Illinois Railway Museum Blog

Despite the continued heat, a lot of work was seen around the site.

Windows

So, we are off and running here with more WINDOW work.  Buzz Morisette is glazing new sash for the ATSF 1400 caboose, the ones in the foreground have the first coat of paint done and dry, waiting for their turn on the bench. 

More Windows

Ray Schmid is giving some attention to restored sash frames for the Michigan Electric 28.  That project has been fortunate to work to get some funding, and these are being restored by an outside contractor.

Trolley Boards

Lorne Tweed is doing the engineering work for installing the new roof boards (they are heavy) and have been machined and prime painted in this pic.  He is measuring twice and figuring out dimensions for steel bars that are to be made to be used in assembling the many parts for our Cleveland Transit System 4223 PCC car.

Spring Forward

Work continues on truck assembly for our TM 972 Milwaukee Streetcar.  New springs have been placed on one side of the truck frame.

It RUNS

Here is the Tim Peters project, Chicago Rapid Transit 1797 on our inspection pit.  I asked the innocent question, "When did it last operate?"  I was greeted by a chorus of  "FIVE MINUTES AGO!!".  What I meant was of course how long it has sat idle waiting for this day.  Interrupted by years and years of work.  The real answer I sought was supplied by Bill Wulfert who reported that it last ran on July 19, 1958 - almost 54 years ago to the day.  On that day it was delivered to our North Chicago site by running under its own power on the CNS&M.  Look to see it in our annual Trolley Pageant on July 7 this year.