Plan Ahead

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Our friend Ted Miles makes an excellent point.  When Gerald Brookins started collecting electric cars, he planned ahead.  He constructed storage barns for the collection, so that the restored cars would be protected from the weather and survive in good condition.  And as a result, nearly all of them are still in great shape and are now prized artifacts in several museums around the country.  Above, we see CA&E 409 at North Olmsted in 1979, and as you probably know it's now part of the operating fleet at IRM.  Mr. Brookins was a successful businessman and had financial resources none of us as individuals can match, I suppose.  But acting together, we should be able to accomplish the same thing.

Now at the same time, back in 1979, Gerry was nice enough to allow another trolley collector to store some of his collection at the North Olmsted location. That individual, on the other hand, had failed to plan ahead.  (And as long as I have him to kick around, I'll never run out of material!)  This Ohio interurban body was stored there near the shop.  Gerry soon tired of having these eyesores on his property, when everything else was nice and neat, so it was evicted.  And since this rotted-out hulk could not be moved, it was scrapped.

The lesson should be obvious.  IRM is planning ahead, planning to have our entire collection preserved and eventually restored.  To do this, we need your help.  By now, you know the rest.

Update: Roger Kramer is planning ahead.  He just made a substantial contribution on behalf of his favorite car, the Ingramport, which needs indoor storage. Thanks!