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Thursday, February 25. 2010Tuesday, February 23. 2010GE Quality Builds Jobs, Burlington Northern 5383 5383 electrical cabinet "GE Quality Builds Jobs" is what was printed on a placard right above the work area on Burlington Northern 5383 this past Sunday, as the reverser was removed to be repaired. Early last year, the reverser failed during a load box test that we normally do after the locomotives inspection. The steel of the top rear of the electrical cabinet had deteriorated, with a change in rpm during the load box test, the intermittent vibration throughout the locomotive caused a large enough piece of rust to drop from the top of the cabinet into the reverser while it was under load.  5383 reverser The loco was making about 1,800HP at the time based on the calculation done from the meter plugged into the multiplier card. The rust just happened to fall into the reverser on the center two lugs which are the main positive and negative feeds from the diode banks of the alternator. All the diodes were tested and all are in good shape. The damage was on the back side of the reverser as it was mounted and it was quickly determined that a repair wasn't going to be easy and not going to be done in place.  Tagged and disconnected cables and bus bars On the 15th, Dan C came out to tag and label all of the cables and start unbolting all the connections and bus bars. On the 21st, Wes L and Jim W removed it from the 5383 and placed it on a bench in the shop. Some pictures have been uploaded to a photo gallery. The next steps are to start hunting down parts to replace the burned up insulators in the reverser. At the same time we'll need to take the torch to the fresh paint and start replacing the supports and top of the back half of the electrical cabinet. The estimated cost of the repairs at this point is about $1,500.Monday, February 22. 2010Wood Shop Update - February 21, 2010 Sitting Down Wayne Baksic is working to resize a bench seat cushion for the CNW 7700 passenger car. Shelly V (not pictured) also worked on this. Wayne is a jack of all trades and earlier he helped finish up the new dust pickup and grounding for the Delta HD shaper.  The Plane Truth The Michigan Electric 28 crew was hard at work. Norm Krentel is behind the ductwork 'catching' stock as it is discharged from the planer. Jeff Brady moves to grab another panel to feed in, while Wayne Baksic looks on. There was some additional shop work, fitting was completed for window number five, now ready to be glued and destined for our B&M 1094 passenger car, and some measurement and layout work on a new door. Sunday, February 21. 2010Chicago Aurora & Elgin 451 update Roof Prep and Repairs  Chipping the last side Some mechanical work has been started as well, the bad order air compressor has been removed for some work. The batteries have been services and charged. Traction motor leads have been reconnected. Additional work will continue as time and space permits between all the body prep work. Additional photos have been added to the CA&E 451 Restoration Gallery. To continue this aggressive restoration project into the Priming and Painting stage, additional monies and donations are still needed. To help with this project, please consider a donation to the Electric Car Department Car Painting Fund, your support will be appreciated. Sunday, February 21. 2010North Shore Line 749 Progress
While it has been a few months since the last update for the 749, most of the exterior restoration work has been completed for a few weeks. The final coats of paint have been applied, along with the majority of the detail work, all the doors, and much more. The heralds were applied by Buzz on Saturday the 20th. The numbers still need to be completed and applied. 749's inspections have been started as well. Over the next week or two, the 749 should be removed from the Diesel/Paint shop to make room for another CA&E car. Additional photos are available in the 749's restoration gallery.
