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Thursday, September 29. 2011News and Views - September 28, 2011 Windows Rich Witt was sanding old finish off of a window being restored for CA&E 36, and pitched in and gave advice on many other projects.  Cleveland Henry Vincent worked on two light assemblies for the Cleveland PCC, CTS 4223. Earlier, Mike Alterio had done a welding repair on one of the rear bumper channels (on the bench), and we worked to remove old paint and rust from that and a roof grab iron assembly.  Polishing We would like to welcome new volunteer, Don Peterson, who got promptly to work buffing and polishing seat handles for the Sand Springs 68, and later moved to the cleaning up of some of the Cleveland parts.  New Canvas Time Peters has been applying new canvas to the hip roof areas on CRT 1797. From the ground, he is seen up on a lift and tucking and tacking the edges.  Brake Hangers After some shop fabrication work by Rod Turner, Frank Sirinek was ready to install four assemblies on the trucks of Chicago and West Towns 141. Pete Galayda and John Faulhaber were scrunched down below the car sides, installing one in this photo. Thursday, September 29. 2011CCW 300 Update - September 28, 2011We have been very busy lately with special events, but those are now mostly over (with one very large project remaining) and shop work was returning to normal.  For Whom the Bell Tolls Pete Galayda had this bell from the CCW 300 completely refurbished and sitting on the shop bench when we came in. Of course, everyone just HAD to ring it.  Installation Gerry Dettloff and John Faulhaber helped hoist this heavy item up on the hood and then bolted it in.  Head In the Clouds While it looks like Gerry is about to scuff his scalp on the roof rafters, it is just the photo angle and perspective. But this is a RARE shot of Gerry without a hat! Thursday, September 15. 2011News and Views - September 14, 2011 Straphangers Frank Kehoe was out early and painted three racks of straphanger loops and support pipes. These are removed from CRT 1797 and had been cleaned and ready to paint. It is amazing how another set of helping hands makes the progress much faster.  Caulking Speaking of another set of hands, Tim Peters was hit by a car last week, suffering a broken arm and other cuts and bruises. Nevertheless he was on site caulking window sills on the CRT 1797. It was his left arm!  Orange Paint And later on there was orange finish paint going on the belt rail and letterboards. This really snaps out the months of work and repairs, and replacing the rotted and damaged parts of the wood sides, pillars, and window trim.  Then There Was None Virtually all the track on track 31 inside Barn 3 has had new panel track laid in. Now the 200 feet or so or track through the door and outside have been removed. Dave Diamond is directing Nick Kallas in the bobcat to prepare the grade.  Painting By now you may realize that a large part of a volunteer life is painting. Roger Kramer has cleaned and stripped old layers of failed paint from the east end of the Pullman car, John Mc Loughlin, and is seen here spray painting the new primer. Thursday, September 15. 2011B&O Wagon Top Update - September 14, 2011 A End Despite unsettled skies, it did not rain after 10 AM or so and Victor Humphreys is sanding primed areas on the A end. At the same time Mike Alterio fabricated the two remaining grab irons for the B end and installed them.  Priming Done Here is an overall view of the north side and A end of the car. The A end and four side panels have had welding and repairs completed, been primed, sanded, and re-primed. It is quite a visual difference in person, so look closely at the pic to compare the left side, largely 'painted' in rust, with the right half of the completed work.  Roof Meanwhile the roof needs some attention. We have been diligently working to have it sandblasted and prime painted by a contractor due to the gratings and other details that make it impractical to do by hand. So far, since the beginning of August we have hired two different guys to make this happen, and both have been unable to do the job. It is not that complicated. So, if any of you have a cousin or uncle that is a legitimate sandblaster, please have them contact me so this can be completed before winter. (Temperature early this AM about 40 F). And yes this will cost money so if you can see your way to helping support the work, donations may be sent to fund R374065. Thanks Thursday, September 15. 2011CTS 4223 Update - September 14, 2011We had a skeleton crew today but that did not stop Lorne Tweed from continuing to make progress on the project.  Standee Windows Lorne is painting the interior of the sides in the standee window areas. I think all of the remaining ones are now painted and ready to have the rubber gasket and glass installed. That will make a big impact on the appearance of the car from the outside. Tuesday, September 13. 2011Leviathan and Nebraska Zephyr to operate for Museum Showcase Weekend
Leviathan #63, an American 4-4-0 steam locomotive, will operate two more days at the Illinois Railway Museum this weekend, Museum Showcase Weekend - September 17th and 18th, pulling coaches and delighting many. This may be the last opportunity this year to ride behind Leviathan, with both day and night trips, and experience the sights and sounds of a live steam locomotive.
