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Monday, September 29. 2008Monday, September 29. 2008Woodworking Machines Road Trip
On September 27, 2008 we made the long planned road trip to Decatur, IL to load and acquire new woodworking machines for our carshop. These machines were owned by the Illinois Traction System (Illinois Terminal) dating from about 1900. One of the machines is much older from about 1875, so must have been acquired used by the IT.
When the Decatur Car Shops stopped that work in the mid 1950's a woodworker and fan bought most of them and opened his own business in Decatur. Now heading for retirement, he offered these three to us and is working on selling the remaining stuff. A very difficult decision for him, and for us as we could have likely gotten more, but space and money intervene. It is a shame in a way that this "IT Collection" needed to be split and broken apart after surviving another 50 years relatively intact.  Illinois Traction System Decatur Shops Here is a rare photo of the Decatur car shops about 1910. Our planer is on the right behind the table saw. Our tenoner is on the left side along the wall, behind the shaper!! All machines were line shaft driven at this time. Anyone find it odd that an electric railway had no machines in their shop driven by electric motors? Although it does appear there was a LARGE electric motor driving the line shaft on the left side. Such was technology in 1910. The crew going down there consisted of Richard Schauer, Tim Peters, Barb Lanphier and myself. A VERY long day but the loading went ok and the truck made it back to Union without incident.Following are some of the images from that day.  Sash Sticker This is the oldest machine and serves a multi function purpose with two tables for doing different operations. A FAY sash sticker circa 1875.  Tenoner Here we have an H B Smith tenoner already partly disassembled for loading but still inside the shop, with motor and drive slid into place to provide a record of the setup.  Planer The big American No. 4 1/2 planer is on the museum truck and the tenoner is being set into place for the trip.  Loading The sash sticker is on the hoist out in the street moving toward our truck. For a small side street there was a lot of traffic that day!  Loading  Beverly Hillbillys?? The final two pics are the loaded truck parked in a lot by the local hash house. Loose pieces are being stowed for travel, and chains and binders added to prevent things from shifting. Estimated weight - 12,000 lbs. Sunday, September 28. 2008Construction continues with truss installation September 27, 2008 First Trusses And by Friday afternoon the first six roof trusses were up. This really shows the shape and form of the new barn. Thursday, September 25. 2008Construction Continues September 24, 2008 Side Framing By Wednesday this week the purlins and girts (side framing) were going in place. Thursday, September 25. 2008NYC Dover Strait Update September 24, 2008 Vestibule End The car has been wyed (turned) again, and Bob Hunter has added the end grills to the flat panels of the vestibule. Here he is touching up the paint on the fasteners. Thursday, September 25. 2008UP 25086 Update September 24, 2008This has not been a forgotten project. Throughout the summer, the fellows have been trying to ready the car for SANDBLASTING!  Sandblasting And on Wednesday, 9/24, the contractor was out doing the deed.  Cleanup Two days later the car had been blasted, and a crew of Joe Luciani, Bill Leider, and Bob Payne were working to clean up the car to get it painted, hopefully early next week! Thursday, September 25. 2008North Shore 757 Update September 24, 2008 Window Hardware Henry Vincent is cleaning and prepping the window retainer plates for North Shore 757. We are planning on making new replacement sash for the badly deteriorated end windows on this car. |
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Comments
Fri, 01-30-2015 12:20
1. The 9933 is still part of the diesel collection. The coach department maintains it as part of the Terror train and for some other fall events when [...]
Thu, 01-29-2015 23:30
Pony has no HEP or M.U. cables at the moment. She is almost pure CZ as she sits now. If her #3 axle had a Spicer Drive on it, you could hook up the [...]
Thu, 01-29-2015 21:06
No, it needs a Stadco generator.
Thu, 01-29-2015 17:00
Hello Dave The Silver Pony does not have Hep or Mu cables on or underneath it. BTY, this Spring we are looking for a group of volunteers to [...]
Thu, 01-29-2015 11:55
Does Pony also have HEP and MU cabling installed? A dome coach would certainly do better in excursion service than a sleeper.
Thu, 01-29-2015 11:34
Well, happy birthday, David. If I had known, I would have come. My birthday was on the 3rd.
Tue, 01-27-2015 22:49
Just keep doing what you do and focus on what you can! A clean shop is a tremendous effort that pays off.
Mon, 01-26-2015 12:08
The 2015 IRM annual meeetings; Rules,safety,election of board members, & any other business, etc. will be held on the 3rd. or 4th. saturday of [...]
Mon, 01-26-2015 01:05
two engine's i had in mmd were the 2 D&H "SharkNose" Diesels currently in Michigan; a once in a lifetime chance.
Sun, 01-25-2015 23:08
The RDC 9933 is part of the coach dept. collection, not the internal combustion dept.
Sun, 01-25-2015 20:52
multiple questions concerning this department: 1. Operating stance on RDC9933? 2. will SP 1518 (Eventually) be repainted into its black widow [...]
Sat, 01-24-2015 17:23
Since you have plenty of 645 part laying around, why hasn't anybody worked on the ATSF FP45? Also, when will you cosmetically restore SP 1518? I think [...]