|
|
Sunday, December 28. 2014Interior upgrades on the 556
Here is a progress update on the Erie Lackawanna, Coach 556. Much of fall 2014 the 556 has been languishing in inactivity. The Wednesday of Dec 17th, saw a increased commitment on the coach. Our new curator designate, Paul Cronin, decided to try and removed a few baggage racks that were holding up our interior painting efforts. His past experience with similar racks at another museum paid off.
 Paul is taking a section of rack off the wall.  The racks are coming apart quite easily.  I took this picture to show that the last rack is also smaller than all the rest.  A Before picture of the interior with the racks still in place. Thats Loraine Bixler August 30, 2014.  Now the After picture with racks removed. What a difference. Wednesday, December 24. 2014Repairs on L&N 2726 Diner
The L&N diner, 2726, aka The Galt House, has finally been removed from track 33 to track 31 in preparation for much needed 2015 mechanics and inspections. On December 6th Paul Cronin and I began the work needed to repair the buffer damage that was on the eastern side of the car. This damage occurred more than 6 years ago as a result of the diner's movement back to the museum.
 Here Paul is removing the bolt that holds the bent torsion bar to the car body.  Paul is heating the bent plate tabs of the buffer plate.  He is now deciding on how to remove the bent buffer rod from the underside of the diner  The results of our struggle. That bar was almost bent to a ninety degree angle. That will take a lot for heating to straighten that bar.  Brain Paterson, myself, Paul, and Bob Olsen finally installed the now straighten buffer rod. What a job that was.  Among the guests at the xmas party was Bob Bruneau, Car Department Curator Emiratis. Pictured along with Bob is his son, Nick Kallas, and Paul Cronin Monday, December 22. 2014Recent Rock Island ProjectsFirst, I would like to thank all of you for reading my restoration blogs and to wish all of you a Happy Holiday Season!! Next, thanks to all the volunteers in the coach dept who have help make this a very successful year for us. A number of projects are nearing completion as well as more receiving attention. Do not forget the blogs about the railroad china display. Two weeks ago Paul Cronin and myself inspected the progress. Quite impressive and very professional done, I might add. Look for in the new year more progress and maybe a new arrival or two! Remember, your donations, whether large or small, help Irm's many, many equipment restoration projects. Thanks Roger Kramer, lead restoration manager This fall we have completed two milestone projects on our Rock fleet. Advertising cards have now been installed in the 2602 and we now have fifty glass windows in the 2612.  Here I am, placing the last window into the 2612s frame  PHOTO  PHOTO  November 15th Rick was beginning to install the cards  Here he has just finished installing all the cards in the 2602. Its now November 22, 2014. That didnt take to long, just a couple of weeks. Friday, December 19. 2014December 13th and 14th in the Coach DepartmentSaturday, December 13, 2014 Saturday started out as a foggy day in old Union town.  Looking west down Central towards Olson Rd. - Photo by Michael McCraren Mark Gellman and Michael McCraren started working on the Union Pacific portion of the china exhibit. Seven different patterns will be displayed covering the history of the Union Pacific passenger trains in the 20th century. In addition to china, this exhibit will also include silverware, flatware, glassware and menus from the railroads.  Here is some of the china and glassware that will be on display - Photo by Michael McCraren One exhibit that ended this year was Gwyn Stupar's "Brilliance: An Exhibit Honoring the Lives of Women on the North Shore Line". Thanks to Gwyn and others who helped with that fine exhibit. Those pictures came down today and in it's place will be the china exhibit and an exhibit on the station restaurants of Chicago. Sunday, December 14, 2014 Shelly Vanderschaegen and Michael Baksic arrived in the morning. Shelly cleaned the Birmingham for the Christmas party to follow. Michael spent time with Paul Cronin. On Sunday Mark Gellman, Kevin Krebs, Jim Windmeier, Michael McCraren and Jon Habegger all turned out to work in the 1st Exhibit Car on the railroad china display. They finished up the north side of the car (or left side as you walk in).  Union Pacific patterns - Photo by Michael McCraren  More of the Union Pacific section - Photo by Michael McCraren  The Chicago & Planning started on the south side of the car (or right side). This side will continue the railroad china story to Amtrak. We will also have an interurban section and a section of Chicago railway station restaurants. We are also looking into a section that would change during the year so the exhibit would not be entirely static. It gives visitors a reason to keep coming back! The costs of materials (plate hangers, sticky tape, ect.) has been donated by the volunteers putting this exhibit together. If you would like to help with expenses, please send a check to the RARTRA fund. Thank you in advance. Lunch was at 1:00 o'clock in the Birmingham as usual but today it was the Christmas party. Guests included Susan and David (birthday boy) Stepek, Buzz Morisette, Jim West, Nick Kallas, Sam Polonetzky, Kevin Brown (thanks for the soda pop!), Mark Hoffman, Jon Habegger, Michael McCraren, Mark Gellman, Jim Windmeier, Kevin Kriebs, Brian LaKemper, and the crew from the Happy Holidays Railway. Thanks to all who brought a dish to pass. There was plenty of food, soda, water, coffee, and desserts.  