == | == Organization == | ||
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| Due to its proximity to Chicago and its extensive collection of historic railroad equipment, IRM has been used in several ]s. The most apparent may be in the 1992 film ''"]"'', starring ], ] and ]; the museum's depot was used for several small town depot scenes and the '']'' and only surviving ] were used for scenes of and on the train. IRM equipment was also seen in the movie ''"]"'', which featured the museum's ] diesel locomotive. Additionally the museum's grounds and some of the passenger cars, were used in the movie ], starring ]. In late 2005, the Burlington 9911A and several coaches operated to Chicago for filming in ''"]"'', a ] film. | Due to its proximity to Chicago and its extensive collection of historic railroad equipment, IRM has been used in several ]s. The most apparent may be in the 1992 film ''"]"'', starring ], ] and ]; the museum's depot was used for several small town depot scenes and the '']'' and only surviving ] were used for scenes of and on the train. IRM equipment was also seen in the movie ''"]"'', which featured the museum's ] diesel locomotive. Additionally the museum's grounds and some of the passenger cars, were used in the movie ], starring ]. In late 2005, the Burlington 9911A and several coaches operated to Chicago for filming in ''"]"'', a ] film. | ||
| ==Special |
== Special events == | ||
| The museum hosts a series of annual special events, of which the most popular is the ] event in August. Other recurring events include Chicago Day in June, which commemorates the end of streetcar service in Chicago in 1958; the annual ] Trolley Pageant; Diesel Days in July; the Vintage Transportation Extravaganza on the first Sunday in August; and Museum Showcase Weekend in September. New recurring events added in 2007 include the "Scrap-A-Train" scrapbooking event (first weekend in May) and the "Terror on the Railroad" Halloween event (last four weekends of October on Friday and Saturday nights). Debuting in 2008 was "Happy Holiday Railway", on the first two weekends of December. | The museum hosts a series of annual special events, of which the most popular is the ] event in August. Other recurring events include Chicago Day in June, which commemorates the end of streetcar service in Chicago in 1958; the annual ] Trolley Pageant; Diesel Days in July; the Vintage Transportation Extravaganza on the first Sunday in August; and Museum Showcase Weekend in September. New recurring events added in 2007 include the "Scrap-A-Train" scrapbooking event (first weekend in May) and the "Terror on the Railroad" Halloween event (last four weekends of October on Friday and Saturday nights). Debuting in 2008 was "Happy Holiday Railway", on the first two weekends of December. | ||
| ==See also== | == See also == | ||
| *] | * ] | ||
| == |
== References == | ||
| {{reflist}} | |||
| <References/> | |||
| ==External links== | == External links == | ||
| {{Commonscat|Illinois Railway Museum}} | {{Commonscat|Illinois Railway Museum}} | ||
| * | * – Official Website | ||
| * – Photographs from the Illinois Railway Museum | |||
| {{Illinois railroads}} | |||
| {{McHenry County, Illinois|collapse_state=collapsed}} | {{McHenry County, Illinois|collapse_state=collapsed}} | ||
| {{DEFAULTSORT:Illinois Railway Museum}} | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
Revision as of 12:22, 10 September 2009
 The only surviving EMD E5 is used regularly on the museum's excursion trains, usually pulling the Nebraska Zephyr. | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Union, Illinois |
| Reporting mark | IRYM |
| Locale | Northern Illinois |
| Dates of operation | 1953 (1953)–Present |
| Technical | |
| Length | |
The Illinois Railway Museum (initialised IRM, reporting mark IRYM) is the largest railroad museum in the United States and is located in Union, Illinois, 55 miles (89 km) northwest of Chicago. The museum is situated at 7000 Olson Rd.
The museum was granted its tax-exempt status in 1957 and its mission is to demonstrate the vital role railroads have played in the growth of the Chicago area as well as the United States as a whole. There are over 400 pieces of prototype equipment in its collection as well as numerous displays. Visitors may ride on some of the museum's electric, steam and diesel powered trains from April through October.
Overview
History
The museum was founded in 1953 by ten individuals (one of the founders was Howard Odinius from Milwaukee) who joined together to purchase Indiana Railroad interurban car 65.
Originally called the Illinois Electric Railway Museum, the name was changed to IRM in 1961 to reflect the museum's expanding scope. The museum was initially located on the grounds of the Chicago Hardware Foundry in North Chicago, Illinois. In 1964 the museum's entire collection was relocated to Union along the former right-of-way of the Elgin & Belvidere interurban. Two years later, operations were begun using Illinois Terminal interurban car 415, and in 1967 the first steam engine was operated. The first storage barn was erected in 1971. In 1981 a one-mile (1.6 km) streetcar loop was constructed. A Template:Mi to km railroad line was built during the 1980s and early 1990s.
Operations
The museum's operations are primarily concentrated around its main campus just east of Union, Illinois. Train rides are offered on the main line as well as the streetcar loop. Electric trains are operated from April through October, and diesel and steam trains from the beginning of May through the end of September. Trolley bus operations occur the first Saturdays of June, July, September and October. IRM is one of only two railway museums in the country that operates both electric and diesel trains. It is the only museum that offers trolley bus rides.
