Galesburg railroad history on the move

Monday, April 2, 2007

The first railroad train pulled into Galesburg on Dec. 7, 1854. Shortly thereafter the city became a major railroad center and the population and trades prospered. The CB and Q Railroad became Galesburg's largest employer. The benefits of railroading to the community continue today.

In 1981, a group of dedicated railroad employees and interested citizens formed the Galesburg Railroad Museum to preserve the rich history of one of the area's richest commodities. The Burlington Northern Railroad donated to the group a retired Pullman parlor car called the "Meath." Built in 1930, it was refurbished by local working and retired railroad employees and became the first piece of rolling stock for the Galesburg Railroad Museum. The Meath car was filled with displays of valuable railroad artifacts and a simulated telegraph office.

The Meath car was one of a fleet of over 9,800 luxury, over-the-rail units designed and constructed by George Pullman. When Pullman moved from New York to Chicago in 1859 he revolutionized the passenger rail industry by constructing a sleeping car. By the mid-1920s Pullman also employed 28,000 conductors and 12,000 porters to serve customers on his fleet of popular rail passenger cars.

Pullman rail cars allowed for faster cross-country travel and eliminated the need to stop for meals. The Pullman cars offered freshly prepared gourmet meals in plush dining areas that included chandeliers, electric lighting, leather seating and advanced heating and air conditioning systems. One of the most famous Pullman rail cars to stop in Galesburg arrived on May 8, 1950, carrying President Harry Truman, his wife Bess and daughter Margaret. A crowd of thousands gathered at the Galesburg depot on South Seminary Street to hear President Truman speak from the rear platform of his special Pullman car.

The landmark Pullman Meath car served as the official Galesburg Railroad Museum at the corner of Mulberry and Seminary Streets for over 25 years. Before its donation to the Railroad Museum the car was used as a bunk and dining car for construction gangs traveling over the Burlington Northern system. A spacious building depicting an old railroad depot, located next to the Amtrak Depot now serves as the official museum. This week the legendary Pullman Meath rail car will be relocated adjacent to the museum to join Steam Engine 3006, a caboose and a railway post office car as the rolling stock continues to grow.

After George Pullman died in 1898, Robert Todd Lincoln, son of President Abraham Lincoln became president of the Pullman Company and carried on its rich railroad history. Abraham Lincoln and George Pullman have been inaugurated into the National Railroad Hall of Fame.

Tom Wilson is a local historian. Write to him at wilsont29@insightbb.com or at The Register-Mail, 140 S. Prairie St., Galesburg, IL 61401.