Illinois Railway Museum Blog

Saturday Report from Adam Robillard and Sunday Report from Frank Devries:

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Today was just one of those days things just seemed to go right.  It's about time I'd say.

The day started early with Frank and myself and the first order of business was to make a run to Farm & Fleet for some hydraulic oil and parts.  While we were away, JD Marzec and Greg Frech both showed up willing to work!  They did some invaluable work 'derusting' and lubing track bolts in the shop and did a fine job.  Upon our return we hit the machine maint. work.  Frank filled the hydraulic on the switch tamper and began testing the new pump he had installed previously.  Unfortunately it turns out the pump is pumping the wrong direction... a bit more trouble shooting and adjusting will be needed to hopefully get the machine back to 100% soon.  JD, Greg and I topped off the hydraulic on the 6000 tamper and about that time Tom Hunter joined the gang.  We did some QC bolt work on the 6000 and cleaned up the tool boxes and prepared to tamp.. The original plan was to do a walking inspection of the main line but the hit or miss weather was enough to keep us close to home.

During lunch we formulated a plan for the rest of the day.  Frank, JD and Greg set to do an oil/ filter change on the Amtrak Ballast regulator which desperately needed it. The air filter is the color of dirt and as Frank put it "hasn't seen daylight since the Carter Administration..."  Tom and I ran to Napa for oil and filters and Frank, JD and Greg prepped the machines in Yard 11.  While that gang was doing the oil, Tom and I switched out the 6000 tamper and began tamping the Streetcar line between Electric Park and the S-Curves.  The initial goal was to test the machine from its winter work and break it back in.  Amazingly everything seemed to work well and only a few minor adjustments will have to be made.  We spent the next four hours tamping the carline and after the Regulator was finished Frank, JD and Greg ran it around to our work area and began regulating the freshly tamped track.  Jeron Glander joined the gang later in the day and did a great job running the regulator after JD and Greg needed to leave.  The four of us worked well into the evening hours surfacing the track with our recreation of an Amtrak surfacing gang.  The ballast regulator made it through the day but the backlog of work continues to pile up.  A few things fell off the machine unexpectedly but nothing to stop the machine from working.  By the end of the evening we had the track fully tamped and a majority of the regulating complete.  Some more work will have to happen in the daylight but otherwise it is mostly complete.  Its amazing how much work can be done with a few good machines and a great crew.  Next up we'll begin tamping the mainline... There is plenty of surfacing work there to keep us busy for a while.  Thanks to all who helped today.  We accomplished an incredible amount of work, far more than any of us expected. Thanks, Adam Robillard

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More of the same......

Today started late, with the time change and all. I arrived at about 10AM and was joined by Jeron around 11.

The first task was to determine the electrical short on the regulator. When the lights were knocked off during the barn 11 project, the one light was hanging by the wire. Seems during our work on Saturday, it came in contact with the muffler, burned through the insulation and shorted. Jeron had noticed the high amp readings Saturday night. A quick clip of the wire resolved the short. The light bulb was broken in that light anyway. I noticed most of the lights are burned out on the machine. Next trip out I will pick up some spares from Napa.

We fired up the regulator and resumed the plowing and brooming of the carline between Electric park and the S curve. After a short period of time Jeron noticed a hydraulic leak. I sent him back to yard 11 to put the machine away. Jeron found the leak was a loose hydraulic hose, and with quite a bit of trouble, tightened up the loose connection. Apparently like all track machines it was not as easy as putting a wrench on and tightening. From what I understand it involved a hydraulic power pack unit, and a lot of contortionist like moves. Once fixed, it was back to work. Brooming and plowing continued until another leak was noticed. Seems the valve for the oil pan had worked itself loose. When the leak was noticed we shut down quick, and resolved the leak. So that machine had it's second oil change this weekend. I will hit up the hardware store to get a plug for that valve to avoid a similar issue from happening again!!! By the end of the day
the track looks really good. There is still a bit of box work to be done, but it is a huge improvement.  

While Jeron was fixing the hydraulic leak, I went for a walk. Track walking that is... I was able to inspect from East Station switch to Signal 251. During that walk, I found several loose joints, a couple of hanging joints that will get fixed when we tamp, but no breaks, no other defects that will affect opening day. I also marked several piles of OTM and scrap along the main for pick up with the 50. Brush through this stretch looks good. A touch up could be in order around Karsten's, but that's about it. I also marked ties for replacement between E. Station and Karsten's. I think the total was around 140 ties. I marked 5 ties off the bridge to ensure we have good support going into the bridge.

Photos have been posted of the Carline results in the gallery below. A few shots of things from barn 10 as well.
http://www.irm.org/gallery/album240

Frank D.