Illinois Railway Museum Blog

DEJA VU - ALL OVER AGAIN!

Yes, folks, it is time to re-new an old friendship and an old project.

Erich Russ Photo

At almost this same time four years ago we were hot on the trail of CGW 4051, a rare Russell Snow Plow.  This is a piece of equipment not represented in our collection, is a piece of Midwest railroad history, and few if any remain today.  The plow was built by Russell in 1936 as a single track version of a wedge plow, and was delivered as CGW X 38.  IRM Board approval was in place, we had but a few weeks to make this happen before the threat of scrapping would begin.

At the last minute we were advised that another preservation group had moved in and 'poached' this piece and IRM was out of the picture.  UP had donated it to them.  FAST FORWARD.  The plow still exists and sits where pictured above in Milwaukee.  The other group failed to execute a move to their site, and it still needs to be 'gone' from the railroad.  The other group did not comply with the terms of the agreement to move that piece, and have been contacted by IRM Executive Director Nick Kallas.  They make no claims as to ownership or have any further interest in this plow.

So we are back in the race!  Yesterday Nick and another member were on site in Wisconsin preparing for a move of the plow to IRM.  It could happen SOON!

I have gone back and done a search for messages on the IRMlist site - it was our defacto BLOG and CHAT site at the time.  There are many posts in that string and many of you came forward with interest in the project and pledged donor support.  NOW IS THE TIME to make good on your pledges.  And perhaps to increase the promised amount??  Anyone else out there, please consider helping to cover the costs of this acquisition, help is needed.  Mark your donation for CGW 4051.

Thank you.

This entry will be picture heavy - we accomplished something with the reinvigorated and larger project team that has been in the works for some time.  Inside the car body is a large sheet metal ceiling panel for the rear end of the car.  We have been tripping over it, moving it, and even cleaning and priming it.  But it is too large to remove from the car for storage elsewhere, so the logical step is to install it where it belongs.

Up in the Air

Here the so called 'clamshell' is already up in the air.  Shown is Frank Sirinek fastening new screws into the rear margin while Dave Rogan mans a brace to keep it in position.  The exciting part was getting six guys into a cramped space to do the heavy lifting and wrestle the ungainly piece into place.  Lorne Tweed, Dave Rogan, Frank Sirinek, Buzz Morisette, Victor Humphreys, and Bob Kutella helped.

Screwed

There are a precious few screws holding the rear edge into place, while Dave Rogan and Lorne Tweed try to align and place some fasteners along the front edge.

Advice

Lorne is adding more screws while Frank Sirinek offers advice.  Frank might justifiably be nicknamed "Mr PCC" on site and he cheerfully stopped what he was working on and joined the crew.

Almost There

I said I took too many pics, this one from the outside through a window while Frank, Lorne and Dave add more screws.

Priming

In the shop, Simon Harrison was applying new primer to some of the panels cleaned last weekend and is explaining the finer points to Dave Rogan.

Done

So here it is, looking for all the world like it has been there all along.  But a milestone nevertheless as the restoration moves forward.  NEXT?  There is another 'clamshell' waiting for attention, to be installed in the front end.