Illinois Railway Museum Blog

Here are some pics I got while doing work on another MAJOR restoration project.  I am holding that story until the end is in sight.

The Old Saw

Tim Peters was on our large band saw running stock for roof parts for CRT 1797.  Each of these panels has to be custom cut to fit the sags and droops in the carbody roof.  Tim explained that this car was originally built as a trailer, and when converted to a motor car, the weight of the current collection equipment on the roof probably led to some 'settling' of the structure.

Fancy Work

And he followed cutting those new panels for the outside of the clerestory area, on to the bench for painting.  I should note that these were being cut last week, and by today, they were primed, painted, and being installed on the car.  Maybe we should set up a time lapse camera in the barn, and shoot the record of his fine work.

Stoned

No, not an early winter snowdrift, but about 100 TONS of new stone ballast piled at the east end of Barn 3.  We have previously reported progress on the project to replace virtually all of Track 31, and the track guys are doing a great job.  Next on the list - to place all this stone on the new track inside Barn 3; then jack, level, and tamp it.  Anyone got a shovel??