Wood Shop

Mystery Car

I saw this unknown car on Track 41 as I was preparing to leave the Museum.  Do any of you sharp eyed readers notice some of the characteristic spotting features?

Lift Pockets

Earlier, back in the woodshop, Victor Humphries and John Faulhaber did a lot to ensure that all of the lift pockets got routed out in the nine new IC 3996 windows.  Using a combination of a purpose constructed jig, and many clamps, the task involved much less setup for each window.

Tapped Out

Eric Lorenz was drilling and tapping threaded holes in the window posts to allow subsequent installation of the window track assemblies.  Recent posts have shown other volunteers laboring over those tracks.  Lorne Tweed was also active on this project, doing window frame work and several other tasks.

The End

Bill Wulfert and Tim Peters were installing new sheet metal panels on Chicago Rapid Transit 1797.  Last year some of the original panels had been quickly painted and placed there for cosmetic purposes only.  Now the new panels have been installed.

Back to the mystery car.  It is Illinois Terminal 415, the first trolley to be operated at IRM.  For many years it has been the stalwart backbone of service for the public, serving many more years than for any previous railroad owner.  We had an aggressive and perhaps optimistic plan to have the car re-painted over the winter, but a lot of things had to fall into place.  As in any volunteer program that does not always work out perfectly.  So in the above picture Joel Arendt and Dan Fenlaciki are up on the roof and applying a new coat of sealing gray paint.  It will help buy us more time until the day the 415 can retire to some much needed maintenance, painting, and repairs.