Picture 4-3.
Car no. 17 passes Thornburn School along the private right-of-way (Railroad Street) in Urbana.  This picture could have been taken any time between 1896, when Thornburn was built as Urbana's high school, and 1907, when double track was laid.  No. 17 and its sister car, no. 16, were acquired in 1892.  They were the largest cars in Champaign-Urbana at that time.  The Champaign County Gazette compared them favorably to the finest steam railroad Pullman “Palace” cars.  The interiors featured solid cherry panels, brass trimmings, and upholstered seats.  They probably received the vestibules seen in this picture during the winter of 1896-97. — Champaign County Historical Society (#55 lower)