It is with great sadness that I report the passing of Julie Johnson, noted IRM member and Chicago traction historian.

I will simply quote the currently available information from the Hicks Car Works weblog, which sums up an amazing life and career pretty efficiently..

We've received sad news today of the passing of Julie Johnson, longtime IRM
member and CA&E supporter. Julie was heavily involved with CA&E history and
preservation since the railroad quit running and was aboard the very last car to
return to Wheaton on July 3, 1957. She was active at IRM in the Track & Signal
Department for decades, starting in the 1960's and continuing to the present
day; was responsible for funding numerous acquisitions including CA&E 308, IT
"Peoria," the THI&E cars and the lion's share of the cost of the Trolleyville
acquisition; served on the board of directors and as President several times;
and was generally one of the museum's most active volunteers. In recent months
she made her enormous collection of CA&E historic materials available online at
no cost at http://www.caerr.com. We extend our condolences to her friends and family.
Her support and hard work will be sorely missed. We will update the blog with
information on memorial service arangements as it becomes available.

On a personal note, I would like to thank Julie for all the work, help and
advice I was lucky enough to share. A truly unique person and personality, to
say she will be missed is an understatement.

RIP Julie. She was a stalwart at the Illinois Railway Museum and a huge fan and expert of Chicago area railways. A true "mover and shaker" at IRM, I know she will be missed by that organization. I have had lunch or dinner with her several times at past ARM annual meetings.

Very knowledgeable and lucid. She was too young to be leaving us.

Thanks!