Dear Pioneer,

Happy to provide more words for U-505’s reserve! Though I should really credit Venus since she’s the one with the vocabulary on my train. Vesta knows a lot of words as well, but some of her favorites are not fit for print. We don’t have to remind her not to use them in front of visitors, but I think it’s better to avoid teaching them in the first place. Of course, sometimes it can’t be helped. I bet U-505 could probably share just as many of those sorts of German words picked up from his crew.

It is nice for the engines at the IRM to be able to share their work history, those that have ones worth remarking on, but most of us here are like 2903. We’re not as famous as you or 999 or U-505, but our visitors know that already. Instead of coming to listen to our stories, they bring their own. Many of our regulars and volunteers are retired railroad workers themselves so they lend their knowledge to the operations and teach others about rail history. Every engine here, static or operational, helps by being a visual aid for learning or a reminder of the old days. It’s a different kind of entertainment, but our visitors seem to like it.

Of course, I’d be happy to share more about the VistaDome train! I only didn’t in the first place because I figured there wouldn’t be much to tell that you wouldn’t already know. I forget that your experience pulling trains is so different from mine. We pulled the VistaDome train a month after their debut in December of 1947, but the story of the dome cars actually starts a little earlier than that.

In 1945, the Q wanted to take advantage of the beautiful scenery their lines ran through, so they took a regular chair car named Silver Alchemy and sent her to Aurora where they added the glass observation dome on top and renamed her Silver Dome. At the time, they told me there was no other car like her anywhere and, boy, did she know it! I’d certainly never seen a car like that and most of our passengers hadn’t either. The dome car was so popular that they decided to build eight more to fill out the third Twin Cities Zephyr train, which is where I come in! They were a fun bunch on that train, very well-behaved for new stock. All of them were named for things the passengers might see as they looked out the dome windows, Silver Bluff, Silver Glade, Silver River, and so on.

It worked out well. The passengers enjoyed the views and it passed the time nicely on that route which – to answer your question – was indeed very scenic! It was so scenic in fact that they eventually started printing out brochures describing what could be seen from the domes. They made quite a few more of the VistaDome cars until the mid-50’s when passenger traffic started falling off, but I’m told they still run them on the California Zephyr and they’re as popular now as they ever were.

I don’t like to ask about other engines’ misfortunes since I don’t have that experience to share, but your mention of being partially rebuilt did remind me of something! They did actually rebuild Silver Inn after the Naperville wreck for the Kansas City Zephyr. Or I should say they rebuilt a Silver Inn. I don’t think it was the same car. What I mean is, they built a new car and gave him the name of the old car, but the new Silver Inn didn’t remember the wreck or anything before it. But your front end isn’t original, if I’m understanding right? And Silver Alchemy was the same after she became Silver Dome. That is, she remembered being Silver Alchemy before they rebuilt her. I don’t claim to know anything about rebuilding but I wonder how all that works, especially considering the new Silver Inn. I’m sure there were a few cases of mistaken identity there.

Speaking of which, it has been brought to my attention that my train decided not to tell me there were two Æolus because they thought it would be funny. They were leading me along for a while after my last letter, telling me how Æolus had been in service years before they pulled the Goddesses’ train and yet was newly built at the same time. Or that they were a modified S-4 Hudson and somehow also a completely custom component build. Venus finally gave up the gag when she thought the joke was played out (the rest thought they could have dragged it on for a good while longer.) Back in their service days, it was an open secret that there were two Æolus. Venus says an open secret is when everyone knows a thing, but they pretend that they’re not supposed to. It sounds like that just makes things complicated for no reason, but it’s supposed to be for fun. Although, actually, it was fun once I knew there were two too.

No. 4000 was an S-4 Hudson from the regular service pool who got picked to be made into Æolus because he was due for an overhaul at the right time. He’d been built in 1930 and was an experienced engine by the time he pulled their train in ‘37, although the Goddesses say he was stuffy about regulation and would get on to them for chattering in the station. To get him back, they’d call him “Alice” like the crewmen did. Juno says the railroad workers thought Æolus was too hard to pronounce. It took me a few tries to get it right, but the Goddesses have unusual names too so they think it is important to say them correctly (unless you are sassing your engine).

