IRM Before 1970

Many thanks to Art Peterson, who has sent along another terrific trove of photos. In this case, they're from a railway familiar to us all: IRM itself, taken in the early years in Union between 1964 and 1970. Some photos were taken by a young Art Peterson himself. Enjoy!

All photos are copyright Krambles-Peterson Archive and may not be reproduced without permission.

Back when the museum's entire collection was lined up around where Schmidt Siding is now, this shot of Public Service 7 followed by the "Ely" and a couple of C&NW baggage cars was a popular view. This view dates to August 1966, just after the first car (IT 415) operated. Photo by Glenn Andersen. Gregg Wolfersheim adds that this image may have been turned into a postcard that was sold in the gift shop.

The pride of the fleet! It's October 18, 1969, an auspicious day to be sure, and the 309 looks to be on the west track in Yard 1. The 354 is next to it and behind it are a CRT 'L' car, the 101, and a couple of IT orange cars. Photo by Art Peterson.

On June 5, 1966, George Krambles snapped a couple of photos inside the 309 while it sat in the lineup at the west end.

Interior shots of the car before the fire are rare, but then again, it pretty much looks like this again today - after only about 30 years' worth of work.

On that same day, June 5, 1966, George also shot the 321. The car was painted green before leaving North Chicago because it looked so unsightly.

Art Peterson took this photo of the 431. The photo is dated May 21, 1968. Gregg Wolfersheim: This is on the main line in front of the depot with the "big tree" visible.

This photo of the 431 westbound at Olson Road was taken May 26, 1968, by Tom Desnoyers. Of course, where the photographer is standing would probably be in the gauge of the station track lead today. That may be Howard Odinius in the cab, but I'm not sure. Gregg Wolfersheim: Definitely Howard in the cab.

Another Desnoyers photo from the same day, I believe this was taken about where Car Line Junction is today. IRM's main line is off to the left and in the right distance you can see the substation shelter. Behind the 431 is the 65, then the X4 - just arrived from ERHS and possibly with someone working underneath it - followed by a North Shore caboose (1002 or 1004), the C&NW wood cupola caboose, and CSL E223.

On October 18, 1969, Art Peterson took this photo of CRT 1024. In those days, the 1024 and 1808 often ran as a set, so they're probably changing ends here to head back to the depot. Gregg Wolfersheim: This is at Karstens, at the longtime east end of the railroad.

It's the same day, and Art also snapped this photo of the 1808 pulling the 1024 at the west end of Station Track 1. In the left background is the 144 on the west wye; to the right is the 431 and the Pennsy doodlebug is sitting over on the main.

A year or so earlier, the 1808 is sitting on the west switch as it's passed by a C&NW freight train led by GP7 1564. This seems like an odd place to spot the car, but both poles are down, so go figure. Photo dated May 26, 1968, by Tom Desnoyers.

Restoring CSL 144 to operation was a major project, as can be seen in this Tom Desnoyers photo taken July 9, 1967. The car is on one of the newly laid tracks in Yard 1 with the 65 spotted behind it.

Speaking of which, here's the "mother car" on May 28, 1967, in a George Krambles photo. It clearly still wears most of its yellow CRANDIC paint but looks like it's got a new roof.

The notorious Illinois Terminal tower car shown here helped string the museum's first trolley wire. The thing in between the wheels is a clamp to hold the car to the rail; woe betide him who forgot to affix that! This photo was taken by George Krambles on June 5, 1966, just a few weeks before the first car operated. I'm not sure who everyone is but I believe that's Bill McGregor up on the pole.

On July 6, 1968, George snapped this photo of the "Tangerine Flyer" - the 233, 518, 504, and 234. All except the 504 had just arrived from Champaign; the 233 still has UofI blue windows and doors and is lettered "Urbana."

The first operation at IRM was July 17, 1966, and this photo of the 415 was taken one week later, on the 24th. I believe this is east of Olson Road only because I can see a switch - er, the switch - behind the car. Photo by Tom Desnoyers.

Just a couple of months later, in September 1966, George Krambles took this photo of the tidy loading platform that was hastily set up on the west side of Olson Road. This is really an interurban-style platform: vertical boards around the edges with crushed stone fill.

Less than three years later, IRM has changed dramatically, and we see the freshly painted Class B on the west leg of the wye while the 1808 loads at the depot in the background. William Janssen took this photo on June 14, 1969.

The first steam engine to operate at IRM was Shay 5, shown here passing the west switch with two of the Burlington coaches in tow. Photo by Art Peterson.

This must be the early days of Yard 1, with the 354, E223, and one of the North Shore cabooses (either 1002 or 1004) in sight. Photo by Tom Desnoyers, July 4, 1967.

North Shore line car 604 is spotted on the main line, probably in front of the depot, on May 19, 1968, in this George Krambles shot.

The very first car in Yard 1 was Sand Springs 68, which was put there as soon as it arrived in 1967. The car's sad condition upon arrival is clear in this September 5, 1967, photo by Art Peterson.

The 972 was one of the regularly used service cars in the early days. Here, it's parked in front of the depot on May 26, 1968, with one of the wooden C&NW baggage-RPO cars behind it. Photo by Tom Desnoyers. Gregg Wolfersheim: Behind the 972 is the gift shop car. Later, it would reside on the west wye.

For years, the south end of Yard 1 (where the 50th Avenue headhouse is now) was usually the home to the "Juno" and the IC MU cars, among others. But in this May 26, 1968, photo by Tom Desnoyers, those pieces of equipment aren't at IRM yet - the Zephyr won't show up until September and the IC MU cars will be carrying commuters into Chicago for another four years before adjourning to Union. Here we see the "Menominee," still thought at the time to be the "Mendota," with the 1129 behind it still in green and yellow. To the right is the "Ely" while the 1024 is to the left.

That's a young Art Peterson on the right inspecting the "Queen Mary" in this June 5, 1966, photo. The vertical hinge in the middle of the bus is pretty obvious. Photo by George Krambles.

Here's a wider shot of the bus lineup, taken in August 1966 by Glenn Andersen. The "Queen Mary" is on the left, followed by CSL 192, Cleveland 874, Milwaukee 269 and 441, and a lone "Old Look" diesel bus from Milwaukee, one of several we later scrapped.

It's November 1965 and the Boot Creek Bridge has been built, but there are no rails leading to it yet. Line poles have been set and bracket arms affixed as well. Photo by Glenn Andersen.

This photo was taken on March 27, 1966, by George Krambles, showing construction work on the right-of-way. I'm not certain of the location but I think this may be just west of Karsten's Crossing, which for many years was the east end of the railroad.