The June issue of Rail & Wire, the newletter of the Illinois Railway Museum just arrived in my mailbox, and along with it was an updated Roster of Equipment. This is the first update to the deetailed roster in 10 years. It has an entry for each piece of rolling stock showing detailed dimensions and mechanical equipment presently installed.

I understand the plan is ultimtely to link to this roster from the IRM web site. But If you are not a member and want a current roster, copies are available at the Museum Store for $4.00 as long as they last.

New with this update is a column showing the year each piece of equipment arrived at Union. What interested me is how the acquisition emphasis has shifted over the years as the railroad industry itself has changed. Founded in 1953 as the Illinois Electric Railway Museum, today "only" 1/3 of the 420 pieces of standard gauge railway equipment is from the electric railway industry, the rest is from what used to be called "Steam Roads". Back when I was active at IRM in the late '60's and early '70's there was only one diesel, Burlington E5 9911A, which was aquired to match the Nebraska Zephyr streamlined train set. IRM didn't begin to collect diesels until 1980, and now has 45 diesel-electrics!

Just a note, the Nebraska Zephyr will be running Monday on Memorial Day!
(Wish I could make it....)
/Mitch

I was looking at a discussion (on another website) of ex-Southern Pacific U-25B 3100, which is now at Orange Empire. Its builder's plate reads, March 1963, which happens to be the same month that the last five ex-LARy streetcar lines closed in Los Angeles, making several cars available to what was then Orange Empire Trolley Museum. Had a member of the trolley museum seen this unit on an SP freight in 1963, it's highly unlikely that he would have thought, "Some day we'll have that in our collection." In 1968, I took a photo of Santa Fe FP-45 108 as the lead unit on #17, the Super Chief/El Capitan, never dreaming that it would be a museum piece (as ATSF 98) at what is now OERM. Of all the railway museums in the US, I think that only IRM and OERM have such a variety of operating relics.

Peter -

I just got a chance to look over the new IRM Roster of Equipment. It is very impressive to say the least. I tallied up the various categories, omitting the trolley and motor coaches and the 2 foot gauge equipment. Even leaving these caterories out, I figured the total count at 408. Adding the 2' gauge stuff brings it to 415. Is there another museum that has more rail equipment?

The list could have been even bigger if total equipment once at the museum was included (those items disposed of in one way or the other). Or if items not yet moved to Union had been added.

Quite an interesting compilation. I recommend it to anyone with an interest in museum rosters.

Les

IRM's collection is simply astounding! However, if every piece were restored completely right now, could they maintain it? I am not being critical, just thinking out loud about practicality. What do ya'll think about it?

Best,
Mike