Make no small plans.....

SteveC · **Joined:** Thu Nov 20, 2008 11:45 am **Posts:** 86

IRM actually has a picnic grounds/rural setting on the east edge of the property east of the diesel shop and the trolley bus garage. It is called "Electric Park", and is a stop on the trolley loop. The idea was to replicate the feel of the parks that interurban lines created along their lines to encourage weekend riders so folks had a place to go. This park could use some upgrading, and perhaps you could add a campground area somewhere on site so folks could visit for a bit longer time. Also allow workers to spend a weekend on site.

Steve

qa3688 · **Joined:** Sat Apr 13, 2013 6:05 pm **Posts:** 3

You should start an accelerated buffer land purchasing campaign now. The adjacent NIMBYs will start lawyering up as soon as IRMSuperExpansion(tm) is announced.

Keep buying those Powerball tickets.

Chuck Amstein

Jdelhaye · **Posted:** Thu Jan 07, 2016 5:34 pm

Dennis Storzek wrote:

If that's the case, where's the harbor and pier for cruise ship docking? Making it a port-of-call for cruise ships, like Skagway, is the only way to pay for this.

Will an across the platform connection to Metra at Coyne Station Road work? The Kishwaukee is nowhere near being capable to host a deepwater port.

robertmacdowell wrote:

Yes, I would be all about the flood control on that property. Also, how about "feel good" or "green" site accommodations like a picnic grove, band shell or some rural woods for a branch line to curve through.

Look at the south-east corner, near the text about the yards for Nick's stuff. No bandshell there yet, but, it could easily be added

qa3688 wrote:

Keep buying those Powerball tickets.

You bet your Bippy I did! (MegaMillions too)

Jeff

Jdelhaye · **Posted:** Thu Jan 07, 2016 9:05 pm

Dennis Storzek wrote:

If that's the case, where's the harbor and pier for cruise ship docking? Making it a port-of-call for cruise ships, like Skagway, is the only way to pay for this.

robertmacdowell wrote:

and here's a tip Jeff - don't hold back. Let loose and give your future self something to do!

Ships?
Don't hold back?

Ok, Off the wall ideas just went Titanic.

Buy the SS Spartan carferry, disassemble it into shippable sized chunks, and reassemble it in a slip that connects with Boot Creek. Should outlast any polebarn, be more historic, provide bunk space in the staterooms, and add a display of "rails across the water"

Attachment:

spartan map.jpg [ 266.66 KiB | Viewed 5918 times ]

With tongue firmly in cheek,
Jeff

patentable · **Posted:** Fri Jan 08, 2016 3:51 pm

Jeff,
Your creativity astounds! Ever think about making a Simcity program for railroad museums? Enjoyed your posts.
Bob

robertmacdowell · **Posted:** Fri Jan 08, 2016 3:56 pm

qa3688 wrote:

You should start an accelerated buffer land purchasing campaign now. The adjacent NIMBYs will start lawyering up as soon as IRMSuperExpansion(tm) is announced.

Um,

I know this thread is all fun and games, but they already did that. Seriously.

Dennis Storzek · **Posted:** Fri Jan 08, 2016 5:23 pm

Speaking of accelerators, is there any way we can fit the ring from the National Accelerator Lab into the plan? I understand it's retired now, and relatively close, in Batavia. That way, IRM will be the only museum with it's own atom smasher... should be useful for abrading paint off the cars under restoration.

Tails · **Joined:** Fri Mar 29, 2013 11:14 pm **Posts:** 139

Gonna need one hell of a truck to get the Spartan there

wesp · **Posted:** Fri Jan 08, 2016 8:18 pm

Forget the SPARTAN, the steamboat PRESIDENT has already been disassembled and is ready to "ship" to Union.

Steamboat PRESIDENT

The full kit from the air.