A Slice of Chicago in Frisco

06/08/2020

Outreach and Distance Learning Update

Presenting: A Slice of Chicago in Texas – A History of the Metra Highliner Cars

We are pleased to announce the release of the Museum’s first in-depth digital presentation on select pieces in its collection. Our first subject is not hard to miss in Frisco, as it stands out in sheer size – it’s the 850 ft. long ten-car train of Metra Highliner commuter cars. But there’s much to tell beyond their mere presence.

We hope you enjoy this first attempt at a new way of presenting the Museum’s collection. The program was produced and narrated by Kellie Murphy, COO at the Museum of the American Railroad, with the help of Bob LaPrelle and many contributors.

“The Metra cars are simply too interesting to pass up as we create digital content. They touched millions of lives and set the rhythm of Chicago for decades,” Kellie Murphy.

The program takes an in-depth look at the Highliner cars, the history of the south suburban commuter line, and its role in the history & culture of Chicago.

Some Background

Next to preservation itself, one of the most gratifying aspects of our work is telling the story behind pieces in our collection. In fact, the challenge in interpreting our trains is usually not from a lack of adequate information, rather distilling the story down to a concise and manageable form.

So as we balance actual visits and virtual visits during these challenging times, our staff is going through a rather fast learning curve – from creating physical exhibits to developing digital content. It opens a whole new world, one that affords many new opportunities to take advantage of collateral material beyond just the artifacts. The Museum has over 30,000 images and supporting documentation in its collection – ranging from 2400 dpi digital files, to glass-plate negatives, to original drafting linens. Digital presentation of these images gives us the ability to greatly expand their use, preserve the originals, and tell stories from the perspective of cultural history and technology.

When we looked around the Museum to select our first piece of rolling stock to highlight in a digital program, we wanted something interesting as well as a good candidate to showcase our abilities as storytellers. Further, we wanted to launch a series with a few in-depth presentations providing exhaustive research, as well as several short programs covering a variety of subjects. The Metra cars were on the short list.

But, what started as a brief program ended up being our first in-depth piece. The Highliners were simply too interesting, and we were able to uncover a wealth of information and supporting images. While nothing replaces an actual immersive visit to the Museum, we trust that this is the next best thing!

Please Support Us in this New Approach to Programming

As we look for new ways to serve the community during social distancing, remember that a virtual visit is free. While public access to the Museum is greatly reduced, we must generate revenue through new sources while remaining true to our mission. So, if you like what you see online, please make a financial contribution to ensure further programs like this one!