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Thursday, March 25. 2010Wood Shop Update - March 21, 2010Here are some new images 'hot off the press' from the camera of Ray Schmid. Last Sunday we welcomed some new woodworking volunteers, the father and son team of Jim and Tom Windmeier. Their project is to build many wood replica stepboxes in the style of the old metal ones long disappeared from railroad use. These will improve safety and access for those boarding our trains, young and old alike.  Jigs One of the first steps for Jim and Tom was to design the project, and then to proceed to build the first prototype, serial no. 1. This has a lot of tricky angles and cuts so they designed a number of jigs and fixtures to help.  A Sled One of those useful items is this sled designed to run in concert with our tablesaw. A number of blocks and stops are added so parts can be reproduced with a minimum of fussing and measuring.  Coming Together The pieces are carefully fitted to check angles and conformance to the 'idea'.  The Shape Here the four sides (inverted) are held together and then checked. Now you see what he has been doing, huh?  Off Topic Of course this image has nothing to do with the described project but someone who shall remain nameless caught Tim Peters and myself politely discussing an upcoming task. Sort of a laugh and reward for those that read to the end of this entry. Monday, March 22. 2010Passenger Dept Update 2010-03-20GENERAL DEPARTMENT PROGRESS Much of the past few weeks has been spent on housekeeping and organizing. Mike, Ray and Marc spent last Sunday clearing up the east end of Barn 3 to make it presentable for the public in two weeks. With the Villa Falls and Floyd River indoors finally, we have begun to actually get our parts collection organized as well. Signage is being created and installed on all passenger cars not open for visits. New information is being compiled to request info signs for equipment now in public areas. Support for early season special event days is being planned. We continue to spend time performing bench repairs on some spare parts for the collection, and further organizing our parts inventory for the future.
With the budget approved, the wheel switch on the CRIP coach remains a plan for spring. CBQ 1309, a baggage car owned by IRM at least since 2001, (and the baggage mate to our CBQ1923 RPO), remains an intended project. We await progress. The Executive Director has related a stop during the current road trip, and perhaps an inquiry of the information necessary to get this car home. INDIVIDUAL EQUIPMENT REPORTS DLW coaches (3) No changes as of yet Two cars are in service. The third car is still undergoing required structural welding, but finally nearing completion. The platform is in place, and the door and frame have been remounted. CBQ RPO 1923 Progress is being made towards an enhanced event. We also hope to have the car participate in the Memorial Day train, as part of the WWII reenactment. ATSF 2544 The prep work for the second side of seats has continued. Seat frames are being prepared and the wall work nears completion, with paint work being done now. Dover Strait Progress continues piecemeal, as reassembly of the lounge area continues. Corridor painting continues, and hardware installation also continues. The plan is to utilize exterior time during May/June switching in Barn 3 to get the undercarraige painted, and then have it placed in a position to offer interior inspections as well as enhanced exterior visibility.
B&M 3288/1094 No significant changes, beyond the continued progress. Part of the plan for spring includes the possible move of the car to a location where exterior work can be done. DMIR 84 Window Frame repairs continue Yard 5 display RDC 9933 Brake cylinders are being disassembled and rebuilt to ensure long term function of the car. Seat frame repairs are nearing completion. Final baggage rack area has been reinstalled, and lights rewired. CBQ Silver Ridge While we have not had a lot of time in this car, some backdating has been accomplished, and we still hope to have more done for the 2010 season. Roomette sink hardware has been located and installed. light fixtures are being explored to possibly replace more missing pieces. Monday, March 22. 2010Michigan Electric 28 Update - March 14, 2010I had two wonderful volunteers yesterday taking photos so I did not gather any myself. But none of those have been submitted yet for posting so here are some from a week ago that the Michigan crew was intending to post.  Tooling Jeff Brady was creating some new tooling to be used on the lamp bases inside the car.  Summit Meeting Jeff Brady and Norm Krentel resolve some of the issues and next steps to be taken on the project.  Door No. 2 Not like on the TV show, taking what is behind door No. 2. But this is the second of the two new baggage doors with full assembly done and in the press for the glue to dry. By 3/21 both doors were finsih sanded, the stiles had been trimmed, small defects in the surface filled and sanded, and I think some primer applied. Sunday, March 21. 2010Chicago Aurora & Elgin 451 update
Sunday, March 21. 2010Wood Shop Update - March 20, 2010It was a very busy day with a large volunteer crew in the wood shop, as well as many hands on deck in the Electric Car Department. I took some time out to unlimber the camera a few times. We started out making arrangements for an upcoming tour for the Woodstock Woodworkers club and shifted into high gear making sawdust.  The Shop Cart Henry Vincent has been working earlier this week to add new wheels to one of our shop carts, and new timber to act as sides/push arms. Before he could complete the job we were already stacking parts on it.  The Feeder Henry switched over to the shaper crew for testing the final setup on the shaper being used to mill new battens for the depot. The fifty some pieces of stock had been planed to thickness by this time. We are using a power feeder on the machine, but here Henry was in training to start each piece of stock and keep it on track.  Getting in Shape Buzz Morisette was doing more trim and fitting on the new windwos for the MILW 01984 caboose while the shaping was in full swing. The batten crew included (l to r) Dan Fenlaciki, Henry VIncent, and Rich Witt. Victor Humphreys was not in this pic but was invaluable as usual.  Rabbets Buzz needed to make several small rabbets and grooves for tracking the sliding bay windows and here he is making use of a custom jig that has served us well for such work.  Wow By the end of the day Rich Witt was stacking off several hundred feet of finshed depot battens, I think five layers deep in this pic. Lots more to go, come on out. Monday, March 15. 2010Track Dept Weekend Report. March 14, 15Saturday Report from Adam Robillard and Sunday Report from Frank Devries: --------------- 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. Tom and Adam sorting tool boxes 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.  Electric Park Regulated -------------------------------- More of the same......  Brooming 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.  Tamped and Regulated  Tamped and Regulated 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. Frank D. Monday, March 15. 2010Library Update - March 14, 2010One of our important elements in providing services to our members and in fulfilling our educational mission is the operation of the Strahorn Memorial Library, off campus, in nearby Marengo, IL. There you will find a dedicated group of volunteers and an AMAZING collection of railroad related items. Here is a short photo tour courtesy of images from Gwyn Stupar.  Main Entrance Here is the main entrance. The building was constructed as the local public library and later the Museum was able to purchase the building.  Magazines Some of the magazines reside on shelves that we salvaged from the Mount Prospect High School library. They have been refinished, restored, and assembled to provide additional space for the collection.  Official Guides The Strahorn has a comprehensive collection of Official Guides, as well as many Official Railway Equipment Registers.  Art You will find some rare examples of paintings and railway art, some museum quality models, thousands of archived photos and negatives, and well over 15,000 railway and technical books. This is not a lending library, but has regular hours two days per week for walk-in visitors and other times by appointment. It is wise to call ahead as they depend on volunteer staffing, and at least during the winter, really bad weather can cause the open hours to be changed. If you have not been to this IRM operation, you owe it to yourself to visit, help out, or both of the above. |
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Comments
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!!!!!!!
Sun, 05-05-2013 18:53
Ah yes, I have made such Jibs myself. If it were me, I would add in each corner an angled piece from the base to the Jib to act as sway bracing. [...]