The highlight of Western Railway Museum's annual Member Appreciation Day on Saturday, September 12, 2015, was the first public presentation of our latest four-year restoration project.

Portland Traction Company 4001 (former Indiana Railroad 202), a 1926 product of Kuhlman Car Company, entered the WRM shop in late 2011. Project Manager Dave Buechler and his team have spent the time since then totally restoring the car.

Photo credits: Karl Johnson

Simply BEAUTIFUL!

Nice.

The car is a daily runner. WRM runs a short run with streetcars, and a long run with interurbans. Until now, every car fit for the "interurban" run was absolutely enormous (Bridge Unit 187), single ended (Crandic 111) which presented problems as WRM has a dogbone on only one end; or wood sided (P&SR 63, Peninsular 52) - meaning the wood sides flexed with every track joint, as the tongue and groove slowly rubbed itself to dust. The latter have been the daily workhorses of the fleet.

I was on the Board that selected the project to restore a steel sided, double ended interurban for daily service to relieve the woodies. In a planning exercise, we set out to identify 1, 3 and 5 year projects - three of each. This particular project survived three cullings and rose to the top as a 5-year. I was impressed that within 6 months, all of the goals either happened or were started on. Tell you the truth, this is the last of the nine to roll in. But it's on time!

It goes to show the amazing power of having a plan. I boggle at museums which go year by year, month by month choosing to NOT do this... And then wonder why nothing ever changes.