Illinois Railway Museum Blog

Pedestal

Simon Harrison is showing us one of four pedestals used on CTS 4223 for mounting the trolley pole to the roof.  It seems an odd and maybe overcomplicated system to an old guy like me, not used to working on anything newer than 1940.  Anyway we are moving along to get a trolley pole mounted to the car.  These parts were salvaged from a car to be scrapped by cutting out an entire section of the roof where they were mounted.  Needless to say there was some torch work, grunting, and cussing.  But there are now the needed four of these, cleaned up and ready for paint.

Interior

Dave Rogan and Jim Leonard worked inside the car installing some fussy interior panels.

Running Boards

Frank Sirinek was using the air powered needle chipper to remove many layers of paint from the metal fittings on the running boards of Vera Cruz 19, our operating open car.

Windows

Randy Hicks and Rich Witt were working on refinishing window sash for CA&E 36.  Dusty work and fussy work, not too glamorous.  We are lucky to have tireless volunteers like Rich Witt who are willing to work on any task at hand.

Parts

Tim Peters was doing some "hot work" with the torch as he continues for needed parts for Chicago Rapid Transit 1797.  Burn off those rusty bolts, Tim.  You may have read elsewhere on the web that Tim is working on a mate for a wood L car in the 1200 series to match and go with the 1268 which he completed about a year ago.  Not exactly.  The 1268 is a control trailer and not motorized.  The 1797 was at one early point also a trailer but was  modernized and converted to a motor car, a completely different design and series.  But both are painted brown.