Just saw this on the IRM blog:

http://www2.irm.org/blogs/archives/1110 ... -City.html


She looks really nice.

In that photo, is what I am seeing an immaculate observation car with its own pole building in the background, plus enough track to roll it out on sunny days? I wonder if there is a small gas mechanical behind it just for wheeling it in and out. Now that is how to care for a historic artifact!

Maybe the thread on locomotive shelters should investigate that possibility. Would solve the vandalism problem as well as the "poles in the way" problem. Just roll the locomotive out on sunny days and when you go home, the locomotive does too!

That is a very good thought. Actually, small electric motor with some gear reduction and pulleys would do the trick.

That is a great idea. Unfortunately, pulling the collection out in the sun isn't possible for some museums. It would take twice the real estate. I like it though!

Some of you are missing the point. An upcoming newsletter article will explain this unique donation and the Work and Money that was done by one person to restore this beautiful example of early 1900's travel. Unfortunately, he has passed away but his legacy lives. Check Irm's site and then travel to Members pics. One will see a set of beautiful pictures covering this Milw Rd Obs car. In my opinion this will be the best example of railroad equipment in the museum's collection! To cover costs of movement, its happening in the next few weeks, please send your Donations to the Illinois Railway Museum Restricted Fund.. c/o Lake City. Then, please make it a point to visit Irm and view her. Irm will operate this car as an extra fare car. DON'T MISS IT!

Here is the above-mentioned link to more photos:

http://www.irm.org/gallery/MILW-Lake-City

Here is a more direct link to the photos:
http://www.irm.org/gallery/MILW-Lake-City

Does anyone care to post information about the history of the car? I hate to have to wait for the USPS to get my copy of the Rail & Wire all the way from Illinois to Maryland.

OK, I understand the interest in the incredibly beautiful "Lake City"... it certainly IS stunning!!

But with my interest in narrow gauge, what is the story on the narrow gauge car behind it in one of the photos??? What railroad? How was it saved? If both cars are leaving the property, who is getting the narrow gauge car? How about more photos of IT!?!

Phil

Almost looks like the NG Coach letterboard reads "Bellevue & Cascade". I was unaware of any passenger cars that survived from the B&C. It's a real treasure if it is the real deal. Looking forward to learning more about it as well.

Mike Stillwell
Buena Vista, VA.

There is a 3rd rail tucked in there. More questions than answers.

Would this be the narrow gauge coach:
http://railswap.org/cb/cl/classifieds.cgi?search_and_display_db_button=on&db_id=15259&query=retrieval

It just showed up on RailSwap with contacts to IRM. Looks nice, but it's too wide for our railroad (WW&F.)

[quote="rwkpullman"]Some of you are missing the point.quote]

No we didn't miss the point. We just made a few observations that happened to be slightly off topic. No harm done.

The car appears to be a very fine specimen and I'm sure it will make a wonderful addition to IRM's expansive collection. I hope them the very best in their efforts to successfully move the car to the museum grounds.

Beautiful car. Looks to be almost complete.

It was fascinating to me to see that at the bottom of the drawing it appears that the original names for the series of cars were to be places (Native American in origin) that are along the route of the Hiawatha and Olympian. Enumclaw and Snohomish, for example are familiar to those of us in the Pacific Northwest.

These are lined through and the "Lake XXXX" names are written in. It would be interesting to know who made that decision and why.

So possible both were donated to IRM and the narrow gauge car is being sold off?

the theory is correct.
both cars were donated to IRM with the understanding that we would be selling the narrow gauge car to raise the money for Lake City move and storage

The car was in fact featured in an edition of the MRHA magazine a while back, with a story by the person that did the restoration.
Talk about a backyard hobby!
The cost of moving is going to be heavy 5 figures, so donations are a major priority right now

there is a donation site on the IRM website.

http://www3.irm.org/store/index.php?mai ... &cPath=1_7

The photos in the IRM gallery are current, taken by our dept curator when he inspected it. We also understand the special nature of the car, and plan to protect it as soon as it gets here.

The rumor that it will be placed in service is a nice idea but not really planned right now.The car has not rolled for years, and will require a complete inspection before any operation is considered. We do plan to try and have it open for tours quickly, but considering the pristine nature of its interior, the tours will most likely be guided tours only for now. We have suffered at the hands of too many vandals thieves and careless visitors over the years to allow this car to be open for general viewing.