"IT" Lives!

Illinois Terminal combine #277 was successfully tested today, operated for the first time in nearly 20 years. Due to the hard work of a number of department volunteers, the car was inspected, repaired and made operational over the past several weeks, and today IRM saw the operation of a real "traction orange" interurban train for the first time in many years.

The 277's first run was a mid-afternoon solo jaunt around the streetcar line (below left), after which it was coupled to trailer 518 to make reverse moves easier. Though a trailer, 518 does have a pole that can be used to operate the train "backwards." The train was then operated around the car line again (below right) before heading out onto the main line.











Below is an image never before seen: a view of the end-of-track at Kishwaukee Grove from the front window of the 277! This car has been out of service since before the museum's main line was extended to its current eastern terminus.
The day wasn't all IT, though. I got some needle-chipping work done on the 205 (below left), nearly concluding the last of the needle-chipping on the car. I did most of the anti-climber at the west end, the remainder of the west end letterboard and the last two side window posts. Thanks to Joe Stupar for his help with this work! The 308 and 309 were also in operation (below right) and ran all day without incident. Finally, Art Schwartz from the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum was visiting and I showed him around Barns 7 & 8.