No. 4001 was built fresh from components later that summer and though she and 4000 mostly looked the same once they had their shrouds, they were quite different to each other. Since 4001 was new and had improvements to 4000, she could sometimes be impatient and not listen to his advice. The Goddesses got along better with her than 4000 though (I’m sure you suspect why too). They didn’t see the Æolus that often, only when Pegasus was due in the shops. Otherwise, the two of them pulled the Black Hawk like you said.

Vesta was particularly excited to tell me that sometimes, if the Æolus’ shroud panels weren’t secured properly after being opened for maintenance, they might fly up and flap about when the train got up to speed. The crewmen would call this “lifting their skirts”. It looked very silly and was also very loud, which Minerva remembers as being a lot less funny than Vesta does. She says the noise startled the passengers and the train would have to stop for the crew to close the shroud panels properly. If she was embarrassed by the delay, I can’t imagine how the Æolus themselves must have felt!

Once the Zephyr trains had us E5’s to cover them, they took the shrouds off the Æolus, so they went back to being normal steam engines. Not being streamlined anymore must feel strange, but I think it’s nice that steam engines can take it on and off. It’s like a coat for them! Minerva says their crews were happy not to have to fuss with their shrouds anymore.

A few of our steam engines got new coats of their own last month. Coats of paint, that is. Work hasn’t slowed down at all in the steam shop; I can hear how busy they are all the way out here! Since we’ll be closing up for the cold season, Shay says the painting is just a matter of convenience. They all need to have their tenders emptied and their cabs cleaned out, and they might as well get their paintwork done while they’re there. The volunteers say that Frisco 1630 won’t be finished before Christmas, but that’s okay because they got so far along with her work that they’ll be ready to hit the ground running after the New Year. Venus and I have passed along our well-wishes with Tuskegee to send to her (long workshop stays can be dreadfully boring), but both Shay and Tuskegee say Frisco’s in high-spirits and looking forward to spending the winter in a warm barn. Can’t say I blame her!

The trolley department’s been just as lively as the steam workshop. 9553 and 9631 tell me the volunteers who maintain the overhead wires had a word with the company in charge of removing the bus lines in Chicago after trolley services shut down in March and they’ve come into all kinds of hardware straight from the old CTA lines. Our guys even helped them take down the wires in exchange for the parts! I don’t know if that’s philanthropy or not. Vesta called it ‘salvage’. Either way, the trolley bus garage has been slowly filling up as the new parts trickle in. 9553 joked that they’ll have to park 9631 outside if they run out of room indoors, which I don’t think he appreciated very much.

Thanksgiving is next week, which means the end of our operating season and saying goodbye to all the engines we see regularly for a few months. It’s not lonely with the Goddesses and there will still be volunteers who come in to do occasional work, but it’s definitely about to get a lot more quiet around here. Last year when the museum closed, I was still dealing with the broken valve spring and feeling very sorry for myself. This year I feel almost excited! Seeing all the hard work being done to improve the museum and meeting all our new stock, it’s hard not to feel like the future here is bright. Since it is almost Thanksgiving, I also wanted to thank you and your guides for the letters yet again! I think they’ve contributed to the future seeming as bright as it does.

Wishing you and everyone at the MSI happy holidays!

Your friend,

Pilot

Dear Pioneer,

Please thank your guides for the postcard! It’s found a nice home pinned up in my cab alongside the others you’ve sent me. I’m a bit envious of your Rocket, getting to see all those beautiful trees up close.

It’s not quite as festive around here. Instead of holly and lights for decoration we have overhead line equipment and trolley parts! The volunteers’ goal is to get all the equipment we got from the CTA last year sorted, cataloged, and stored in the trolley bus garage before operations begin in March. This is on top of trying to build a wye out in front of the building so the cars can turn around. You can imagine the noise coming from the other side of the property.

Normally we would spend January taking it easy, but it’s been harder to rest with all the hustle and bustle going on. (Do you get the holiday season off? My letter writer says your museum is open almost every day, but I have to imagine you must get a small break.)

I’m not complaining about us being busy, mind! There’s always someone here on the weekends to keep us company, sometimes even during the week. Juno can see the garage better than the rest of us so she keeps the whole train updated on the goings-on. It’s entertainment for the Goddesses at least and keeps them from being too restless after spending better than a year sitting idle. I do wish Vesta wouldn’t speculate about when we’re going to get a diesel garage though. I told her it wouldn’t make much sense to have a whole building for just one engine. “Maybe if we get some more diesels!” I said. She just sniffed and told me our train is worth one building all on its own. Venus scolded her, but I think Vesta meant it as a compliment in her way.

