Freight Car Department

It has been a long standing tradition that pieces of equipment at IRM have been placed on what is called the Permanent Collection List.  I cannot for sure tell you what it means specifically.  Having the membership vote to place something on that list also means only a vote of the membership can remove something from that list. 

Presumably (by me) that means a piece of equipment is regarded for long term preservation at IRM.

Dave Diamond Photo

Over FOUR DECADES ago we acquired a wood bodied gondola, Chicago & Western Indiana 1185 (circa 1913), which is unique to our collection and has an interesting historical story to tell.  It is the ONLY freight car on or published roster to have been built by Haskell & Barker. However no member support was forthcoming and only $300 of donations in total over 41 years.

Mother nature has taken its toll on this car and at this year's membership meeting the consensus was that this car is not listed as part of our PERMANENT COLLECTION.  This is a hard decision to make but clearly this is beyond our resources to save any longer.  I do not think it can be RESTORED at any cost, but a REPLICA could be built using some of the parts at an estimated cost of $60,000.  As it sits it is a hazard and there is some question it will hold together enough to be moved on its own wheels.

So do not be surprised if this car 'goes away' soon.  This state did not happen in the last two years or five years, or ten, so do not ask me why I did nothing about it.  I suppose many will read this as an obituary and in a way it is.  We celebrate our victories and mourn our fallen comrades.

There continue to exist many wood bodied freight and passenger cars sitting outdoors year around in various states of repair or disrepair.  What can we do to assure this does not happen to more of our collection?  If we do not have the labor or funds to work on them immediately, the simple answer is that we MUST raise funding to place them inside the next Barn Building to be built.  Placing them under roof will serve in effect to arrest over 95% of any continuing deterioration and buy time until the 'next generation' may devote time and energy to them.  Please donate to INDOOR STORAGE SPACE for either of the above departments or to the restricted fund for any individual favorite car.

Here is a short report from Buzz Morisette who has been steadily working on this car.

ATSF 1400

Our roster shows this wood caboose as being built by American Car and Foundry in 1923.  It has several unique features and is well worth preservation. Note the rotating arm and signal disc which could be operated from the cupola.

New Flooring

New flooring was being installed in the interior during summer 2011.

Old Windows

The original or old windows are shown before removal in Spring 2012.  I say original with lack of conviction since historical photographs show a different style and arrangement of the sash.

Mortise and Tenon Detail

The new sash are constructed with exacting precision using traditional joinery featuring mortise and tenons.

New Windows Installed

And the new windows are being installed now, Spring 2012.

And the inevitable commercial message.  A lot of this work, all of it really, is being funded by donations to the restricted fund for this car, R1400.  And as a wood bodied car living outdoors, we greatly hope to raise funding to that same account which will allow us to subscribe to indoor storage space.  Can you help?