Sunday, February 21. 2010Wood Shop Update - February 20, 2010 The Rout to Success Victor Humprheys is setting up the router as we get a little creative in using this tool for an unusual task.  Good Supervision is Important Randy Hicks considers the job Greg Ceurvorst is doing to sand more windows for CA&E 319.  Prime Paint Tim Peters has made up a wheelbarrow load of new trim pieces for the new clerestory windows (now installed) on CRT 1268. And of course they all need painting to be ready to install as time goes by.  Dust Pickup Another of our largely invisible ongoing work tasks is maintaining the shop and tooling. Jerry Lynn trims and fits a new custom made dust pickup hood for our Delta HD shaper. Earlier, he installed a new duct and drop for this machine. THANK YOU, Jerry! And a lot of other work was noted in the shop area, in spite of me not taking time out to snap pics. Three additional new window sash were glued by Buzz M and Victor H for the MILW 01984 caboose. More work on a new door by Bob K and Victor H.; the new CNS&M herald applied in Barn 2 to the NS 749; work continuing on the Cleveland PCC project; retriever/catcher cleaning and rebuilding by the trolley coach department; more condiut and wiring for the new shop space addition on Barn 4; and I am sure a bunch of work I did not mention or note here. STEAM FANS - welding of the new tube sheet patch on the front end of the Shay was being done!!! Saturday, February 20. 20102010 IRM Snowflake Special on the CTA
Join the members of the Illinois Railway Museum as they tour the Chicago Transit Authority's "L" lines on Sunday, March 28th, 2010.
The four car train will consist of Chicago's oldest cars in revenue
service, the 2200-series cars built by Budd in 1969-1970 and scheduled
for replacement by the 5000-series cars now being built. Beginning at
Rosemont station (River Road) on the Blue Line, the trip will travel on
almost every line, plus lots of non-revenue and yard trackage. Purchase your tickets online now.
This snowflake special excursion, using CTA's 2200 series cars, is a fundraiser to secure indoor storage space for IRM's 2000 series cars, sister cars to those shown here in their original green and white paint scheme on the Lake Street line. Departure: 9:00am from Rosemont (Blue Line) station, at 5801 N. River Road in Rosemont. Parking is available in the Rosemont "Park & Ride" lot for $5. Riders may also board at Rosemont southbound at approximately 9:20am, Jefferson Park station (4917 N. Milwaukee Ave.) at approximately 9:35am, or Clark/Lake station (124 W. Lake Street) at approximately 10:05am; to board train at these alternate Blue Line stations, hold up ticket in plain view of motorman and excursion crew. Fare: $42.00 per person. Orders received after March 20 will be held for pickup at Rosemont. No refunds after March 20, 2010. Purchasing tickets online is preferred. Lunch: Lunch stops will be provided in the Loop. Note: Because we are covering so many lines, the trip will conclude at Rosemont about 6:00 pm. We will make earlier stops upon request. The train is NOT wheelchair accessible. |
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Comments
Sun, 05-19-2013 22:13
Hello again. I had an idea that was (somewhat rudely, mid-sentence) dismissed in talking to a museum volunteer a few years back, but here it goes [...]
Thu, 05-16-2013 21:52
Looking good Bob! I hope to come out soon once I'm done with school.
Wed, 05-15-2013 21:28
I was not around at the time. General discussion suggests that it was "pretty marginal" in a number of areas. Nigel
Mon, 05-13-2013 11:08
"THUMBS UP!"
Fri, 05-10-2013 02:15
No, it will not be necessary to hold any of the work waiting for the plow to be turned, end for end. Weather will be the major factor, but there will [...]
Thu, 05-09-2013 19:54
The CGW X-38 plow is really coming to life. Bob Kutella and Vic and crew need to be very proud of your collective efforts. I am very appreciative of [...]
Thu, 05-09-2013 15:20
The snowplow looks great! Are you going to apply the door and upper windows befor it is turned to continue work?
Thu, 05-09-2013 09:09
Max, Is there any progress to report yet, in regards to the installation of the poles and overhead wires? Have a good day, sir.
Wed, 05-08-2013 18:40
Thanks for the update! I still don't understand why Commonwealth #5 was removed from service. Do you know why?
Tue, 05-07-2013 09:28
Mr. Kolanowski.....I was just wondering if the Spaulding webcam will be up and running soon for us stay-at-homes. Thanks!2FP
Mon, 05-06-2013 23:04
Max, Has work begun yet on the construction phase of erecting the poles and putting up the wire? Wish I could be there to watch it happen.
Mon, 05-06-2013 23:02
Keep up the good work, Bob. Wish I could be there to help!!!!!!!