I was told, in so many words, that my last few correspondences were getting a bit long. Between my letters and the Rail & Wire, they were starting to run out of typewriter ribbon! To keep things short (and not take any more time away from the Line Department), I’ll sign off here. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year!

Your friend,

Pilot

Dear Pioneer,

It never occurred to me that people would need to learn how to write letters just the same as you or me. They take to lots of things so well, I just thought it was one of those things they were built knowing. It’s not that the volunteers here weren’t nice about it, they’re just busy with other important work that helps everyone at the museum, not just me. The days we write the letter together are always a highlight, but I also know that the days the volunteers inspect the interurban cars or work in the trolley garage are highlights for the other stock here too. It’s important that everyone gets the time and attention they deserve. And when it’s not my turn, I can always sleep.

It’s easy to take mine and the Goddesses’ abundance of free time for granted now. Remembering being in service with only as much downtime as the schedule allowed, I can’t think how we used to get by without sleeping for days at a time. If 2903’s trains were as frequent and tightly scheduled as the Zephyrs’ were towards the end, I can understand why he’d use your slow season to catch up. It’s nice of you to let him do that too. Can you at least whisper to U-505? What do you talk about?

You must have a lot of volunteers and guides to get fifty trees taken down so quickly! We can get wires hung and track laid as fast as you like, but it requires a lot of effort and everyone working together so we can’t do it all the time. The Art Fiesta sounds quite lively, especially if there’s singing and dancing! I expect your visitors will be surprised and delighted to find art at their science and industry museum. I would never have guessed that your exhibits change so frequently, but I suppose industry is also always changing, so it makes sense that the MSI has to keep pace.

As for being the only diesel here, I don’t mind it so much. That I’m here despite not being or doing anything particularly special means that there almost certainly will be more diesels preserved in the future, whether they end up here or at places like the MSI. Because it’s just me, the IRM can’t really show off how we’re different from steam or electric power right now. That might change if we were to get some new arrivals, especially if they just retired. It’s a little exciting to think about, if I’m being honest!

More immediately exciting is that March means we’re officially open for the season! Illinois Terminal 415 has been doing regular circuits on the loop since reopening. She’s an old hand at this (being the first car to actually run at the IRM all the way back in 1966!) and the visitors love her for it. I’m always amazed at the versatility of our interurban fleet. The cars are so small, but just as robust as any railroad engine. 415 didn’t even complain about the heat during her first run of the year when it was nearly 80 degrees out, which made her unique among the cars that I spoke to that day.

And with that I’ve started an argument on my own train, so I’ll leave it there. Hope it’s not so hot by you!

Your friend,

Pilot

Dear Pioneer,

I wonder why a baby exhibit wouldn’t make a good postcard? People seem to love taking pictures of babies.

It seems like I learn about a new exhibit at your museum every time I write. When they told me your museum was in the city, I could only picture the warehouses and tall buildings I used to see from the rail yard. You can imagine my surprise when your guides sent that postcard and I saw you and U-505 outside with the museum in the background! I suppose it makes sense for the MSI to have so many exhibits with a building that big to keep them all in. Do you know how many exhibits you have all together?

I was told a long time ago that the IRM used to be in the city too and it shared the grounds with the Chicago Hardware Foundry. Originally they were called the Illinois Electric Railway Museum, and were founded to preserve just one interurban car, Indiana Railroad 65. Apparently creating a museum was the best way to save her from being scrapped. And they didn’t stop with her, either, they started acquiring lots of cars! Eventually they got so many that they had to move the museum all the way out to the country to hold them all, which is why we’re in Union now.

IR 65 is like our founder in a way! Without her, none of us would be here. I’ve never met her myself but from the stories I hear, she seems nice and not at all stuck-up, even though she’s a bit of a yard celebrity. When she was built in 1931 (even earlier than you!) she was very modern, comfortable, and quiet which made her very popular and must be why the man who worked with her wanted her to be preserved. She gets some special treatment from the staff and volunteers for being the IRM’s first car, but even she’s not operational yet. It just goes to show that no one’s playing favorites when it comes to restoration, I suppose!

