Illinois Railway Museum Blog

Routing

John Faulhaber is using a hand held router and jigs to do stopped chamfers in 32 places on the new station door.  He started early in the morning and finished them all before the end of the day.

Doweling

Lorne Tweed was back in town following what sounded like a fun vacation.  Here he is doweling some wood to be assembled into stock for the four raised panels in the new door.  These are wide solid wood panels and we decided to make them from three ripped planks with the grain pattern alternating, to help stabilize them in use, and make them less prone to warping or cupping.

Assembly

Lorne and Victor Humphreys have the first panel made up and in the glue press.  Note the use of four bowed cauls to help keep the stock aligned vertically while the press clamps work horizontally.  Three more to go, then planing, and 'raising' the panels.

American Saw

The large American table saw is now completely mounted on the new frame and re-assembled.  Lorne and Victor used our A frame to lift the heavy tilting table into place.

Drill It

And for a change of pace here is Dave Diamond and Tom Opolony breaking up paving in front of the west end of Barn 4.  Springtime in Chicago - time to break up the roads!  Actually, in this case a crossing sign had to be relocated as part of the Barn 4 shop expansion.  But Wait - There is More!  Pavement markings indicate that Depot Street will soon be broken up and re-paved from the Thomas loading area crossing north to the Barn 4 leads.  You will not want to miss this project.

We also saw Max Tyms and Roger Smessaert working to set new poles for the trolley bus extension in the mostly dry weather (rain and drizzle later in the afternoon).  There are a number of poles slated to be replaced all around the property due to their failing condition and the two wire extensions underway.