 Crowds of people gather around Leviathan 63, an American 4-4-0. Museum Showcase Weekend celebrates the Museum collection and honors the members who make it work! Daytime operations begin at 10:00AM on Saturday and Sunday and end about 5:30PM. Trains leave the main station approximately every 15 minutes or as required. Night operations begin at 8:00PM on Saturday, September 17th. The Nebraska Zephyr will operate both Saturday and Sunday, September 17th and 18th, along with many other pieces of historic railway equipment, including Caboose trains, Interurbans, Steetcars and more. For a complete list of equipment operating, visit Museum Showcase Weekend Information. Your admission ticket entitles you to an unlimited number of train rides, as well as our several barns with over two miles of indoor track, and our collection of over 400 pieces of railroad rolling stock. Your membership includes admission to the Museum, a subscription to Rail & Wire, and more. The Illinois Railway Museum is an independent volunteer operation, relying on admission fees, membership dues, and contributions. It is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational corporation. Schedules and operating equipment subject to change without notice. For information about the Museum, visit our website at http://www.irm.org/ or recorded information available by calling 815-923-4000 or 800-BIG-RAIL. We look forward to seeing you and your family and friends. Monday, September 12. 2011News and Views - September 10 ad 11, 2011Armed with good intentions, I caught this view of John Faulhaber early in the morning.  Taking a Shine to It John worked over several seat handles destined for Sand Springs 68 at our buffing and polishing station. He did a good job! Then a multitude of activities over both weekend days seemed to keep my hands busy to where no more photos got taken. John Mc Kelvey continued faithfully reupholstering North Shore seats, and prep work continued for our upcoming hosting the national Old Wood Working Machine convention. This is a fascinating event with clinics and demos that would interest many of you for the weekend of 9/24 and 9/25. But sorry, it a closed event and requires pre registration. Museum work in the wood shop area will be suspended for those two days. Victor Humphreys took advantage of good weather and over both days, sanded and re primed about a half of boxcar side. A LOT of work for one guy. Some efforts were spent starting to get things ready for the upcoming Members Showcase activities. And just like that, it was time to go home. |
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Comments
Sun, 05-20-2012 17:31
I would like to make a note of a couple of things. The sandblasting process involves taking the sand like material, called blackblast, and smashing it [...]
Fri, 05-18-2012 22:48
This is one interesting freight car. I've been browsing images on-line of these B&O wagon-top cars lately, and noticed a variety of lettering and [...]
Fri, 05-18-2012 12:03
Mark, Its hard to say if 760 will be running in early July. It will be for Diesel Days, but I can't answer yet if we'll have it ready sooner than [...]
Thu, 05-17-2012 13:13
Im going to drive from California to the Chicago area in early July and staying for about 3 weeks. Im a big fan of FM units. Any chance the MILW 760 [...]
Sun, 05-13-2012 11:44
Line sidewalks and steets with rail ties and fill with small pea gravel. Similar to construction near Lincoln Home in Springfield, IL.
Fri, 05-11-2012 10:45
Thank you. If you are send pics to Irm in mail,Please make it attention Roger Kramer. Thanks..
Thu, 05-10-2012 17:08
I will be sending some color photos of the CGW 285 shortly after rebuilding by the CGW. And yes, they had chrome grabs and the end gate. I had been [...]
Thu, 05-10-2012 12:58
Yes there are some chrome plated partsespecially on the sissors gate. Unfortunately, they were recently taken off, and left in the gravel. I have [...]
Thu, 05-10-2012 00:46
The book "Chicago Great Western Color Guide" (Morning Sun) has some interesting notes about these CGW combines: [BEGIN QUOTE] "In 1954 the CGW bought [...]
Sun, 05-06-2012 21:42
Nigel, What you just told me is great news. YOU clarified things for me.
Sun, 05-06-2012 20:34
Wally, I must say that I am puzzled by this comment. The whole driver for the current work is the major FRA mandated inspection (15 year 1472 [...]
Sun, 05-06-2012 16:39
I am just afraid that by the time 1630 is up and ready to run, it will have to be dismantled again to do the Federally mandated inspection. I am [...]