The car in question is the Atlantic Coast Line dining car "Birmingham," built in 1950 by Pullman-Standard. It is a stainless-steel car with an unusual table arrangement that consists of small square tables set at a 45-degree angle to the rail. Anyway, the "Birmingham" operated on ACL until it was acquired by Amtrak in 1971. In 1986 the car was sold by Amtrak to an ice cream parlor in Lansing, Illinois. The ice cream parlor lasted a few years, but eventually closed.

In 2001 the car was donated to IRM. Last Friday it was extracted from its spot by crane and trucked to the EJ&E siding, where the body was reunited with the trucks. Final brake work will be done at the siding, after which the car will be towed to Union.

Frank Hicks

fullparallel@wideopenwest.com

The question begs to be asked--just how many pieces does IRM now own??

"When you collect everything, you end up taking care of nothing."

> The car in question is the Atlantic Coast
> Line dining car "Birmingham,"
> built in 1950 by Pullman-Standard. It is a
> stainless-steel car with an unusual table
> arrangement that consists of small square
> tables set at a 45-degree angle to the rail.
> Anyway, the "Birmingham" operated
> on ACL until it was acquired by Amtrak in
> 1971. In 1986 the car was sold by Amtrak to
> an ice cream parlor in Lansing, Illinois.
> The ice cream parlor lasted a few years, but
> eventually closed.

> In 2001 the car was donated to IRM. Last
> Friday it was extracted from its spot by
> crane and trucked to the EJ&E siding,
> where the body was reunited with the trucks.
> Final brake work will be done at the siding,
> after which the car will be towed to Union.

> Frank Hicks

> In 1986 the car was sold by Amtrak to
> an ice cream parlor in Lansing, Illinois.
> The ice cream parlor lasted a few years, but
> eventually closed.

Is this the parlor that was located downtown just south of Ridge Road between Wentworth and Burnham? I remember a parlor that consisted of a car attached to a building that was next to the right of way, but I thought it was there sometime before 1984 when I moved out of the area.

davelecount@juno.com

> Is this the parlor that was located downtown
> just south of Ridge Road between Wentworth
> and Burnham? I remember a parlor that
> consisted of a car attached to a building
> that was next to the right of way, but I
> thought it was there sometime before 1984
> when I moved out of the area.

Yes it is. ANd I've lost count (though I think this is diner #6, including the built-ins for the Zephyr and Electroliner).

Kevinmccabe@avenew.com

> The question begs to be asked--just how many
> pieces does IRM now own??

Including buses and trolley buses, about 405-410.

> "When you collect everything, you end
> up taking care of nothing."

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you're not trying to apply that to IRM. (By the way, where exactly are you quoting THAT from?) If you've been to Union in the past decade, you'll see that the IRM volunteers have been doing a pretty good job considering the monumental task they've taken on.

Frank Hicks

fullparallel@wideopenwest.com

How much damage was done to the car during its conversion to an ice cream parlor? Holes cut in the sides, etc.?

ryarger@rypn.org

Frank,

That comment from "Pete" is just another anonymous swipe. It seems that 9 times out of 10 someone takes a jab like that on Interchange, it is without a full name or e--mail.

I am grateful IRM has the resources to collect and to restore when possible. Many irreplacable pieces would be lost without IRM. Even if 25% of what IRM collects doesn't survive in the elements, we still have another 75% to enjoy that would already be sardine cans.

Plus, the effort to get key peices out of the elements has been outstanding.

Big museums draw fire. Some warranted. However, I wouldn't get hust by an anonymous post.

Take care,

Rob Davis

> I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and
> assume you're not trying to apply that to
> IRM. (By the way, where exactly are you
> quoting THAT from?) If you've been to Union
> in the past decade, you'll see that the IRM
> volunteers have been doing a pretty good job
> considering the monumental task they've
> taken on.