The Christmas Party made a pretty full house in the Birmingham - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen  Happy Holidays Railway crew members Jerry Saunders and Jim West joined in the fun - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen  Sam Polonetzky and Brian LaKemper visit from the center aisle - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen  Paul Cronin and Buzz Morisette - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen  Jon Habegger and Nick Kallas - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen  David Stepek blows out his birthday candles - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen  Susan and David Stepek sit with Michael Baksic and Shelly Vanderschaegen - Photo courtesy of Shelly Vanderschaegen Michael McCraren made some railroad specialities for the party. The potato salad was from an Atlantic Coast Line recipe. The cole slaw was from the Missouri Pacific. The salad dressings were Frisco French and Illinois Central dressing (1000 Islands type) and the cocktail sauce was from the Louisville & Nashville railroad. Shelly brought ham and cupcakes. Jim Windmeier brought shrimp. Brian LaKemper brought cookies. Kevin Krebs brought cheese and crackers along with cookies. Jon Habegger and Michael Baksic also contributed to the party food. Everyone sang Happy Birthday to David Stepek and Shelly made his favorite cupcakes for him. David, Susan, Nick, and Shelly went to visit Mr. and Mrs. Claus who happened to be at the Museum for the Happy Holiday Railway event, but they were too early so they went to the 1st Exhibit Car and visited Kevin, Mark, Michael M., Jim, and Jon and admired the railroad china display under construction. After lunch Brian helped Paul put the straightened tension bar back on the Galt House buffer. Paul will adjust the buffer to bring it to level on Wednesday. One step closer to having Galt House roll down the Museum's tracks once again.  The re-installed buffer rod, small black arrow points to the re-installed rod - freshly missing paint shows where it was straightened - Photo by Brian LaKemper Mark G., Jon, Mike M., Jim W., Paul, and others continued work in the 1st Exhibit Car. Mike B. and Buzz did some work in Ely. Mark H. was working in the John McGloughlin and Lackawana 556.
 Mark G. and Jon removing a board to install the top of the display cabinet being added to the exhibit car - Photo by Brian LaKemper  Mark G. marking the location for a bracket to hold the top of the new display cabinet while Jon is holding the top of the cabinet - Photo by Brian LaKemper Elsewhere on the property, Happy Holidays Railway was making it's last trips of the year, and Jerry Saunders, Sam Polonetzky, and Jim West carried loads of happy families in our 2200 series "L" cars decorated for the holidays. One of our trolley buses was running as a shuttle service for patrons.  The 2200s leaving East Union Depot with another load of kids for Happy Holidays Railway - Photo by Brian LaKemper  This Trolley bus was acting as a shuttle for visitors - Photo by Brian LaKemper David Stepek had a nice visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus and ran into another friend before heading home with his mom.  David visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus as Susan Stepek looks on - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen  David with Dorothy from the Gift Shop give the thumbs up - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen Saturday, December 13. 2014Remembering the Rock Island Part 2 and a IdeaHere is the second installment of pictures taken by Robert Banke. They were taken in and around the Chicago area in the late seventies. Please notice the condition of the yards, facilities and the equipment.  Pictured is RI 2610. Just two numbered coaches away from our 2612. Please credit all these pictures to Robert Banke. This one taken May of 1978.  A six coach commuter train, its now June 2, 1978.  With #649 in the lead this commuter train rounds the curve. Its June 2, 1978  Up close picture of the consist. Taken, 11-1977  Unit 643 waiting for its assignment, November 1977.  Unit 642 rounding a curve June 1978. Anyone know where this picture was taken?  E unit 630 sitting on the ready track. July 1977  Engineer climbing into the cab of the 630. The unit next door is #4804. What RR is that from? July 1977  Rock Island 938 4-6-2 Pacific taken Nov 2012 at IRM
|
Blog AdministrationCalendarQuicksearchSyndicate This Blog |
Comments
Tue, 01-19-2021 20:11
Dear, IRM The N and W 611 is coming to the IRM 2021 NHS. OK IRM.
Fri, 01-15-2021 10:20
Hello Jason. Your comments are very much appreciated. Yes, there is much hard work that goes into all our restorations and maintenance here at the [...]
Fri, 01-15-2021 10:13
Hello Jack Yes, It will be one of our most impressive cars that we have at IRM when its completed. Thanks for the pat on the back! Roger.
Thu, 01-14-2021 21:05
Those cars look great so far guys! Man I wish I had the time to volunteer and become a member at IRM that looks like so much fun especially with how [...]
Tue, 01-12-2021 16:30
the pawnee is looking great a pat on the back to all involved
Wed, 01-06-2021 10:14
Good job on coach updates January 5, 2021. Sincerely, Ethan A.
Mon, 01-04-2021 12:31
Hello Jack Happy New Year from IRM. To my knowledge there was no damage from the minor ice storm that we had in late December, 2020. Some [...]
Sun, 01-03-2021 20:12
the museum area had lots of ice storms in area did the museum get a lot of damage
Thu, 12-24-2020 13:27
roger, Thank you to all of the Passenger car department volunteers. The #109 is going to be a great car when all done! Ted miles, [...]
Sun, 12-06-2020 08:46
Hello Ted We havenot finished lettering the 975 but we are well on the way. Look for a few blogs from me now that the wearther is colder and the [...]
Sat, 12-05-2020 18:36
i watched crew replace switch by diesel shop on dec 5. its good to see museum have equipment to do job and save money
Fri, 12-04-2020 14:56
It has been a long time with no news; have you finished lettering the Southern Pacific locomotive? Please post a picture. Ted Miles, IRM Member