NWI CHAPTER
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
July 2026 from
Jerry Pyfer

NRHS Heritage Award

Long about this time last year, William Pauley approached me about seeking a grant from the National Railway Historical Society to help refurbish the passenger car Silver View. Bill is part of the Oregon Depot Museum in Oregon, Illinois.

To recap: The Silver View is a domed observation first class parlor car built for the Chicago Burlington & Quincy railroad for the Twin Cities Zephyr sets in 1956 by the Budd Company.

Mike Abernathy, a part-time Burlington Route employee was so enamored by the car; he kept track of the car following its retirement from the Q and eventually Amtrak.

The Silver View came to rest in Charles City, Iowa awaiting its future. Mike purchased the car with hopes of turning it into a first class car once again. Mike, living in the Chicago suburbs, wanted the car closer to him for his weekend restoration trips and made arrangements for the car to be stored at Oregon, Illinois.

Mike had since gifted the car to the Oregon Depot Museum with the hopes remaining to open it up to host events.

Now comes the NWI Chapter: Bill, ODM Secretary, approached me about the ODM becoming part of the NRHS. I wasn’t aware of organizations becoming members of the NRHS but he could certainly join to get the process started. Bill did become an NRHS member through the NWI Chapter.

Bill filed the paperwork to seek funds from the NRHS Heritage Grant program. He also asked if I would send a letter of recommendation to help their cause, which I did.

Mid-June Bill shared that the ODM was one of the awards presented by the NRHS to fund restoration of upholstery in the Silver View.

The ODM will receive $5,000. I was invited to participate in a check presentation ceremony at the Oregon City Hall on June 24th.

A portion of the grant stipulates they seek matching funds. I plan to contribute when we meet at the Oregon Depot for our August 22nd meeting. The chapter normally gives $100 for the use of the property, just as we do for the church. How would you feel about the chapter doubling the donation going toward the Silver View? Let us know.

Fellow chapter members Jon and Marilyn Schwartz were there to share in the event as well. My wife Cindy would be our photographer.

Oregon City Manager Darin DeHaan recorded the event on Facebook for a press release to local news outlets. The next day, our event was presented on local television stations as well as on You Tube.

Following the city hall press release, we ventured to the Silver View for another photo-op.

For the longest time, I have heard the never ending, what has the National done for us? We can now point toward Oregon as an example of the National doing something for “us”. Silver View Photo

For more information about the Chapter, see Meetings and Join.