will.illinois.edu/prairiefire/episode/pf2007-03-15 WILL, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Series Episode WILL travels to central Illinois to the Monticello Railway Museum; we meet Ray McIntyre and spend a day at the miniature town of Rayville; we learn about the history of the Inter-Urban Train Line. Abstract Segment Champaign County, Historical Landmarks, History, Illinois Culture/History, Railroads, WILL Custom Prairie Fire Subject Headings What if we could hop on electric train that could take us home even if we lived in rural Champaign County? Or we could ride that train into town to do grocery shopping? ... Is this a glimpse of the future?... No, it is a look back to the days of the Illinois traction system. This electric train system connected central Illinois with the Midwest. We were lucky to have Illinois Traction Historian Dale Jenkins to tell us the history of the transportation system that was also responsible for bringing electricity to many rural communities. Ian Mitchell produced this story because he had tales of the inter-urban as he was growing up in Tolono. His grandmother is featured in the segment.  ... written by Alison Davis Wood Abstract Ian Mitchell Producer Segment Antiques/Collectibles, Hobbies, Railroads, WILL Custom Prairie Fire Subject Headings Ray McIntyre was a man of few words. His whole world was his collection of miniature trains that he proudly displayed in his own museum.  But none of it would have been possible without the help of volunteers from the Piatt County Museum. They took care of Ray for thirty years. They would take him to do his grocery shopping, do his laundry and most importantly pick him up every day of the year and take him to his museum. There Ray would spend the day being the boss of Rayville. This charming museum caught the eye of former WILL producer Matt Docter. Matt worked extremely hard on this story using unique camera angles to take the viewer inside the Rayville train layout. He also worked hard coaxing an interview out Mr. McIntyre. Matt and his twin brother Jason are also musicians, so they played and recorded music for the story. Now that Ray has passed, we hope this segment is a fitting tribute to a man who really loved trains. Rayville has closed and now it is the location of Prairie Fire Glass Studio. Soon the Rayville collection will be on display at the new Piatt County Museum. Matt Docter has since moved to Los Angeles and has a successful band call The Lift (http://www.theliftstation.com). He has also appeared in several films, ads and TV shows. Abstract Alison Davis Wood Producer Segment Illinois Culture/History, Railroads, Travel, Monticello, WILL Custom Prairie Fire Subject Headings The Monticello Railway Museum is another reason I love living here in central Illinois. How amazing that a group of volunteers has resurrected railroading one train at a time. The volunteers here are tireless in their efforts to keep the museum going and in their love of trains.  When we shot the story in 1997, we saw how much work it took to run a mini railroad ... laying track, mowing the track, restoring engines and cars and entertaining school groups from around the area. But the payoff is great. Where else can grown-ups fulfill their dreams of being a train conductor or engineer? When I’ve visited the place with my own kids it is incredible to see their eyes light up as a train enters the station. There is a mad scramble as all the kids try to get a seat in the caboose ... but every car is a great experience. Volunteers at the museum are still acquiring new cars and engines and returning them to mint condition. For the past 15 years they have been working on a former Southern Railroad engine that had to be completely rebuilt. It is set to debut on the tracks the summer of 2007. Tim Hartin and I got to fulfill one of our fantasies as filmmakers while we were taping this story. We set a shot at one of the museum line’s cross streets in Monticello. Then we got to cue the train to go in front of our camera so that we could get the perfect shot ... we felt like Steven Spielberg! Over the years this story continues to be one of our most popular and we are very proud to pay this tribute to this incredible place. Abstract Alison Davis Wood Producer WILL-TV, University of Illinois Copyright Holder Publisher ¬© 2009 University of Illinois 2007-03-15T09:17:00-06:00 2007-03-15T09:17:00-06:00 video/mp4 http://willmedia.atlas.uiuc.edu/mpeg4/pf2007-03-15.mp4 Moving Image MPEG video MPEG-4 00:28 eng pf2007-03-15.mp4 WILL Public Media, University of Illinois 2007-03-15T09:17:00-06:00 2007-03-15T09:17:00-06:00 video/x-flv http://willmedia.atlas.uiuc.edu/flash/pf2007-03-15.flv Moving Image Flash Video Flash Media 8 00:28 eng pf2007-03-15.flv WILL Public Media, University of Illinois 2007-03-15T09:17:00-06:00 2007-03-15T09:17:00-06:00 video/vnd.rn-realvideo http://willmedia.will.uiuc.edu/ramgen/pf2007-03-15.rv Moving Image 00:28:00