Illinois Railway Museum Blog

These BLOG entries are delayed this week due to some largely self induced problems.  Special Thanks to Rod Turner for helping to resolve the issue.

This new acquisition has seen remarkable progress on several fronts since arriving at IRM earlier this year.  The volunteer team set some goals at the beginning of the season and most of those have been achieved!  The north side has been needle chipped, primed, and painted with its first finish coat of paint.  Chicago Great Western in 1950 lives on.  New wood framing has been fabricated and installed inside the box, air piping restored and the pneumatic plow wings are operational!  Floor areas are replaced and repaired, grab irons and handrails replaced and installed, and a steel wall panel that had been torched out has been welded in and replaced.  All in all, an aggressive plan achieved through the hard work and teamwork of many dedicated volunteers who have contributed a day or many days of regular work.  We never turn away anyone at any skill level.  You meet and enjoy like minded individuals, and can learn the workings of the equipment and gain new skill sets, yourself.

New Floors

Buzz Morisette has completed restoration of two floor areas, one which had a lot of rot, one which lived under the oil stove and had been burned through in a fire mishap years ago.  It is now much safer to climb aboard and explore the plow interior.

North Doorway

Jim Leonard is installing new sheet metal below the doorway, the piece had been fabricated by Victor Humphreys.

Maroon Paint

This is the first view of new dark maroon paint on the plow body, carefully matched to CGW color samples.  This pic is spoiled by a sun flash (also in my eyes), but shows that for now, not all the areas behind the plow wings can be so treated.  But with the plow wings retracted, the finished appearance will be correct and complete, and with the wings open you will see circa 1965 CGW orange paint.

First Maroon

This was a really exciting MILESTONE restoration day with six volunteers turning to the task of applying the first coat of maroon paint.  Weeks of needlechipping, wire brushing and priming were the basis for being ready to paint. Victor Humphreys is up in the air and attacking the side of the box.  Yes, it is a dark maroon, and in the shadows, with the sun low in your eyes, you have to look closely to appreciate it. 

Welcome Visitor

Gary Baker was visiting from the Orange Empire Museum in southern California and he quickly pitched in.  Here he is using the needlechipper to scale off many layers of dirt, rust and old paint on the nose of the plow wedge.

Marooned

Victor Humphreys and Jim Leonard are nearing the end of the painting work in the late afternoon, on the north side.

Black Also

Tom Bernacki was out to help, and he pitched in on many tasks.  He got a brush and some black paint and applied it to many areas primed and needing that treatment.  It is all about the details.

As mentioned elsewhere, the plow restoration is ready to show off this weekend at Museum Showcase.  At 1:30 PM Saturday please join us on Track 40 at the east end of Barn 4.  You will see the Russell Plow spread its wings, and be able to participate if you so wish.  If you enjoy the experience, a once in a lifetime rare opportunity, you may help by feeding a donation can with paper money or checks, to help keep the momentum going and the project ON TRACK.

If you cannot attend, please consider mailing in a donation to restricted fund R X 38.

Thanks!