Come with us and visit:
The Trains That Ran Through Rogers Park
ogers Parkers have had an inordinately great number of rail-based transportation modes available since before its founding. During that time, horse-drawn vehicles (horsecars), electric streetcars, steam- and electric-powered rapid transit (think the “L”), steam- and diesel-powered commuter services, and steam- and diesel-powered interstate passenger services have conveyed people to and from Rogers Park, both on the ground (at grade) and upon elevated structures.
Out in Union, IL, the Illinois Railway Museum (IRM) has over 60 rail cars and locomotives that either actually ran in Rogers Park or are representative of others that did. No collection of such equipment can ever be complete. Many pieces were scrapped along the way, with no examples saved. However, the IRM has the largest collection extant. And, we’re planning to go there to visit these cars on Sunday, August 8, 2010. You can register for the event here.
This is a first for the Society. While many of us have gone out to the IRM on our own—some several times—the Society has never gone there en masse as an official event.
The IRM is not nearby. Depending on where you start, the distance is approximately 55 miles—one way! So we intend to hire a bus for the day.
We will depart for IRM at 9:00 a.m. It will take over an hour to get there and the museum opens at 10:00. This will give us the maximum time to see this extensive collection of railroad trains and equipment.
Groups are required to notify the management of the IRM two weeks before the intended tour. This means we won’t be accepting any reservations after July 25.
The IRM has its O’Mahoney Diner, which serves cafeteria-style meals. Those that wish to bring a picnic lunch are encouraged to do so. There are plenty of picnic tables at IRM for all to use. Coin-operated drink vending machines are also available. August is normally hot. We recommend you bring some bottles of water with you. Naturally, you can buy them on the museum grounds—but, they will cost more than bringing your own.
This would be an excellent event to bring your children and grand children. On August 8, the museum will be operating electric cars, such as streetcars and interurban cars. They are also scheduled to run either diesel- or steam-powered passenger trains on their 5-mile demonstration track. No extra charge is required to ride these trains—everything is covered by your admission.
The museum has two bookstores, one selling new publications and one selling used books and magazines about trains. There is also a gift shop with a wide variety of objects available for purchase.
The IRM is home to the Nebraska Zephyr, a fully functional, all stainless steel train that carried passengers to and from Chicago and various destinations in the Great Plains. Some interesting pieces of equipment include operating trolley busses from several cities. There is a huge rotary snowplow from the Union Pacific Railroad.
The trains that ran under downtown Chicago are also there. These fragile pieces were rescued by the IRM from under the Outer Drive near the Field Museum a few years ago, during the relocation of the Outer Drive.
There is also the huge Santa Fe steam locomotive that was on display at the Museum of Science and Industry for decades. The story of moving it from there to the IRM could be an interesting documentary.
There will be a sort-of docent, me! I’ll gladly explain any of the cars and locomotives to the tour attendees. I’ve been a member of IRM over 30 years.
There are literally hundreds of items there, each with its own story. You’ll probably wish that we would stay longer. However, we will depart IRM for Chicago at 5:00 p.m.
Fares for the tour will be:
Type Riding on Bus Driving self
Adult $50.00 $30.00
Senior/Child $42.00 $22.00
Member $40.00 $20.00
