Friday, August 31, 2018

September Newsletter

Nighttime train rides this weekend only
This Saturday and Sunday, September 1st & 2nd, IRM is offering a special treat: trains will operate until 9:30pm both nights, offering a unique and immersive "time travel" experience. Frisco 1630 will be running into the evening both nights. If you've never seen a steam engine at night, don't miss this chance!
Featured in this e-newsletter:
    • Happy Holiday Railway tickets are now on sale - reserve your seat today!
    • Nighttime operations scheduled for Labor Day Weekend
    • Museum Showcase Weekend is September 15-16
    • New project is launched to restore Fox River Electric 306
    • The rubber meets the road - Bus Day is September 29th
    • Steady progress made towards getting Shay 5 operational
    • Your photo could be featured on the museum's 2019 calendar
    • IRM's new Pumpkin Train is coming in October
    • Museum Entrance Building planning and fundraising
    Visit us online for schedules, blog updates, and more

    Happy Holiday Railway

    Tickets for Happy Holiday Railway are on sale for weekends November 24 through December 23. Reserve your seat today - seating is limited and many trips sell out. Create a new family tradition this year and join us for an unforgettable holiday train ride with Santa.
    Click here for information and tickets

    Labor Day Weekend Night Trains

    One of the best times of the year to visit IRM is Labor Day Weekend. On Saturday and Sunday only (September 1st & 2nd), hours are extended until 9:30pm and trains run past dusk and into the night. The diner will be open until 8pm too. If you haven't tried this truly immersive "time machine" experience, make sure to join us this weekend!
    Click here for event information

    Museum Showcase Weekend

    One of the highlights of the operating season is always Showcase Weekend, September 15th-16th this year, when we operate many rarely-seen pieces of equipment and honor the volunteers and members who keep the museum running. The steam engine, Nebraska Zephyr, and many other trains will operate.
    Click for full list of trains scheduled to run

    Restore Fox River Electric 306

    A new project has been launched with the goal of restoring Aurora Elgin & Fox River Electric 306. This 1923 lightweight interurban car ran closer to IRM in regular service than any other electric we own. Work has begun to complete a stalled restoration effort and get this car running again.
    Click to see how you can help

    Go Off the Rails at Bus Day

    IRM doesn't only preserve trains - we also have one of the largest collections of buses and trolley buses in the country and we're the only museum with a regularly operating trolley bus route. Join us September 29th when the buses come out to provide rides to visitors. The Bus Stop Shop will also be open, selling excess items from the museum's collection.
    Click for more information

    Shay 5 Progress

    The Steam Team continues to make rapid progress in getting the Shay ready for service.
    Adjustments and minor changes have been made following a test steam-up in July and the engine is getting close to being ready for its final inspection. Help is still needed to add this engine to our operating fleet though!
    Click here to help get the Shay running

    Calendar Photos Requested

    We're inviting YOU to submit a photo for our 2019 calendar! We are looking for 11x4 aspect ratio photos (much wider than they are tall) showing railway equipment at IRM. Photos must be in focus and available in high resolution, but we encourage you to submit a medium-res version for initial consideration. You will be credited on the 2019 calendar. By submitting an image you agree to grant IRM the right in perpetuity to use the image in any capacity.
    Click here to e-mail a photo for consideration

    Pumpkin Train in October

    Mark your calendar now - the museum's Pumpkin Train event is coming up on October 20th and 21st. This is a brand new event for 2018. Bring the entire family for a day of Halloween fun at the railway museum while you take the train to pick up your pumpkin!
    Click here for event information

    Museum Entrance Building

    Fundraising has kicked off to build the new Museum Entrance Building. This exciting project will provide not only a permanent public entrance, but indoor exhibit areas, a theater, event space, and an entire block of historic building fronts on our Main Street Scene. Sponsorship opportunities are now available.
    Click here for more information.
    Visit us online for schedules, blog updates, and more
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    The Illinois Railway Museum is located at 7000 Olson Road, Union, IL 60180
    Our contact information: PO Box 427, Union, IL 60180 - Phone 815-923-4391 

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    2 comments:

    Ben Rohling said...

    Seeing the fundraiser for AE&FRE 306 raised a question. What electrical and control equipment is missing? If recollections are correct, this arrived as a barely operable but complete car before its disassembly. Thanks

    Frank Hicks said...

    As far as I know, the car is complete electrically and mechanically - albeit disassembled. You're correct that it ran briefly after acquisition by IRM.