> Frank Hicks


trains@robertjohndavis.com

> How much damage was done to the car during
> its conversion to an ice cream parlor? Holes
> cut in the sides, etc.?

One doorway in the side, but the rest isn't bad at all.


kevinmccabe@avenew.com

> One doorway in the side, but the rest isn't
> bad at all.

If I remember correctly, the car does have some decent wheels. The car is definitley worth saving just for parts if not more.


Lake Central Rail Tours
ra1508vh@cs.com

I wonder if Pete has has been to IRM in the last 10 years to see how much HAS been restored. I was there in September, 2001, and I can say that they have an outstanding record.

Suggestion to the moderators: If these people don't have the courage to post their names and Email addresses, what they have to say usually isn't worth reading by the rest of us.

There are occasions when people with inside knowledge can only post anonymously for fear of putting their jobs at risk. In those cases, they should send it to either Hume or Eric who can make the call whether it should be posted for the rest of us or not. I trust both gentlemen to post the real information, and to not post comments like the one above.

kevin.r.gillespie@verizon.net

> If I remember correctly, the car does have
> some decent wheels. The car is definitley
> worth saving just for parts if not more.

To Frank Hicks (IRyM):

Frank - I am glad to see that the diner has been saved. I recall my one visit to the depot/diner when it was open. At that time the ex-PRR line was still in use and even had AMTRAK service! An AMTRAK train went by while we were eating. The diner (with its "angled" tables) was unusual and very interesting. I am glad it will be at Union. BUT...what about the REST of the story? It was connected to an old Pennsy frame depot. Is the depot to be saved; renovated; torn down? I often thought that it would have made a perfect project for a local historical group; to save the local depot. As long as the diner was there (and efforts were being made to sell it again as a going business), then that was not going to happen. Now that the diner is gone, the possibility exists. Rail preservation isn't only about what we have at each of our own museums but must also be looked at as a whole. What do you know Frank?

Les Beckman (Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum/North Judson, Indiana)

midlandblb@cs.com

> BUT...what about the REST of the
> story?

Les, I have to apologize - unfortunately, I'm not sure about the depot. I haven't been personally involved in this project, and in fact the information on the "Birmingham" that I posted above I got from an article in "Rail & Wire" that was published about a year ago. I do know that the City of Lansing has been pushing to get the car removed, and I think this involves some sort of redevelopment. Whether that redevelopment includes adaptive reuse of the depot, or involves tearing it down, I don't know.

Frank Hicks

fullparallel@wideopenwest.com

> Yes it is. ANd I've lost count (though I
> think this is diner #6, including the
> built-ins for the Zephyr and Electroliner).

Hey, this means that I have had a meal in half of the collection! Any news as to when I can enjoy a tasty "Electro-Burger" again? It's comming up on 12 years ago. To all the active members from a member that can only get out there a couple times a year, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
Steve

lead_sled7@hotmail.com

> Hey, this means that I have had a meal in
> half of the collection! Any news as to when
> I can enjoy a tasty
> "Electro-Burger" again? It's
> comming up on 12 years ago. To all the
> active members from a member that can only
> get out there a couple times a year, THANK
> YOU VERY MUCH!
> Steve

It'll probably be a while. In the meantime, you'll be able to get one of Nick's famous "death dogs" in our new Diner Annex this summer (if you dare)...

As for the station, word is it will be rebuilt, but right now it looks like only the racoon s**t is holding it together.


kevinmccabe@avenew.com

> It'll probably be a while. In the meantime,
> you'll be able to get one of Nick's famous
> "death dogs" in our new Diner
> Annex this summer (if you dare)...

> As for the station, word is it will be
> rebuilt, but right now it looks like only
> the racoon s**t is holding it together.

"Death Dogs"??? Are those the same ones that they have been serving at the consession stand for years? I'll take three please.... In all seriousness, I greatly look forward to having the new diner operational. A great addition to Main Street. Great job on the paving project also!
Steve

lead_sled7@hotmail.com