Illinois Railway Museum Blog

Here are some pictures of current work ongoing with our passenger cars.  Most think of our volunteers coming out to help on one of the two weekend days, but almost any day of the week you will see a few hardy souls 'sneaking' in a day on their favorite project.  Thanks to Roger Kramer for the report.

IC 3345

Illinois Central 3345 is a lightweight grill coach built by American Car and Foundry in 1948.  It arrived at IRM in 1999 and has seen regular restoration efforts and improvements.  Roger Kramer is inside the car, in front of the last LARGE glass window to be replaced.

LAST Window

Andy Townsend, project leader, and Roger are outside the very last window needing to be replaced.  When this one is in, all windows on the car will have been reinstalled.  This is a round porthole style which will receive prism glass as a privacy feature for the men's lavatory.  But first, sheet metal needs to be repaired on the exterior.

First Cuts

Andy is making do using two sawhorses in the back of Barn 3 to lay out and begin cutting new aluminum.  This is the work area that suffices for now as the Passenger Department Workshop.

Shaping

Then Andy carefully nibbles and grinds the sheet to shape.

L and N Diner

Gerry Boguse was out working inside one of our diners, L&N 2726, the ex GALT HOUSE.  This car is another product from American Car & Foundry, but a heavyweight design built in 1930 and arriving at IRM in 1987.

What are the plans??  That depends a lot on support for these projects.  A large amount of work is accomplished with very little money spent.  But wouldn't the 3345 look good in modern IC chocolate brown and orange if funds for paint and other supplies can be found?  And there are plans and prospects to hopefully return the 2726 to train service and perhaps offer some form of food service while riding the IRM mainline.

So donations are needed and will be very much appreciated for these projects - fund R3345 for the IC car, fund R2726 for the diner.