The weather’s nice enough now that we’ve started running our steam engines again! CE 5 is handling the bulk of the work, since the price of oil means keeping Tuskegee 101 in steam is a little too expensive. They said the high price of oil might also be why we’ve seen fewer visitors too, as it affects gas prices. Probably a good thing I’m not operational right now! Tuskegee 101 said she feels a bit guilty when they do take her out. None of us wants to be a financial drain.

CE 5 has been doing a great job though. Lower ridership means shorter trains, but it also means we get to spend more time with individual visitors and answer their questions when they have them. The Burlington heavyweight cars are a little cranky about the lack of riders because it means they don’t get to hit the main line as often as they’d like, but Vesta just sniffs at them and tells them at least they get to run. That usually cuts off the complaining pretty quickly.

No word yet on the Goddesses’ air conditioning, but there’s talk of trying to get us running before Members Day again this year. That’s a ways off yet and there’s a lot to do before then and not just on our train, so I’m not counting my chickens – to use a country expression. Venus calls this being ‘cautiously optimistic’.

If the weather is as nice by you as it’s been here, maybe your visitors can walk to the museum?

Your friend,

Pilot

Dear Pioneer,

Venus had to explain what “controversial” was before we got too far into your last letter. She said it’s when a lot of people are in disagreement about something. That was easy enough to understand, but I’ll admit I had a hard time picturing you causing any kind of disagreement, even unintentionally. Minerva said most new inventions are controversial for a little while because change can be hard to adapt to. (Babies aren’t exactly new though, so I’m still not sure what that’s about…) It made sense when she put it like that, but I can’t help but think that the people who weren’t sure about diesel engines at first must have changed their minds when they saw how fast and brilliant you were! I’m sure premiering at the Century of Progress probably didn’t hurt either.

Seems like that’s the way to become a famous engine if you and 999’s histories are anything to go by. I didn’t realize how many World’s Fairs Chicago had or that the MSI was kind of like its own exhibit at one! They could easily have called the MSI the World’s Fair Museum instead. I’m glad they didn’t though, otherwise 2903 and U-505 wouldn’t be in your yard the same way I wouldn’t be at the IRM if they’d only stuck with preserving electric cars. Being about science and industry lets them have more exhibits anyhow, and switching them out means the MSI can still show art and fiestas and things! It’s still a Fine Arts museum, in a sense. All this to say, the MSI sounds wonderful. I’m so glad to have a friend who lives there!

It was very thoughtful of you to offer to send us coal from the mine! I passed along your message through CE 5 and he just laughed. He was delighted to report back that the whole steam fleet now considers you to be a regular comedian. I think they must know more about where coal comes from than we do. Or maybe they just think coal from a museum sounds silly. Either way, CE 5 seemed interested in the idea of a mine inside a building. He asked if I had a postcard of that too. I said I wasn’t sure how they’d fit a whole mine on one, but I told him I’d ask. Personally I’m more interested in the baby chickens. If there are new ones hatching every day, you must be overrun! …And now my letter-writer is laughing at me. I guess we’re both comedians.

We started weekday operations last month so it’s been a bit busier! Ridership is still down compared to what it was last year, but it’s not stopped the L cars from having a good time. They reopened operations on the west end of the line and installed a flagman at the street crossing, so on Sundays the Chicago Rapid Transit cars 1808 and 1024 can speed through without having to stop. The staff here are very pleased with the arrangement, since it’s much more in line with how they used to operate when in service. The visitors like an authentic experience! 1808 and 1024 are in agreement that it’s just more fun not having to stop for cars for a change.

The local summer festival, Schwabenfest, is at the end of the month and we’re all expecting a big turnout regardless of gas prices. IR 65 got a coat of wax for the occasion and the Goddesses are a little jealous. I told them they don’t need wax to look impressive, they’re magnificent enough as it is! (Am I getting better at this?) It’s too hot to expect someone to wax our whole train anyway. Stay cool by the water for us!

Your friend,

Pilot

Dear Pioneer,

We’re at the height of the busy season, so I hope you’ll forgive this letter for being on the shorter side. Thank you and your guides for the coal mine postcards! They created quite the afternoon of activity over in the steam shop, I’m told. CE 5 in particular was very complimentary. I think he thought you must have been exaggerating when you said it looked like a real mine, but after he saw the postcards, he was nothing short of impressed. He used to pull coal too (though it was above ground for the electrical plant), so I suppose he must know what he’s talking about. I, on the other wheel, couldn’t tell you what I was looking at, but I can see why it was so popular with your visitors. It’s not often people get to see such large machinery like that, let alone reach out and touch it!

