Kankakee Club Raises Funds With David Bradley Boxcar Release

On January 5, the Kankakee Model Railroad Club put a new commemorative boxcar into circulation to raise funds for the Kankakee Railroad Museum. The car celebrates the David Bradley walk-behind tractor, which was manufactured locally from 1946 through 1968 at the Bradley plant in Kankakee County. Proceeds from sales will support museum operations and ongoing exhibits.

This release is the club’s 17th historic car and continues a long-standing tradition of using model releases to connect local history with model railroading. The boxcar was produced by Accurail of Elburn, Illinois and assembled by a local club member. The model is offered in two road numbers: 917575, reflecting the tractor model number, and 9122025, a date code for the car. Only 200 cars were produced for each commemorative release, and past limited runs have frequently sold out, making prompt orders advisable.

Buyers could choose between a kit priced at $30 or an assembled car priced at $35; shipping was available for an additional $10. The club plans for its historic cars to run on HO layouts at museum events, giving owners and visitors an opportunity to see the models in action as part of the museum’s programming.

The Kankakee Railroad Museum operates Fridays through Sundays and features O-scale layouts along with several historic cars on display. The museum’s exhibit mix emphasizes regional railroad history and connections to local manufacturing, with the David Bradley car tying directly to the county’s industrial past. Donations and fundraising sales like this one help maintain exhibit hours, layout upkeep, and public programming.

For collectors, modelers, and local history supporters, the release offers both a tangible piece of Kankakee heritage and a way to support the museum. Verify availability with the Kankakee Railroad Museum before traveling, as limited production runs have led to quick sellouts in previous releases. The boxcar release demonstrates how small museums and local clubs can leverage model railroading traditions to preserve and celebrate community history.