Bound For Glory

Remember that Toronto PCC that was doomed by the destructive effects of outdoor storage?   We now direct your attention to this wooden L car in the IRM collection. 

Unlike the PCC, this train is bound for glory.  In a matter of weeks, it will be moved over to Barn 4 and restoration to like-new condition will begin.  It will take a lot of work, but we now have the time, the tools, and the talent to devote to this project.  But that will be possible only because the car has been stored inside for so long, protected from the ravages of the weather.  Otherwise, by now this would be another hopeless basket case, like so many others around the country.

The 1024 is the oldest rapid transit car in our collection, built by Pullman in 1898.  It's a prime example of the first generation of rapid transit equipment.  The only other Chicago "gate car" in existence is car 1, which was moved at huge expense into the Chicago History Museum, restored, and put on static display.  But the 1024 will be restored to operate again, giving our visitors the experience of actually riding such a vehicle.

There are several lessons to be learned from this story, but the one we want to stress today, of course, is that indoor storage makes restorations like this possible.  And as long as we have historic artifacts still sitting outside, the job of building storage barns is not done.  We certainly can't restore every car simultaneously, but with indoor storage they will be preserved and eventually get the attention they deserve.  Otherwise, we wind up with a collection of wrecks.  Like the "Train of Terror".

Wondering what you could do to help?  It's easy!  There are several different funds set up to collect money to be used for barn construction; here at Hicks Car Works we prefer the Electric Car fund with the code name RISWEC.  You can send a check to this address:

Illinois Railway Museum

Box 427

Union, IL   60180

or you can donate on-line through our secure website at this link.

Any and every amount helps, but remember that one foot of indoor storage space costs $215.  That's a good measure for most of us to use when deciding how much we can afford to donate.  Thanks!