Life is returning to normal at IRM in Union, IL after 5 days of Thomas events! We survived several potentially serious problems, including a broken rail, lightning strikes that caused damage to the signal system, and a downpour of more than 6 inches in one day that left the Museum with a partially flooded parking lot and damaged and flooded tents. More than 43,000 visitors enjoyed the family-oriented Thomas ride and activities, plus the coach train drawn by Frisco 1630 [it was great to see steam operating again!], interurbans, L trains, Chicago streetcars, and the diesel-powered bilevels. Track and signal crews made repairs quickly and safely; the grounds crew and volunteers restored our flooded Thomas boarding area and tents to use, and the operating crews kept things moving smoothly. The volunteers of IRM worked hard to create a successful event!

beast@mc.net

I remember back when IRM was first considering doing a Thomas day, there were doubters (myself among them) who thought that a big blue shell with a face on it detracted from the mission of a museum.

Well, then the money started rolling in, and all doubts vanished miraculously. However, I think that the IRM Thomas events have made it possible to interpret history in a way never before possible. The typical ride at IRM involves, say, a streetcar with maybe 15-20 people on it. The car ambles around the circular streetcar line, at one point the car stops and the conductor gives a speech on the history of streetcars, and people watch the trees and fields go by. Not exactly Clark Street at rush hour.

On Thomas weekend, though, people had a totally different experience. The streetcars weren't ambling, they were rushing to keep up with the schedule. As soon as one streetcar closed its doors and accelerated away from the platform, another took its place - the old "always a car in sight" trait typical of busy street railways. Streetcars were standing room only, and the mainline commuter cars were packed to the gills. People got a real feel for what it was like to ride this equipment in regular service, to use it for transportation and not for a ride in the country. The crowds, the frenetic pace - suddenly the atmosphere actually was closer to rush hour than to a museum. People saw 90-year old equipment doing what it was built to do, and I have to believe that's an experience that really does make an impression of history come alive.

Frank Hicks

fullparallel@wideopenwest.com

> I remember back when IRM was first
> considering doing a Thomas day, there were
> doubters (myself among them) who thought
> that a big blue shell with a face on it
> detracted from the mission of a museum.

> Well, then the money started rolling in, and
> all doubts vanished miraculously. However, I
> think that the IRM Thomas events have made
> it possible to interpret history in a way
> never before possible. The typical ride at
> IRM involves, say, a streetcar with maybe
> 15-20 people on it. The car ambles around
> the circular streetcar line, at one point
> the car stops and the conductor gives a
> speech on the history of streetcars, and
> people watch the trees and fields go by. Not
> exactly Clark Street at rush hour.

> On Thomas weekend, though, people had a
> totally different experience. The streetcars
> weren't ambling, they were rushing to keep
> up with the schedule. As soon as one
> streetcar closed its doors and accelerated
> away from the platform, another took its
> place - the old "always a car in
> sight" trait typical of busy street
> railways. Streetcars were standing room
> only, and the mainline commuter cars were
> packed to the gills. People got a real feel
> for what it was like to ride this equipment
> in regular service, to use it for
> transportation and not for a ride in the
> country. The crowds, the frenetic pace -
> suddenly the atmosphere actually was closer
> to rush hour than to a museum. People saw
> 90-year old equipment doing what it was
> built to do, and I have to believe that's an
> experience that really does make an
> impression of history come alive.

> Frank Hicks

Frank: Liked your story telling about all the other things going on at IRM when Thomas was there. I had always thought that the one day I WOULDN'T want to visit IRM is when Thomas was there. Your story changed my perspective. Maybe NEXT year I'll be there!

midlandblb@cs.com