Freight Car Department

The weather forecast was bleak.  By 9:30 AM it was heavy rain, with water pouring off the building roofs.  Thankfully, the rain stopped, although we did not see the sun the rest of the day.

The Freight Department held a brief Dedication Event for the UP 3786 caboose.  Restoration is complete and the car is released for regular service in operations.

The Team

The restoration team was represented by Project Manager Joe Luciani and crew member Lee Regione.  There were a few remarks, then the public was invited for a walk-through of the restored interior, prior to the three car train departing for a full mainline trip.  Every seat was filled in all three cars, and some potential riders had to be turned away to await the next trip.

The Train

Here is the train on Station Track One between trips.  It looked good and there was a lot of interest from visitors and members alike.  The train was pulled by electric locomotive L4 from the TMER&L, crewed by Ray Weart.

At Wheaton

I could not resist adding another shot for all you trolley fans out there.  Julie Johnson is in the cab, getting ready to operate a three car steel CA&E train. These cars were looking better than they probably did departing Wheaton for the Loop over a half century ago.  In order, cars 409, 431, and 460.  WOW!

The days are getting shorter and there is a noticeable chill in morning air.  Each year at this time the Freight Car Department, and I am sure others at IRM, begin to scramble around to finish up things before winter really sets in.

But this year we are feeling pretty good.  Overall, I would say we had a lesser level of volunteer participation in our department, but seemingly accomplished a lot.  Maybe we just did not bite off as much in our hopes and plans.

URTX 26640

As of yesterday we can say that the 2 year long restoration work is completely finished for this car.  The last of the lettering (a lot!) was applied along with some trim and touch up painting.

The UP 3786 caboose has been completed and ran in train service for the first time over the Labor Day weekend.

The CGW 601 caboose has had a difficult air brake problem and has not operated for several years.  The repairs were diagnosed and completed, it also joined the caboose train and ran Labor Day weekend.

New windows were made and installed, and the roof painted on caboose IC 9792, and if we can complete the inspection and oiling, it will join five others in operation for Members Showcase.

Our small group also did a lot of work in other areas.  Notable was the complete re-upholstering of all seats in our TM 972 streetcar.  (Well almost, the last four cushions are being picked up today.)

On a more personal note I completed two new windows and finished installing them yesterday in the Sand Springs 68 (one had been destroyed by an energetic visitor last September.)  This was pursued as sort of a fill in job, but got done nevertheless.

A myriad of other projects included making about a third of a mile of new battens for our depot, purchasing a new planer for the wood shop, and seeing and helping in a great increase of work through the wood shop over the last 12 months.

All in all, as I said, we are feeling pretty good.

But I guess everything cannot be done as planned.  We REALLY HOPED to have our hopper GN 70104 repainted this season.  In March we were notified that a company would donate the needed primer and paint.  In June we received notification that it would be shipped in one or two days.  Three months later and no paint, and the weather will not be very good from here on out for an outdoor project.  The option is to buy the needed materials and supplies, but we are about $3000 short for that.  If you also would like to see another car completed, please send a donation in any amount to fund R70104.

And now it is time to look forward into the future.  What car or piece of equipment would you like to see us tackle and restore?  Our B&O wagon top boxcar has been mentioned and I am sure it would be a fan favorite running in one of our freight trains.  There is a lot of rusted out steel needing repair on the body, and this MAY mean hiring a welder and buying steel.  But we have done a lot of the research and have drawings and diagrams.

Next might be to consider our other insulated boxcar, the one with CRIX reporting marks decorated with North American Car "Insulcar".

We have a lot of material already on hand for one of my favorites, a Fowler boxcar, NP 49444.

What would be your choice (anything can be nominated)? Please realize our prime outdoor season is six months at best, as we have no shop space for freight car projects.  That does not mean we would sit idle until next spring as many needed parts are fabricated and produced in the wood shop over the winter.  If you would wish to support the effort no matter the ultimate choice, donations are sorely needed and can be sent to the department fund RFRTCR.  Mark that fund on your check and it will be handled as a restricted donation, and of course, tax deductible per IRS regulations.

I would be remiss to presume you would think this was the work of one or two folks as many, many members and friends pitched in and made the above 'completed' list possible.  I hope to hear back from you and appreciate the support.

First Trip

On Saturday at 12:15 PM the first caboose run in 'public service' was made with UP 3786.  Also in the consist was our CGW 601 which has had a nagging air brake problem (now repaired), and CB&Q 13572.  The above image shows what the consist and motive power was for that first trip.

The train ran all three days and with a variety of motive power.  It was very nice to see CB&Q 504 on the front with matching caboose bringing up the markers, but I believe gremlins were hard at work.  So the SP 1518 served some trips and on Monday afternoon, I believe TMER&L L4 was the electric engine that pulled the train.

Many of you are aware that Buzz Morisette has been working some time on making new windows and other repairs for this caboose.  Years ago we did a fairly substantial amount of work on this car and began to run it in service.  But many years of storage outdoors over our winters had caused many of the wood windows to rot, and the paintwork to look VERY tired.

Prep Work

Enter the spirit of co-operation and assistance.  The caboose is now inside Barn 2 for a new paint job, and we see about half of one side sanded down.  Thank you Jamie Kolanowski for doing the work at this stage and for furnishing the image.