Equipment and structures
Physical plant
The Illinois Railway Museum has the most extensive physical plant of any rail museum in North America. The main campus is located at 42°13′40.0″N 88°31′38.08″W / 42.227778°N 88.5272444°W / 42.227778; -88.5272444. In addition to the museum's revenue trackage, the main campus in Union includes:
- ten equipment storage barns with a total of about 2 miles (3.2 km) of track under cover
- a dedicated steam restoration shop
- an 1853 train depot (see below)
- a complete Chicago Rapid Transit Company elevated station
- four streetcar stations of varying design
- several neon signs and concrete entablatures on display
- an indoor dining facility built in 2003
IRM also owns two off-site libraries, the Pullman Library in downtown Union and the Strahorn Research Library in downtown Marengo.
Notable equipment
Among the equipment preserved at IRM is:
- one of only two North Shore Line Electroliner trainsets ever built (under restoration)
- Illinois Central steam locomotive 201 (static display), participated in the "Wheels A-Rolling" pageant at the Chicago Railroad Fair in 1949.
- Nebraska Zephyr
- Frisco Railroad 2-10-0 "Decapod" steam engine 1630 (under restoration)
- Santa Fe Railroad 4-8-4 "Northern" steam engine 2903
- Norfolk and Western Railway 2-8-8-2 steam locomotive 2050, a 1923 ALCO (Richmond) class Y3a
- Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 "Northern" Engine Number 265. Sister Engine to No. 261
- Milwaukee Road 760, the first diesel locomotive ever built by Fairbanks Morse (restored to operating condition)
- Chicago Surface Lines 84, the oldest preserved trolley bus (restored to operating condition)
- Chicago and North Western Railway 1518, the first EMD GP7 ever built (under restoration)
- Chicago and North Western Railway 411, an EMD F7 restored from Metra service
- Southern Pacific Railroad 1518, the first EMD SD7 ever built (operational)
- Union Pacific Railroad 6930 an EMD DDA40X
- Union Pacific Railroad 18, an 8500 hp gas turbine-electric locomotive
- Two New York City R28 Subway Cars from 1960 (under restoration), Built by ACF.
- Minneapolis, Northfield and Southern 21, the final Baldwin DT-6-6-2000 road switcher in existance.
- the museum's depot, built in 1851 for the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad, is the oldest train station west of the Appalachian Mountains in regular use
- the museum also maintains an historical collection of 17 electric trolley buses from Chicago, Illinois, Dayton, Ohio, Cleveland, Ohio, Des Moines, Iowa, Vancouver, British Columbia, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Seattle, Washington.
-
One of only two surviving examples of Union Pacific's turbines is kept in non-operating condition.
-
SP 1518, the first EMD SD7 built.
-
Milwaukee Road 760, the first locomotive built by Fairbanks-Morse.
-
Illinois Central Railroad 201, a 2-4-4 at the Illinois Railway Museum.
Organization
The Illinois Railway Museum is an IRS Chapter 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation owned and managed by its membership. Museum management includes a board of directors, elected by the regular membership of approximately 150 active volunteers. A board president is elected by the directors. The board oversees the general manager, a volunteer who in turn has oversight over an array of department heads. Major departments include Steam, Diesel, Electric Car, Passenger Car, Freight Car, Track & Signal, Buildings & Grounds, Trolley Bus, Motor Bus, and Operations. Smaller departments oversee the museum's libraries, electrical infrastructure, and display and education functions. Most department heads are volunteers. All workers at the museum fall under the direct authority of one of the department heads. The vast majority of workers are volunteers - anyone who is interested in trains or other collections/aspects of the museum is actively encouraged to volunteer, with required training done by the museum.
Use in film
Due to its proximity to Chicago and its extensive collection of historic railroad equipment, IRM has been used in several films. The most apparent may be in the 1992 film "A League of Their Own", starring Tom Hanks, Geena Davis and Madonna; the museum's depot was used for several small town depot scenes and the Nebraska Zephyr and only surviving EMD E5 were used for scenes of and on the train. IRM equipment was also seen in the movie "Groundhog Day", which featured the museum's EMD SD24 diesel locomotive. Additionally the museum's grounds and some of the passenger cars, were used in the movie The Babe, starring John Goodman. In late 2005, the Burlington 9911A and several coaches operated to Chicago for filming in "Flags of Our Fathers", a Clint Eastwood film.
Special events
The museum hosts a series of annual special events, of which the most popular is the Day out with Thomas event in August. Other recurring events include Chicago Day in June, which commemorates the end of streetcar service in Chicago in 1958; the annual July 4th Trolley Pageant; Diesel Days in July; the Vintage Transportation Extravaganza on the first Sunday in August; and Museum Showcase Weekend in September. New recurring events added in 2007 include the "Scrap-A-Train" scrapbooking event (first weekend in May) and the "Terror on the Railroad" Halloween event (last four weekends of October on Friday and Saturday nights). Debuting in 2008 was "Happy Holiday Railway", on the first two weekends of December.
See also
References
- ^ "Federal Railroad Administration" (PDF). Railroad Codes – Appendix A-8 p. 144
- ^ "Railroad Picture Archives – Image". IRM Rolling Stock Photograph
- Piedmont & Western Railroad Club AAR Railroad Reporting Marks – I
- Illinois Railway Museum Contact Address
External links
- Illinois Railway Museum – Official Website
- RailPictures.Net – Photographs from the Illinois Railway Museum
| Municipalities and communities of McHenry County, Illinois, United States | ||
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| County seat: Woodstock | ||
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| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |