Donations

Chicago Transit Authority 4146

Chicago Transit Authority 4146 is a 1915 elevated car known as a "Baldy." It is the only complete example of its type in existence.

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Chicago Aurora & Elgin Wood Cars

Chicago Aurora & Elgin 308 is a 1906 interurban car for which money is needed to rebuild a traction motor so that it can re-enter regular service at IRM.

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Chicago Rapid Transit Wood Cars

Chicago Rapid Transit 1808 is a 1907 Chicago 'L' car that is undergoing major restoration work. Donations are needed to support this work.

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Indoor Storage

The best way to preserve our trains is to store them indoors and out of the weather. To make that happen, additional storage and exhibit buildings must be built. Donations to fund this construction can be made in various increments and can be applied to a department of your choice.

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Chicago Aurora & Elgin 453

IRM has recently acquired Chicago Aurora & Elgin 453, one of the last series of traditional interurban cars ever built, and has brought it home to Illinois. Work is now being done to restore the car to operational condition and to its appearance in the 1950s.

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Equipment Restoration

The Illinois Railway Museum is soliciting donations for equipment restoration for a specific department. Please choose the department that you would like to have the funds applied to. Donations can be made in various increments up to an amount of your choice.

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Milwaukee Electric Locomotives

The Illinois Railway Museum has the best collection of electric locomotives in the country and several are from the Milwaukee Electric, a vast interurban system that once blanketed eastern Wisconsin. These locomotives are in need of funding for restoration work to put them into service. Locomotive L3 is in need

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Electric Car Painting Fund

The Electric Car Department is soliciting donations for the Car Painting Fund, specifically for restoration and painting costs for North Shore 757 and Illinois Terminal 415. Donations can be made in various increments up to an amount of your choice. The Illinois Railway Museum is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, all

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North Shore 604 Restoration

The only overhead line car from the Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee preserved intact, car 604 has for many years been instrumental in maintaining the trolley wire at IRM. The museum is now soliciting donations for rebuilding of this historic car's trucks and traction motors so that it can again

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Fox River Electric 306 Restoration

Aurora Elgin & Fox River Electric 306 is a lightweight interurban car that ran along the Fox River between 1923 and 1935. IRM is now soliciting donations to fund the completion of restoration work on this historic car so that it can be displayed and operated for the public.

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