IRM e-Newsletter for August

Frank writes...

In case you were interested, the latest IRM e-Newsletter is out and is printed below. Didn't receive this in your inbox and want to be added to the recipient list? Or maybe you want to add your friends? Or your enemies? (Okay, don't add your friends or your enemies - not unless you've asked them first!) Just go to http://mailchi.mp/irm/illinois-railway-museum-news and click on the "subscribe" button at the top. You'll be glad you did! ...Maybe! (Also, in case you were wondering, IRM definitely does NOT sell its e-mail list so your contact info is safe with us.)

Vintage Transport Extravaganza This Weekend Sunday, August 6th, is the 27th annual Vintage Transport Extravaganza, when more than 500 antique cars and trucks converge on Union for one of the largest car shows in the state. And there's a lot more happening at the Illinois Railway Museum: Happy Holiday Railway tickets are on sale - discounted now through Labor Day Vintage Transport Extravaganza is Sunday, August 6th Photo contest - win a free family pass to IRM! Diesel Days takes place August 12th & 13th Trains at twilight - special nighttime operations Labor Day Weekend Steam department progress Newly acquired electric locomotive arrives in Union Swift progress on "Warbonnet" diesel Santa Fe 92 New issue of "Rail & Wire" newsletter Visit us online for schedules, blog updates, and more Happy Holiday Railway tickets Tickets for Happy Holiday Railway trips in November and December are on sale now - and if you buy before Labor Day you can get $3 off per ticket! This family event features a magical train ride with Santa, cookies, gifts, carols, and a winter wonderland of lights and holiday decorations. Join us this holiday season! Click here for tickets and information Vintage Transport August 6th One of our biggest events is this Sunday! The Vintage Transport Extravaganza brings together hundreds of antique cars, trucks, buses, and military vehicles at the museum. Our steam engine, Frisco 1630, and the famous Nebraska Zephyr streamliner will also run along with interurbans and streetcars. Click for info or advance "skip the line" tickets Click here for vehicle registration form Family Fun Photo Contest We are holding a photo contest with a theme of"Family Fun at IRM" and we hope you'll submit an entry! Just e-mail your photo to us between now and August 30th for a chance to win. The grand prize is a family pass to the museum plus tickets on the Happy Holiday Railway! Photos should be between 1000 and 2500 pixels on their longest side, JPG or PNG format. E-mail your submission today Diesel Days August 12th-13th IRM has the nation's best and largest collection of vintage diesel locomotives and they'll be on display during Diesel Days. See these giants of the rails pass in review, ride behind historic locomotives like the E5 Silver Pilot, see demonstration freight service, and feel the ground rumble as thousands of horsepower pass by during the "Parade of Power." Lineup and event information on our website Night Trains Labor Day Weekend One of the best times of the year to visit IRM is on Labor Day Weekend, when train operations extend until 9:30pm. Nighttime operations give an indescribable "time machine" feel, transporting you back a century in a way you have to be there to experience! No extra fare - night trains run Saturday and Sunday and are included with your regular ticket those days. See our website for more information Steam Restoration Fund IRM is home to the nation's second-largest collection of preserved steam engines. But some of these 27 historic locomotives require stabilization and restoration work. A new fund has been set up to help with this: the Steam Locomotive Restoration Fund. Donations to this fund will help preserve our historic engines. Please write to IRM at PO Box 427, Union, IL 60180 or click here to donate. New Acquisition Arrives The museum's most recently acquired piece of equipment arrived the last week of July. It's Conrail E33 electric locomotive 4601, built by General Electric in 1956. Originally it ran on the Virginian, then later the New Haven and Penn Central. We are raising money to pay storage charges and to eventually repaint the locomotive. It was built for 11,000 volt use so operational restoration is not envisioned. Progress on "Warbonnet" FP45 The museum's FP45 "Warbonnet" diesel locomotive, Santa Fe 92, has been moved to NRE, in Silvis, Illinois, and is undergoing major work to replace its prime mover, main generator, and other components. But more money is needed to complete restoration and rebuilding work. Your support can help to make this historic engine operational! Click for more information on this project Latest "Rail & Wire" Published The June 2017 issue of "Rail & Wire," the official newsletter and magazine of the Illinois Railway Museum, is out. Its 48 pages are chock full of railroad history, progress reports, restoration accounts and more! All IRM members receive "Rail & Wire" as a benefit of membership so we hope you'll sign up and receive this great publication in your mailbox. Become an IRM member today Visit us online for schedules, blog updates, and more