Visit to Mendota

 On Sunday we went for a drive through the country and wound up in Mendota, site of the Union Depot Railroad Museum.  The prize of the static equipment collection is this O-1-A Mike, #4978, a 1923 Baldwin product.  It is nicely painted and looks great.
 

Behind it is this wooden waycar, also in excellent condition. The depot itself has a collection of artifacts, but it was closed by the time we got there.

 They evidently give rides on these speeders along a siding.  There's also a Milwaukee Road combine, a Pullman sleeper, and a pair of IC Electric Highliners.

We found a good restaurant across the street from the museum where we could have a romantic dinner by the window, watching freight trains roll by, until the Zephyr arrived.

 These photos may not win any prizes, but I'm out of practice taking pictures of trains at high speed.  Watching it go by was worth it, though.  We then jumped in the car, but chasing the Zephyr is hopelessly impossible.  They had reached Chicago by the time we got back to Naperville.

This whole experience was so enjoyable, I've decided my next project will be to rebuild the 321 into a generator car.  Then we can take the CA&E wood cars out on the road.  We'll visit Elgin and West Chicago, then follow the route of the CA&E as closely as possible east through Wheaton, Lombard, Elmhurst, and on to Chicago.  Tickets will go on sale soon. What fun!