July 27, 2024 continued:

 

            I went and photographed stored equipment I could see in the yard.

 

 

            I went inside another barn and photographed former CB&Q E5 #9911 which I had seen and ridden behind at Streamliners at Spencer. #9911 has long since been reunited with its Nebraska Zephyr trainset.

 

 

 

            I photographed Santa Fe 4-8-4 steam locomotive #2903. Its sister #2926 was recently restored to operation.

 

 

            I photographed Chicago South Shore and South Bend Little Joe electric #803.

 

 

            I then photographed GG1 #4927 and Milwaukee Road #265; sister to excursion star #261.

 

 

 

 

            I then went outside and photographed some equipment.

 

 

            I then went into the barn and photographed CB&Q steam locomotive #4963.

 

 

            I believe that #4963 was once one of many steam locomotives once owned by Richard Jensen. He ran multiple steam excursions with them until he injured his back helping a friend move a fridge. The medical bills forced him to halt all excursions. One steam locomotive he owned; CB&Q #5632 derailed when being moved and was scrapped where it stood. Jensen sued and won.

 

            Another steam locomotive he had was Grand Trunk Western #5629. He was storing the unit in a Rock Island yard until the Rock Island went bankrupt. Metra bought the yard but couldn’t move #5629. They tried to contact Jensen who didn’t respond. Metra would have been okay with the locomotive being moved to a museum but Jensen didn’t do anything. The matter went to court who ruled that Metra was to scrap #5629. Not move it, SCRAP it. This happened back in 1987. Richard Jensen tried to sue but lost. He was probably banking on using the money he’d win in the lawsuit to recoup his financial losses.

 

            Thankfully other locomotives owned by Jensen escaped including #4963. The two scrapped steam locomotives have at least one surviving sister locomotive.

 

            I went outside and photographed equipment in the yard.

 

 

            I then went back into the barn. I photographed equipment inside the barn.

 

 

 

 

            I then went outside and photographed various pieces of equipment.

 

 

 

            I photographed SD50 #7009 which has been restored to its Chicago Northwestern livery. The SD50s weren’t the most reliable locomotives in EMD history.

 

 

 

            I saw and photographed CTA #1892; the mate of #1992 which I had seen earlier. It was parked by the New York Redbirds which looked like they need some TLC.

 

 

 

 

            I took a few more photos.

 

 

 

 

 

            Former Chicago streetcar #3142 came. I photographed it before I got on.

 

 

            I rode to the stop where the passenger trains board. I took some photos.

 

 

            A passenger train was heading out. It was being led by Southern Pacific SD7 #1518; the first SD locomotive built. I decided to go for a ride. The train departed. I photographed streetcar #3142 from the train.

 

 

             The train proceeded down IRM’s main line. We were running parallel to the Union Pacific main line serving Rockford.

 

            There was talk of running an Amtrak train to Rockford on the line with a stop at Union to serve IRM. While Amtrak later pulled out, Metra may run the service instead. Hopefully that will happen by the time IRM gets CLRV #4034 running on their line.

 

            We got back to the station and I got off and photographed the train.

 

 

            Southern Pacific #1518 clearly needs a paint job. I then photographed the yard by the diesel division.

 

 

            I took some photos in a barn with passenger coaches.

 

 

 

 

            I then walked along a path and photographed a caboose.

 

 

            I then photographed the maintenance barn.

 

 

            I took some more pictures in the yard.

 

 

 

 

 

            I walked to the other side of the maintenance barn and took some photos including some of former Cleveland PCC #4223 undergoing restoration.

 

 

 

            I asked about the axle behind #4223 wondering if it was from CLRV #4034. I was told it belonged to a PCC. I then photographed a former North Shore interurban.

 

 

            I then photographed former Amtrak AEM7 #945. Amtrak retired their AEM7s in 2015. At least three have been preserved.

 

 

            I photographed more equipment in the yard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I then photographed former CNW SD40 #6847.

 

 

            I took a few more photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I then went to the diner on the IRM grounds for lunch. After lunch I went by the barn where the Nebraska Zephyr is. I saw a freight train being led by GP7 #4160 which had been repainted into the Rock Island’s “Bankruptcy Blue” livery. I photographed it and filmed it.