Our visitors often say that one of the best parts of coming here is being able to climb in our cabs and put their hands on just about everything on us static displays as long as the museum says it’s okay. That’s not something you’re usually allowed to do with engines who are in service, and I don’t think our visitors would have as much fun if we were behind glass like in the old days. And you would need a very large pane of glass for our train, besides. Riding a working train is also a kind of interactivity, so even when visitors aren’t allowed to touch, they’re still interacting with us in a way.

Is U-505 proud of the German influence on your museum? I would be! On the topic of German influence, Schwabenfest went off without a hitch at the end of July and was one of our busiest days of the year so far. That’s not too surprising, since the museum wasn’t the only place celebrating. I’m told Union had 10,000 people or better turn out for the weekend festival and since we’re so close by, many of them took the short drive out to see us! The rapid transit cars got quite the workout that day, let me tell you.

There was a similar turnout for the antique Auto Club day in August, although those visitors were here to see cars of a different sort altogether. The automobiles were nice enough, but they’re small and mostly kept to themselves. Venus said automobiles don’t feel the need to make conversation, but antique models tend to be more chatty since they’ve been around so long. I guess regular everyday automobiles don’t talk much at all! Vesta called that “antisocial behavior” and Venus made a tutting sound at her.

Members’ Day is at the end of the month and we’ve been told we’re on track to run that day for at least one trip, possibly more if it goes well. No plans for lunch on Ceres like in ‘72 in case there’s another hitch like last time, but I think we’re all just excited to be moving again! The folks in the shop have been doing some tests and they’re confident we’re going to do fine. They tell me one or two trips up the main line won’t put too much stress on my system and I’ve no cause to doubt them.

CE 5 and Tuskegee 101 have been keeping me informed about Frisco’s progress in the shop and tell me she and Shay will be out that day as well. It will be nice to see them again. I’ve missed them!

Were you nervous before your Denver-to-Chicago sprint? Maybe that’s a silly question to ask. Members’ Day isn’t exactly the Century of Progress. I suppose there’s a beautiful Zephyr trainset to look at in both cases, and that’s what matters – whether it runs or not.

Looking forward to hearing from you. Give everyone in the yard my best!

Your friend,

Pilot

Dear Pioneer,

It’s hard to know where to begin. I suppose I’ll start by asking you how you’ve been, because I’m afraid that by the time we get to the end I’ll have forgotten to. What kind of pen pal would I be if I let that happen? I hope your Yard is well and that the cold snap hasn’t troubled the steam engines too badly. Ours are mostly tucked up now, taking a well-deserved winter’s nap after their outstanding performances.

I’m sorry, I can’t delay it any longer. Do you ever tire of hearing that you must be the wisest engine this side of the Mississippi? I can’t be the only one who thinks so. You said almost two years ago now (gosh!) that you thought I’d be operational again. At the time, I was so disappointed but I still felt so lucky to be even here at all, so I did my best to come to terms with the idea of being static. Silver Bullet used to say that it’s better to be kind than right. You were both! So I want to thank you again for your perspective and continued patience. I’ll ask for just a bit more, as I think if I don’t get the whole story out soon, my one good engine will turn over on its own!

It was no Century of Progress, but I think it’s about as close as an engine like me is ever going to get! The turnout was great and there were so many of us lined up for service, I wasn’t sure how the schedule would accommodate every engine. I needn’t have worried though, there was time enough for all of us on the main line. CE 5 and Tuskegee did the bulk of the runs as a double-header, much to the delight of the guests! Two steam engines pulling together on a passenger train is a rare sight anymore. When they both needed a break Shay and Frisco were more than happy to take over. Frisco in particular did the whole steam fleet proud. She’s been so good about her restoration, it was great seeing her finally be rewarded for all that time she spent in the shop. Compared to the other steam engines, she’s so tall and striking when she runs. Venus called her “photogenic”. I think the guests thought so too!

CTA 1024, 1268, and 1808 made a three-car train and really put the ‘rapid’ in Rapid Transit. Wood-bodied cars are a boisterous lot and they rattled up the line, singing the whole way. It was nice though! In a way it made me feel better about all the noise I was about to make.

