IRM's traditional 4th of July Trolley Pageant will be altered in format this year, allowing a significant number of pieces not normally included to be used, and all equipment to be viewed in more "work-like" conditions, as opposed to the previous years trolley parade format.

The following has been posted at a number of places over the internet, and is cut/pasted verbatim.

The Illinois Railway Museum is presenting a new and improved trolley pageant
this year for 2009. The pageant has moved from the slow and congested street car
line to the open and photogenic mainline area. This year the pageant allows the
Interurban to pose along side a traditional mid-western landscape. Equipment
that cannot negotiate tight curvatures of the street car line, have a chance to
participate in this years pageant. Electric Locomotives will be leading
realistic freight trains of their time along with rolling stock sensitive to
each background. The rare appearance of pantograph equipment such as the
Illinois Central Electric MU "wicker baskets" and South Shore Line Interurban
representing the south side of Chicago and Northwestern Indiana. Street cars
line up as they did in down town Chicago and the Rapid transit fleet performs
with quick de-acceleration and fast acceleration. The past pageant offered each
piece of equipment to review while standing still, this year a number of pieces
are selected to review during a run by. Certain trains that have been selected
to run by will set the scene of the electric era that many have never had the
chance to experience. This year on the 4th of July at IRM the videos come to
life, the pictures come to life and memories along with stories are seen. Please
support the Trolley Pageant and join us at the Illinois Railway Museum for a
step back in time. Other attractions - Trolley Buses operate, Street Car
Service and Mainline Electric and Diesel Trains operate, also enjoy the West End
Jazz Band playing live. Additional information can be found on the IRM website
at http://www.irm.org

Clearly a departure from years past, should be interesting.

For those of you who attended IRM's "Diesel Days", this will be similar in format, but obviously completely different in content.

Jeff