Illinois Railway Museum Blog

Yesterday was a very busy day with the Wood Shop occupied and operating at near capacity.  Lots of volunteers, lots of projects, lots of images!

Rabbeting

John Faulhaber and Rich Witt were completing cutting the rabbet on new window frame pieces for Boston & Maine  1094.  Later in the day, Rich, Buzz and I plunged eight mortises in the side pieces for these windows. Earlier, John had completed sanding and priming for a new letterboard piece for the Milwaukee Electric D 13 dump motor.

Windows

Buzz Morisette continues to fit and finish windows for our MILW 01984 caboose whose bodywork recently recieved new paint.  Here, trim and frames are being fit, tweaked, and fitted for each opening.

Ready to Prime

Later in the afternoon a lot of the frames were ready for priming, along with beading and other trim pieces.

Lettering

Jim Windmeier was applying lettering to some of his first half dozen newly constructed step boxes.

Parts

And here is a Jim Windmeier photo - an overview of the pieces needed to build just one box (each part custom made) and an assembled end product.  These classy step boxes will add to the convenience and safety of our visitors next season.

Another Door

Tim Peters continued on another door for Chicago Rapid Transit 1797.  I wonder if they are multiplying?  Seems like I could count six exterior side and end doors and yet there always seems to be another deteriorated one coming into the shop for work.

Careful Sanding

Victor Humphreys filled any spare moment with some careful sanding of yet more roof saddles being made for Chicago Aurora & Elgin 451.  Earlier in the day we continued with some more prep work for the restoration of our Baltimore and Ohio wagon top boxcar.  Victor is a key player for this project and has shown a lot of leadership.

That is a Surprise

Victor Humphreys and Rich Witt seem to be asking "You want us to do WHAT with this new wood?"  This is new stock delivered the previous day for making new tongue and groove roofing for the restoration of the LA ETB coach.  We had thought maybe something over 600 feet would be needed, but as it turns out, closer to 1100 linear feet will be required.  HMMM - -

Rip It

Richard Schauer and Ray Piesciuk showed up and they were ready to WORK!  Setting up the saw and shop aisles to cut sixteen foot long pieces of this required some juggling.  But this is only the first step.  Next will be planing to thickness, and then machining first the goove on one edge, followed by the tongue on the other.

Checking Each Piece

Depending on how you look at it, these pieces look a lot longer than sixteen feet, if that is possible.

Frank Sirinek picked up one of the new roof saddles for the 451, to check fit against the car roof, Mike Stauber and John Myhre were in the shop for awhile, Shelley Vanderschagen (from the passenger coach department) moved in and set up restoring a seat frame from the Santa Fe, Eric Lorenz and Ed Waytula were on the prowl, and I bet I forgot to mention others and their work.  Yes, a very busy day.