As we set to work in the morning it was raining so we moved into the wood shop. Dave Rogan, Rich Witt, and I manufactured about 50 feet of special profile molding (two different shapes) to act as stop jambs for the window and door openings. The rain stopped so everyone shifted gears and went to our 'outdoors' shop space.
Buzz Morrisette was fastest on duty and he continues to cut out damaged flooring and to replace the heavy boards.
Mr. Hans Bolt was visiting IRM from Switzerland and we showed him the plow work in progress. Dave Rogan is explaining the mechanism for moving the plow wings.
Victor Humphreys set up ladders to work in tight places once we opened the plow wing. He wirebrushed all the areas needlechipped of many layers of old paint, and then set about applying primer.
It is pretty easy to see large flat areas of the side that are cleaned and ready for paint. But there are a lot of odd details still needing attention. Dave steadies the ladder while Victor gets to the upper rear edge of the wing.
There is always some task ready for attention. When Victor did not need a ground man for the high painting, Dave Rogan set up a needle chipper and began to attack the steps under the rear door. Dave also did some work chipping the cast steel door threshholds during 'intermissions'.
Here is your quiz for the day. The rear truck has casting marks indicating it was originally for the New York Central. Interesting, but not unheard of for rail equipment to have had their trucks swapped for any number of reasons or maintenance. But look at this image. To the right of the bolster pocket there is a raised part of the casting, with a hole in it, and a slot behind that hole with a sheet metal retainer of some sort. There is one on each side of the bolster pocket. Does anyone have an idea what their purpose was??
We considered that these are freight car trucks. Parts of the NYC ran from third rail but no reason to attach any kind of device to pick up current for a freight car, and unlikely there could have been any need for an inductance box or other device to be hung there, to trigger signal indications.
Comments
Wed, 04-11-2018 11:28
You mention in the header that you would like to have the Electroliner operational by its birthday. Was it?
Sun, 04-08-2018 20:03
As a child, IRM was always my favorite place to visit. Well, other than grandma's house next to the Geneva Sub. It's been many years since I now [...]
Wed, 04-04-2018 16:01
Those temporary walls could be constructed in a way that allows their reuse after the phase is done to close off the new phases.
Tue, 03-27-2018 03:08
Why did the smoke box cover on the shay need to be replace Do?
Mon, 03-26-2018 16:29
It never ceases to amaze me of the diligence and passion of the current mix of volunteers associated with IRM in 2018. Back when I was a active [...]
Mon, 03-26-2018 11:10
Awesome paint job Jamie!!! I never would of thought with the Rock Island history this locomotive in this scheme would of been preserved. Thanks for [...]
Sun, 03-25-2018 23:56
The Hick's blog lists it as Fruit Grower's Express FGEX #55407. Arrived in Union June 2016.
Sun, 03-25-2018 20:51
Good job on the diesel update 2018. Sincere, Ethan A.
Sun, 03-25-2018 20:45
Good job on the steam update 2018. Sincere, Ethan A.
Sun, 03-25-2018 00:12
Bill, The 1990 Roster has the PFE #68428; this may be the reefer that we saw moved. It is a rare car and deserves a paint job. Ted Miles, [...]
Fri, 03-16-2018 11:10
It would be rather difficult to operate an 11,000 Volt AC locomotive on our 600 Volt DC wire.
Thu, 03-15-2018 05:57
Good job steam update. Sincerely, Ethan A.