Illinois Railway Museum - Pullman Library

Pullman Library

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Information

1. Why can't you locate xxxxx?

The collections at the Pullman Library encompass over 1 million drawings, hundreds of boxes of correspondence and financial records, passenger car specifications and drawing lists, marketing department materials, photos, negatives, index books, company publications and reference material. The collection is constantly being indexed and organized. There are over 35 file cabinets of material. The collection is physically stored in three locations. The volunteers attempt to respond to all inquiries and orders in a timely fashion. There is one designated day per week that the Library is staffed. With order fulfillment, conservation, organization ongoing, there isn't a lot of free time to index all of the material. There are multiple indexing efforts that are in process, but the sheer numbers of drawings (and their condition) prohibit rapid results. Many indexes that Pullman had for their internal use are missing or in other collections and are unavailable to us, and in some cases (like the wood car drawings), Pullman saw no need to retain indexes for material no longer in inventory. The Pullman Library did not receive a full set of drawings, index books, photos, negatives, specifications or correspondence. There are known gaps.

2. What other drawings are available? (not usually found in Specifications & Drawing Lists)

Facility maps and building drawings & photos - especially drawings of the Michigan City plant
Truck Brake drawings - show consist of a specific passenger train with each car identified providing weights, braking requirements, and other data
Drawings from the New York Central
Drawings and maintenance manuals for Amtrak

3. What sketches or drawings might be of particular interest?

Color & Design (C&D) department sketches providing full-sized full alphabet drawings for specific lettering types
C&D sketches for specific lettering groups on specific cars (U.S. Mail; BAGGAGE & EXPRESS; RAILWAY EXPRESS AGENCY, etc.) with size & paint information
Sketches for tail signs / drumheads
C&D sketches for internal design elements (speaker covers, upholstery, vases, murals, images, etc.)

4. Are there drawings related to military contracts available?

Most drawings related to Department of Defense orders were either retained by the DoD or returned to the DoD. There are some minor drawings that pertain to various projects. They are currently not indexed.

5. Are there drawings related to automobile and radio manufacturing available?

While Pullman manufactured bodies for Packard, wagons for John Deere, and radio cabinets for the Edison Company, no related drawings have been identified so far in the collection

6. Who uses the information at the Pullman Library?

7. Typical Order Fulfillment Process

Receiver Inquiry - Letter, e-mail, phone call
Search for - drawings, photos, specifications, drawing lists, other material
Send - Estimate; Price & Ordering Guide; License for signature
Receive - Signed License; Approved Estimate; Check to IRM with "Pullman Drawings" on memo line
Copy - drawings, photos, specifications, drawing lists, other material as ordered
Send Order - via Priority Mail; Invoice marked "Paid"; Turn check in to IRM for the Pullman Library account

8. Payment Methods

9. Pullman Lot Numbers (brief overview)

10. Internal (to Pullman Library for internal use only) search tools we can use to help you

Internal Construction Record Listing (on paper & on line)
Private Car Construction (on paper & on line)
Drawing Index Books
Pullman Palace Car Drawings List – 1893 - 1910 for 80% of the drawings in the Pullman Library

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