(The following story by Kathleen Strelow appeared on the Examiner website on March 19, 2009.)
CHICAGO — I used to think Union, Illinois was as far away as the moon. I could not have been more wrong. My husband Phil had talked about how much fun he had at the Illinois Railway Museum when he was a child, and we decided to take a trip back in time and “ride the rails.”
In 1941, the concept of the railway museum was originated, but it wasn’t until 1964 that volunteers moved the historic train cars to their permanent site in Union. All of the buildings, track, locomotives and cars were assembled at the Union site on 26 acres of purchased farmland. The museum was originally formed to preserve one important piece of rolling stock: The Indiana Railroad’s technically advanced electric car. The museum has since turned into an educational and historic preservation organization. They have recreated the largest operating demonstration showcase in the United States. Their mission was to demonstrate the vital role that railroads have played in our country.
The museum is composed of many collections representing different aspects of railroading in the United States. The largest group is the rolling stock of locomotives and cars. The collections also include buildings, signals, tools, signage, uniforms, tickets and buttons. There is also an archive of plans, drawings, technical data and photographs housed at the Pullman Library in Union. The Pullman Collection, however, is not open to the public.
There are some fabulously unique cars and locomotives housed at the museum, including the 1936 Nebraska Zephyr, which is the only remaining Chicago streamlined PCC streetcar. There is also the 1940 E5a type diesel locomotive, “Silver Pilot,” the first GP7 diesel engine, the first Fairbanks Morse locomotive, the oldest surviving street railway car and an 1859 horse car. There are two Russian locomotives in the collection that have interesting stories to tell. The first is a Frisco 1630 that was a Decopod type built for export to Russia during World War I, but due to the Bolshevik revolution, it was never delivered. The second is the South Shore Line 803 “Little Joe” that was built for export after World War II, but was never delivered due to the start of the Cold War. One train in particular that caught our attention was the Electric Freight Motor M1 built in 1917 by the Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company. Out of five that were built, it is the only surviving Milwaukee Electric box motor preserved in its original “as built” condition.
Upcoming events at the museum:
May 2 & 3 – Saturday & Sunday – Scrap-A-Train Weekend
As one of the first 200 paying adults each day, you will have the opportunity to make your very own scrapbook page. Add your own pictures and you have a great memento of your day at the museum!
May 16 – Saturday – Scout Day
Boy and Girl Scout troops will participate in a day-long event, including a flag ceremony, awarding of badges and touring the museum.
June 20 – Saturday – Chicago Day
Commemorating the last day of streetcar service in Chicago 51 years ago. Ride Chicago streetcars, trolley coaches, “L” trains and commuter trains that serviced Chicago.