I knew ahead of time that we would probably be able to move – a couple of test runs confirmed that much. The question was if we’d be in any shape to make a whole trip up and back, and whether or not it would be a smooth ride if we did. When I tell you how the whole train squealed at first! I thought for sure they’d throw the brake right away. But on we went…

Is it conceited to say I wish you could have seen? Not just for my sake! All of us in motion, the shine on the fluting as we rolled up the line! Venus cheered and I swear I heard Vesta let out a whoop. I felt stiff and sore (and sounded it too), but it was so refreshing to shake the rust off and lay down a blast on the horns for good measure. Up and back, the passengers seemed thrilled! When we rolled back in from the trip, Tuskegee and CE 5 both were as pleased as I’d ever seen them. The October Rail & Wire said we were “the highlight” of the event. I don’t know how much of that was just everyone being impressed that our old static display could pour on some speed, but the Goddesses were thrilled with it anyway. It really was a marvelous day, the whole way through.

I’m not sure when we’ll run again. It took a lot out of me to do it even just once, but that’s okay, because we’ll be closing for the season soon. There’s plenty of time to rest for now. I expect they’ll want to get the valve spring squared away (along with a few other things) before we’re ready for any kind of regular service, but at this point once a year is more than enough for me.

I hope I haven’t gone on for too long! Really, I owe you my thanks again for writing so often and being so kind. Please give everyone in the yard my regards! I feel as though I ought to thank them for their patience as well, having to hear all my letters the same as you, haha. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone at the MSI. Stay warm!

Your friend,

Pilot

P.S. – With the recent snowfall, do you imagine it’s nearly time for U-505 to tell his Christmas story?

Dear Pioneer,

Wow! I had no idea that U-505’s Christmas story would be so… fragrant. Most Christmas stories I’ve ever heard have been about being together, but not usually so literally! It took a long time for our volunteer letter reader to get through it. When he himself wasn’t struggling to continue with a straight face, the Goddesses were making all kind of noise about it. From shrieks and gasps to stifled giggling, I think they enjoyed the story most of all. I guess passenger cars, similar to children, like it when things are a little gross. As for myself, I’m just happy U-505 was willing to share it with us. Please tell him “thank you” and if he wants to share any more stories (smelly or otherwise) my train and I would be delighted to hear them!

As usual, the winter months are an odd time for us. With no visitors, it’s a good time to get work done, but of course the weather never cooperates so it’s usually slow-going. The Steam Department wants to get Frisco working properly by the summer season, so there’s been a lot of noise from that side of the property. I’ve been told they’re entirely replacing her sheet metal jacket, so she’s going to look absolutely wonderful when the museum reopens in March. She’s still undergoing restoration, technically, but in the meantime she at least looks as operational as the steam department wants her to be.

I feel as though I’ve mentioned her ongoing restoration in all of my previous letters, but I’ve been assured that progress is being made, slowly but surely. I suppose it’s difficult with so many pieces of stock on the property to accomplish everything you want in a timely manner. She didn’t seem discouraged at all when we talked during Member’s Day, which is a good sign. She has a great disposition for preservation, so I’m hopeful this will be her year. I think the visitors would love being able to ride her train more often!

There have also been rumblings about getting some more streetcars running for 1975, including the Green Hornet who joined us in 1973 along with her sisters from the other museum. Just like the Steam Department though, the Car Department has been juggling multiple projects at once, so I can only remain hopeful for her.

All this, alongside the plans for a new barn which is due to begin construction this spring, makes it feel like everything at the museum is on standby. It feels a bit like idling at the platform, waiting for the moment we can finally start moving again. Venus says I’m being impatient, which isn’t something I’ve ever been told before. Silver Speed was always the impatient sort, not me!

That said, I am looking forward to your response, as always. Any engine would be impatient for that.

Your friend,

Pilot

Dear Pioneer,

I’m glad U-505 was eager to share more of his stories with us. The Goddesses seemed to have an impression of him as standoffish before but they’re quite interested in him now, ha! I understand your guide’s reservations, though. Maybe we can save the stories for special occasions.

Are all the trees in your Christmas exhibit donated? I remember you mentioning that at first it was just one big tree when the tradition started but now there are a great many smaller trees, which sounds like a lot of work for your volunteers to keep up with. It’s nice that at least one has a group dedicated to decorating it. Either way, the clipping they sent along with your letter showed off the Lithuanian tree very nicely.

