The Illinois Midstate Railroad Association (IMRA) was chartered in June of 2005 with four founding members.  The organization is an arm of the Cumberland County Historic and Genealogical Society.  The purpose of the association is to provide a location for railroad enthusiasts of all types (including collectors, preservationists, modelers / hobbyists, RPO clerks, telegraphers, professional railroaders, and those simply interested in the love and nostalgia of railroading) to exchange their ideas, talents, and stories. IMRA is a railroad interest group open to anyone - age 9 to 99.

Mission

IMRA will assist with state and local educational instruction, the Historic Greenup Depot acting as a site for school groups and field trips.  The depot house a modest research facility (complete with a library and archive) for anyone interested in exploring the history of American Railroading. IMRA will network with other historical groups throughout the nation, particularly those that are interested in documenting existing railroad facilities which are no longer in use.

Next Meeting                                                                                         Tuesday, July 12, 2005 - 7:00 PM at the Greenup Depot                  New members are cordially invited to attend!

Benefits of Membership

Restoration of the 1910 PRR Observation / Business Car - Maryland               

Periodic tours of railroad area depots, museums, and facilities including                St. Louis National Museum of Transport                                                          Monticello Railroad Museum                                                                          Illinois Railroad Museum at Union                                            

Visits to document existing railroad sites (Pana, Paris,                                       Robinson, Mt. Carmel, Centralia, Palestine, Charleston,                                   Mattoon, Neoga, Newton, Olney, Effingham, etc.)      

Bull-Sessions with real railroaders, telegraphers, authors,                                    historians, and modelers                                             

Photography and historic preservation of railroad equipment

Procurement of railroad artifacts and antiques

Visits to area model railroads and clubs

Occasional fan trips to notable railroading sites including charter passenger trips