McHenry County News FRE
E
11512 N. 2nd ST. • MACHESNEY PARK, IL 61115 • (815) 654-4850 • www.McHenrycountynewspaper.com Display Advertising & Classifieds: 815-654-4850 • Circulation: 815-654-4854 • E-mail:McHenrynews@rvpublishing.com
Volume 7 Issue 16
APRIL 13, 2017
To Advertise In This Space Call 815-654-4850
ANNE EICKSTADT PHOTO McHenry County News
Train enthusiast couldn’t wait to board the train on the opening day of the Illinois Railway Museum’s 52nd year of operation.
Illinois Railway Museum welcomes guests on opening day By Anne Eickstadt REPORTER
True train aficionados came out on Sunday, April 2, for the opening day of the Illinois Railway Museum’s 52nd year of operation. Even 3-year-old Allen Nicholas Brien came out from Rockford. “He is such a train enthusiast, we just had to come,” Allen father says. “The North Shore 749 inaugurated the museum’s operating season on opening day, April 2. This heavyweight steel interurban car, built in Chicago by the Pullman Company in 1928, is emblematic of the work the museum’s volunteers have gone to in order to preserve history,” says Frank Hicks, IRM Public Relations. “Acquired from the North Shore interurban line in 1963, the car had deteriorated significantly over the years when restoration work commenced in the 1990s. “Rusted steel needed to be replaced, deteriorated wood refurbished, electrical and mechanical systems repaired. All of the work on the car was done by volunteers. It took some 20 years to completely restore the car but in 2012 the work was complete and car 749 was rededicated. Over the past
five years car 749 has been a vital part of the museum’s operating fleet of historic railway equipment. “A new event has been added to the early-season calendar: Chicago & North Western Day on May 20th will honor the railroad that for a century ran through Huntley, Union, and Marengo. (The C&NW is now part of the Union Pacific Railroad). The museum has a vast collection of trains from the C&NW and the railroad’s yellowand-green colors will abound on commuter trains, freight engines, passenger and freight cars, and more. “The biggest change to the museum’s Special Event schedule for 2017 is that the biggest event by far, the Day Out With Thomas (TM) event, has been moved. For the past 15 years or so this event has taken place in late August but in 2017 it is being moved to midJuly and will be held on July 8, 9, 15, and 16. “Featured attractions at the event will include rides on trains pulled by Thomas and Percy meetand-greets with Sir Topham Hatt, magic shows, live music, storytelling, clowns, play tables, temporary tattoos and more. Museum grounds
will be open and streetcars will be running throughout the event. “Additional special events will see a new twist. Traction Weekend, on July 1st through 4th, will feature a history of the Chicago “L” from its conversion from steam to electric power in the 1980s until the present day. Visitors will be able to ride on “L” cars as old as the 1890s and as well as new ones retired just three years ago. “Bus Day, on Sept. 30, will feature both electric and gas/dieselpowered buses carrying visitors around the museum property. The event will highlight the museum’s sizable collection of
rubber-tired transit equipment. “And the Vintage Transport Extravaganza on August 6th will feature one of the largest antique vehicle displays in Illinois, with hundreds of antique cars, trucks, buses, and other vehicles displayed alongside the museum’s railroad artifacts. “Other special events include Scout Day in May, with events for scouts; Railroad Post Office Days in June, commemorating mail service on the railroads; Diesel Days in August, when the museum’s collection of powerful diesel locomotives is put on spectacular operating exhibit; and Museum Showcase Weekend in September, when
rarely-seen railway equipment is brought out and operated. “The museum’s steam engine will be in operation on several weekends between Memorial Day and Showcase Weekend and the famous Nebraska Zephyr will operate on certain special event days as well.” More information is at www.irm. org. The Illinois Railway Museum will be open on weekends April through October and on weekdays Memorial Day to Labor Day. For specific information on train operations please see www.irm.org. The Illinois Railway Museum is located at 7000 Olson Road, Union, 60180.
PH TOS Available! Call (815) 654-4850 or email info@rvpublishing.com Purchase photos that ran in our paper.
239366