Electrifying Pageantry

Today was the annual IRM Trolley Pageant, and everything went very well in spite of the inclement heat. As one of the participants, I was unable to take many pictures, but I'm hoping I'll get some good ones submitted from other people. I don't yet know how many cars were operated for the pageant, but it's got to be over 30.

CA&E wood cars 308, 309, and 319 ran in the pageant, and we also provided revenue service before and after. Thanks to Randy Allegrezza and Ray Bellock who were the trainmen.

We were parked for a few minutes at the Springfield Ave. curve before the review started. The three-car train was popular with visitors.

And our friend Ted Miles from Rio Vista has been asking about the 460, so here are some pictures of it.

Frank and David were running the open car today, so they'll be posting separately. If you have some good pictures of the proceedings, send them to me to be posted. Thanks!

Frank adds...

 David and I were working on the Veracruz open car for the day.  We did a couple of trips before the Pageant then a few afterward as well.  As always, the open car was quite popular - especially on such a hot day!  At left, volunteers swarm over Sand Springs 68 and CRT 1797 at the west end of Barn 4 prior to the pageant getting both cars ready.  Today was the public debut of the 1797; Tim Peters and Frank Kehoe are nearly complete with the car's exterior restoration and are now concentrating on the interior.

At right, David at the controls of the open car at Electric Park while staging for the Pageant.  Behind us, bringing up the rear of the parade, was the 1797.

 And in front of us was the 68, preceded by a gaggle of Chicago streetcars.  At right, CRT 1797 rounds the curve at South Junction.  What a beauty!

The other debutante was the museum's pair of CTA 2000s, 2153-2154, shown at left at 50th Avenue following the Pageant.  These cars were recently made operational by a crew of volunteers led by David Fullarton.  At right, the CA&E woods are seen at the main depot before being put to bed for the day.

David adds....

I really do not have much to add, other than it was HOT at IRM on Saturday.  Many thanks to the hearty volunteers and visitors who braved the heat for the parade and other IRM activites.  During the parade, my wife Katy visited, along with our friends Crystal, Kyle and their daughter Paige.  They live in Plainfield, and came up to see me in the parade and ride along.