 

 

 

            I saw former Chicago El cars 4410 and 4412 being moved around. I photographed them.

 

 

 

            I then went by CLRV #4034 again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I then made my way to the barn where the trolleybuses are. I photographed a former Janesville RTS.

 

 

            Streetcar #3142 then came. I photographed it before I got on.

 

 

            The crew gave a brief history on the car. The car was saved by being used as a CTA employee break room until IRM acquired it. They restored the car to operation

 

            As we passed the yard with the New York Redbird subway cars I photographed them.

 

 

            I asked about how the regauging of the trucks for CLRV #4034 was coming along. I was told a metallurgist was coming in the near future to examine the car’s trucks. They said that #4034 would be an interesting car once it’s operational.

 

            I asked if the Green Hornet would be running tomorrow. I was told it would most likely be the same equipment as is running today. I rode to where the steam/diesel trains depart from and got off. I walked over and photographed the demonstration freight.

 

 

            I went into the station building and took some photos inside.

 

 

 

 

            I saw former Frisco steam locomotive #1630 was being backed out to be coupled onto the passenger train. I photographed it.

 

 

 

            SP #1518 which was leading the passenger train was removed in favor of #1630. I took some photos of the engine swap.

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I decided to ride the passenger train again; this time with #1630. As we departed, I took some photos.

 

 

 

            At one point we took a siding for the demonstration freight train to pass. We went to the end of the line then reversed back. After arriving at the station, I got off and photographed the train.

 

 

 

            It was closing time for the museum so I took one more photo of the equipment on display.

 

 

            I went to the parking lot and took a few more photos.

 

 

 

 

            I then photographed my rental car again.

 

 

            I then got in my car and headed out. I ended up making a wrong turn but after pulling into a gas station, I got directions and was able to find the Interstate. I then drove back to Chicago. I detoured on my way back to my hotel and had dinner at a White Castle I had seen previously.

 

            I then headed back to my hotel and parked. I asked the lobby if they needed any info concerning my car. I was told it was fine. I went into my room and went online and worked on this report. At one point, I went to the store across the street. After I returned to my hotel I set the alarm on my phone and called it a night.

 

July 28, 2024:

 

            I got up and got dressed. I got in my rental car and drove to the IHOP across the street for breakfast. After breakfast I headed out. I ended up missing a turn. At one point, I found myself in the area near the hotel I stayed at on my Arizona Make-Up trip, my 2008 Chicago trip, and my 2012 Chicago trip. I did find my way back and found the Interstate.

 

            Once I got on the Interstate, it was fine. I eventually made it to IRM. This time I would not be visiting the Fox River Trolley Museum.

 

            I paid my admission and went into a building that had an exhibit on the Milwaukee Road. I took some photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I went into the building next door that had a model railway. I photographed it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I saw a bunch of vintage photos of IRM. I photographed the exhibit.

 

 

           

            I then headed out and photographed the nose of E5 #9911 on the point of the Nebraska Zephyr.

 

 

            I then went into one of the barns and photographed the equipment inside.

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I then went outside and photographed the equipment outside focusing on the 2200 and 2400 series el cars in IRM’s collection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            When I rode the 2200s in service in Chicago, they ran with 2600 series El cars as the 2200s weren’t wheelchair accessible. They could MU with 2000, 2400, and 3200 series El cars as well. However the 2000s were retired before I made it out to Chicago and the only surviving examples are at IRM. Greg once mentioned that he was on a charter that used a set of 2200s, a set of 2400s, a set of 2600s, and a set of 3200s.

 

            When the 5000 series El cars were delivered, they could not MU with the older cars. However they could tow cars. I’m not sure if the 7000s can MU with the 5000s or not.

 

            Presumably in the future IRM will get some 2600s and some 3200s. I’m not sure if the 2000s were in service at the same time as the 3200s, but they will be able to MU with them should IRM acquire some 3200s.

 

Click here for the rest of my time at IRM:                IRM day 2 continued