| Caboose #17869 | |
After the Rock Island shutdown in 1980, caboose #17869 was purchased by the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) for use on work trains and assigned the reporting marks and number “NIRC 2002”. The NIRC (Northeastern Illinois Commuter Rail Corporation) was the government-created company that operated the commuter rail service for the RTA on the former Rock Island and Milwaukee Road lines out of Chicago after both railroads went into bankruptcy. In 1995, the caboose #17869 was placed on display at Tinley Park-Park District's Jaycee Grove picnic area in Tinley Park, Illinois. It was painted bright red with incorrectly-styled lettering and the NIRC reporting marks -- a scheme that it never wore in regular service on the Rock Island or the NIRC. |  |
By 2004, the exterior had faded to pink. The interior hadn't been touched since its last major Rock Island shopping. Noticing the caboose in this sad condition, Tinley Park resident Mike McLean started restoring the caboose as part of his Eagle Scout project. Mike began by researching what the caboose was and what is was supposed to look like. Mike began by contacting the Rock Island Technical Society and the Blackhawk Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society and began to acquire information about the caboose and how it should look. From there, he began to coordinate the work to restore the badly deteriorated interior.
By May 16, 2005, the lead-based paint in the interior had been removed and parts of the wood floor and walls have been replaced.
 RI 17869 freshly repainted as NIRC 2002 (Photo by Mike McLean) | By October of 2005, the exterior of the caboose was repainted by a retired professional painter who had graciously donated his time and labor. Since the Park District did not have the correct painting information, it was repainted back into the unauthentic scheme it has worn since being displayed at McCarthy Park. While this is a minor setback for those who wanted to honor the Rock Island with a historically correct paint job, the caboose has a fresh coat of paint to protect it from the elements for many years. With the outside taken care of, Mike's next step was to finish the interior by completing the upholstery, fixtures and painting the interior. |
By March of 2006 the interior was finished. In tribute to the Rock Island, its employees, and the men and women who helped him with the project, Mike hung photos and maps provided to him inside the caboose.
On Saturday, May 13, 2006 Mike gave a full report on the restoration at a meeting of the Chicagoland Friends of the Rock Island.
With the caboose restored, Mike would like to thank the members of the Rock Island Technical Society and many others for the support, help and information that they have provided. When Mike started this project in August of 2004 he “had no idea of the history of the Rock Island or the caboose.” Now, he has “a wide understanding of its history and importance. It has been a great learning experience for me.” With the completion of this project, Mike has received the rank of Eagle Scout.
 | Caboose #17869 is located at the Tinley Park-Park District's Jaycee Grove, 16801 South 80th Avenue in Tinley Park, Illinois, adjacent to the Tinley Junction mini golf course, featuring a G-scale garden railroad with two continuously operating Rock Island trains. The caboose restoration has been
supported in part by the |
Photos
of Rock Island 17869 in Tinley Park
Double-click
on picture to see a larger version.
 NIRC 2002 at Tinley Park, IL 8/92 photo by Andy Riha |  NIRC 2002 at Tinley Park, IL 9/92 photo by John Riha |  NIRC 2002 at McCarthy Park 3/95 photo by John Riha |
 NIRC 2002 at McCarthy Park 3/02 by John Riha |  NIRC 2002 at McCarthy Park Pre-restoration photo by Mike McLean |  NIRC 2002 at McCarthy Park Pre-restoration photo by Mike McLean |
 NIRC 2002 at McCarthy Park Pre-restoration photo by Mike McLean | ||
Interior
Photos of Rock Island 17869
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on picture to see a larger version.
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Interior after painting. All photos by Mike McLean.
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Other
Rock Island Cabooses in the 17850-17899 Series
Double-click
on picture to see a larger version.
 RI 17850 at Tinley Park, IL 4/67 photo by John Riha |  RI 17855 at Tinley Park, IL 12/67 photo by John Riha |  RI 17877 at Tinley Park, IL 10/67 photo by John Riha |
 RI 17885 at Tinley Park, IL 5/67 photo by John Riha |  RI 17892 at Tinley Park, IL 6/67 photo by John Riha |  RI 17882 as restored in Silvis, IL 11/04 photo by Mike McLean |
Additional photos of cabooses in this series can be found on pages 98-100 of “Rock Island Color Guide to Freight and Passenger Equipment” by Hile, Hickcox and Miller published by Morning Sun Books.
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