The Illinois Railway Museum Route

[Gary_Evans]

Mr. Meow
Are you, in fact, a trained climatologist or are you, like so many others, just expressing your opinion?

 

[ktain.ny]

switch to decaf, young hyper link

Lol ok XD but seriously, click the hyperlink.

 

[Epoche3bis4]

Hello People, this is Matts excellent Illinois Museum Route Thread and not a Climate Change Conference...

Nice Greetings

Epo

 

[MeowRailroad]

Mr. Meow
Are you, in fact, a trained climatologist or are you, like so many others, just expressing your opinion?

I'm just expressing my opinion, which is mostly based off of science classes,and I trust that it is correct, and it makes sense to me. However, I posted hastily and it was a mistake to further discuss this becuase it is driving the discussion off-topic.

 

[Matt3985]

No need to apologies Meow (As long as it does not turn into a flame war, I'm fine with that) now lets get back on topic shall we.

Anyway while I'm I'm still here I would like to say (Before Saturn ask me this question) well what about the Graysonia Nashville & Ashdown 2-6-0 #26 which was slated to be be restored back to operation after the #428 was finished. Well this engines restoration progress has been put on hold since the the early 2000's due the project leader being extremely busy with other life issues and has been put on the back burner until further notice, the Shop Forman told me that they are still undecided on wether of not they will either continue to get the #26 up and running or to just make it a cosmetic restoration, but until the restoration on 428 is finished the 26 will remain behind the shop until further notice.

In a previous post I talked about Commonwealth Edison #5. Well what about this engine? I personally like this engine because it work for the same company that my Grandpa work for and Its shame that neither me or him (it wasn't running at the time when my Grandpa visited IRM during the 1970's). Out of all the steam locomotives that ran at IRM this one had the shortest amount of operational years at the museum so far and sadly I don't know the full story yet but I do remember when I ask the steam Shop Forman on why Com Ed #5 has been put on back of the list of operational restoration steam projects is because of two reasons. #1 it requires a lot of work that at the time it was it was taken out of service that the museum could not ether afford or do at the time so instead other projects took priority. #2 The reason why they haven't restore it was because the shop Forman told me that IRM already has a dedicated steam switcher which is the Shay #5 which is a lot more smother ride compared to the bouncy and swaying that 0-6-0's have.

Plus rumor has it that this little tank engine might be a future operational candidate but its only a rumor.

But now back on topic with the route progress. Me and BDW1964 are currently still working on the depot, we hit a slight snag with the texturing process and are looking for straight on photos of the East Union Depot Doors so if any of you have photos of the Depot Doors from a straight one shot from a visit you took at IRM please contact either one of us by PM.

 

[Matt3985]

After a lot of hard work BDW1964 has made more progress done on the East Union Depot. Here is a shot of his latest progress

 

[Matt3985]

East Union Depot is finally finished and in place, many thanks for BDW1964 for all of his hard work once again. We will be moving onto the CTA 50th Avenue Station next.

But whats this, some diesels decided to show up for display with the new depot. (all are from JR)

 

[UP5521]

excellent shots matt3985, I have been to that railroad museum and I remember taking a ride behind the 1630 and liked it, it's just too bad the 2-6-2 steamer is not running anymore but it is great to know that she will look better when the cosmetic restoration work is done,keep up the great work!

 

[slsffrisco1630irm]

Any plans to include some equipment that irm has deacquired like cta s-370 (the car that was at the crystal lake McDonalds that got scrapped. R.I.P. :'( ) or ls&i 34 (now WMSR 734)?

 

[Matt3985]

Any plans to include some equipment that irm has deacquired like cta s-370 (the car that was at the crystal lake McDonalds that got scrapped. R.I.P. :'( ) or ls&i 34 (now WMSR 734)?

Yes we do have plans to do that (with the exception of the LS&I engine that was sent WMSR). That might require me to do another commission with Steve Lerro since Steve Lerro only planned to make 734 as it was on the WMSR and had no plans to make it in its LS&I look so that will require another commission but that will take awhile since Steve is currently full up on commissions and if he ever does have a free opening my next planned was to commission that Rock Island Pacific and Rock Island Coaches next.

 

[Matt3985]

Here are some photos that show the new updates to Barns 3 and 9.

I love the how the depot turned out.

Me and BlackDiamond1964 are currently working on the CTA 50th Avenue Station which was built in 1910 for the Chicago Elevated Line for the "Metropolitan West Side Elevated, Douglas Park Branch" to serve the town of Cicero Illinois.

 

[pdkoester]

 

[Matt3985]

In other news here is an update from PWieser on his Electroliner project.

Here's the current state (He has just built the bogeys) he is currently working on the scripts.

 

[nickelplateroad]

Wow!!! Keep up look awesome!!

 

[Matt3985]

Thanks, for the complement, we surely do appreciate it.

 

[Enzo1]

Looking great Matt! So good to see a group of good people making good progress on a legendary project! This will be well worth the wait.

 

[daylightrain]

Ill admit, at first I wasn't to interested in this but seeing the progress so far and all the contributions to the project how can you not be excited!

Can't wait to see the final product.

 

[Matt3985]

Thanks for the compliments guys, Me, BlackDiamond1964 and everyone else who is contributing to this route appreciates it. I do admit when I first start this route project it there were a few times when this project was on the Verge of becoming vaporware because I lacked the necessary requirements and resources (such as money to do commissions on rolling stock and engines) to pull this off but luckly I was able to slowly get people one by one who were content creators to get interested in either helping out entirely or just contributing a few things for it to get the project well under way. I would like to thank the community here for supporting a project that I've want to do since I first got Trainz 2004 and now after 12 years it's finally happening and without people like BlackDiamond1964 PWEISER, and many others as well as Jointed Rail and K&L I would had not gotten this far, so thank you all for your help and support.

 

[BlackDiamond1964]

Here is the first glance at the 50th Street Station.

 

[Matt3985]

Here is a update on the progress of the 50th Avenue Station, a lot more detail has been added.