I’m glad about your visitor numbers. It’s great that people are able to take the train to visit you and that it’s even being encouraged by the CTA! They and their trains have been good friends to both our museums it seems. Not only did they help us out by giving the museum old line parts when the trolley bus services shut down two years ago, but this month we’ll be working with them to do our second annual Snowflake Special.

Our guys are chartering a train of old 4000s trolley cars to do a fantrip over the weekend on the L. The 4000s series are very old. They were built between 1915 and 1920, and they were the very first steel-bodied cars used on Chicago rails! They weren’t very fancy. Utilitarian, as U-505 might say. Since they had no decorations on their roofs, they got the nickname “Baldies”, which Vesta thought was very funny until Venus pointed out that she’d qualify for the same nickname if she’d been around back then. Vesta didn’t think it was so funny after that.

There are a few 4000s here at the museum, sisters 4146 and 4412, but the cars for the charter train are ones that belong to the CTA. As nice as it would be for our 4000s to join the train, it would be too much work to try and have them pulled all the way from Union to the city just for one day. They don’t seem to be jealous though. My letter writer tells me 4146 is quite pleased that her sisters will be getting some more miles under their wheels. 4412 says she hopes that if they make a good enough impression that more of the 4000s might find their way here.

I hope all those new visitors your museum is attracting are coming out to visit you in the yard! March is the first time I get to see visitors too, but not too many are willing to brave the unpredictable temperatures this time of year except our most ardent regulars, haha. We don’t have a cultural exhibition to attract new visitors, but there’s a rumor going around that something new will be coming to our museum soon. In the meantime it’s just me and my train and those who are willing to brave the mud to come chat with us for a bit. It’s not so bad though, I can already feel the pace picking up around here!

Thank you again for your words of encouragement. I’m already looking forward to April and the spring thaw that accompanies your letters.

Your friend,

Pilot

Dear Pioneer,

Oh gosh! That business about the drawing was as controversial here as it was over there. After they heard 999’s comment about her being art and science, Venus and Vesta had a lot of opinions about how to tell if an engine or car is art or not.

Vesta says our whole train is art first and foremost because we (she might have been including me, but I didn’t ask) were designed to be seen as one continuous machine from the outside. Our fluting is a bit like people’s clothes and without it the illusion is ruined, so if the man didn’t have his clothes on how could that be art? Venus said she’s heard the inside of a machine called art before and that the way each piece is designed to fit with every other piece is beautiful to some people. Vesta said that was the science part and that the closer you get to the inside of something, the more science it is. Venus said you’d have to go under a person’s skin for the science to start happening, the art doesn’t stop at the clothes.

I think I’m inclined to agree with you and 2903 on this one. I’m just glad it means you’re getting more people to come and look at the art and/or science that is you and your yard!

That’s really lovely of the BN to send your old passengers the brochure they remember. It’s nice that it’s not just the passengers and volunteers who want to keep those memories alive, but the railroads (and transit systems!) too. I know it’s not all for philanthropy since money changes hands all the time over us, but plenty of stock here at the IRM survives because the people at the railroad want us to be around in the future to remember the old days.

Our newest acquisition can attest to that firsthand! Remember last letter when I mentioned there had been some hinting about a new arrival? Well, she’s here: Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific 265. That’s a bit of a mouthful so she just goes by Old Smokey. She’s a 4-8-4 Alco and the whole steam department was excited to finally be able to move her here this month. She was quite excited to arrive in turn.

The Milwaukee Road donated her to the city of Milwaukee after her end of service back in 1956. She says her exhibit was the talk of the town at one time, but since then it’s been hard for the city to raise enough money to keep it looking nice. That’s where our museum stepped up to offer to take her on. She says she’s looking forward to being under a roof, but more so to having other engines for company again. Having another engine around here with a name is nice! It means the people who donated her really did love her, the city and the railroad both.

Her story isn’t unique though. There’s probably a dozen reasons to preserve an engine over scrapping them, but at least one of them is that the railroads appreciate what their engines meant to the passengers at one time, even if they’re going by a new name. Whether it’s sending an old brochure through the post, helping run a fantrip, or entrusting entire trains to museums who care about them, they’re still providing service. Venus says that’s called a “legacy”.

I hope when I get to run again I can help contribute to the Zephyr legacy too.

Your friend,

Pilot