87 Minutes
The Illinois Railway Museum (IRM)
moved to its present home at Union in 1964. Track was relaid on the
former right-of-way of the Elgin & Belvidere interurban to become
the main line “demonstration railroad” for steam, diesel, and interurban
trains. A mile-long electric loop track was constructed around the main
grounds to circulate museum visitors via electric streetcars.
The
1851 Marengo passenger depot, the 1890 interlocking Tower from
Spaulding, and the 1910 50th Avenue “L” Station, from Cicero are among
the significant Illinois structures moved to the property, and the
grounds are filled with railroad signs, signals, and small structures
saved from transit systems and mainline railroads. Large multiple-track
barns are used for storage, display, and restoration of equipment.
Footage
for our program captured a variety of operating equipment over a
four-year period at the museum during regular and special operating
days. Included is a significant number of IRM’s electric collection of
all types, diesel powered trains, and Frisco steam locomotive 1630.
Additionally, two outreach trips when IRM equipment traveled to Rock
Island, Illinois for the 2011Train Festival and the 2014 Streamliners at Spencer
event in North Carolina demonstrate what this fine museum and its
volunteers are capable of. The DVD is an introduction to the IRM, now
the largest railroad museum in the United States.
