Illinois Railway Museum Blog

Here are some developing projects from barn 4.   I recently receive a note from one of our members who now lives in, Yes, in Hawaii.    What a nice place to retire.   His request was for some recent info regarding the ME interurban that Jeff Brady and Norm Krentel have been working on. So here is a small update.   Included is a few other views and some of the project volunteers.     As always please consider your donations to any of these worthy projects!    Thanks  Roger

We have  reached the matching grant goal of $5,000.00 for the UP 428 steam locomotive.   Since there has been such a genuine and increased interest in this project the donor has decided to increase the match to $8,000 and extend the match time till February 28, 2018!  Many of you are interested in financially helping with this project.   Here is your incentive and opportunity!    Remember to either send in a check or call to the office and make a contribution to the UP 428 Challenge Grant.  The office number is 815-923-4391.  Here are a few pictures of recent progress.  Work has already increase on the 428 since this was originally announced!    Your gift does make a difference!  These next eight pictures are of last weekend's developments.  Part of the steam team poured hot hot  Babbitt into the cross head guides of the engine.  There are four of them.  This is just the first one to be poured.  Unfortunately, I was not around to take a photo of the actual pouring of the hot material into the guide.  But, arriving at the museum yesterday, Tom Schneider show me the results of the successful pour.    B-t-w, we could send some of these projects to outside venders but in this way we are teaching the next generation how to repair and restore these "iron horse" locomotives.   I will certainly keep you informed on the progress!   Thanks again for all you donations and interest!      Roger Kramer 

Here is a short roundup of activities last week in the Steam Shop. The next three pictures pertain to the machining of the 1630s main driving rod.   The steam team is replacing the main bearing on the engineers side.  Here is just another instance where the steam shop and facilities help other departments. The buffer rods on the IC 3345 coach needed straightening.  There were three of them!   So... the shop press is being used to straighten them. You can view the article in this last Rail and Wire concerning the IC 3345.   .    LAST CHANCE!   Please consider taking advantage of the special Challenge Grant for the UP 428!    This offer ends late January.   Let us work getting  this steamer operating in 2019.   Why the Push!?    Well, that is the same year the UP 4014, Big Boy, 4-8-8-4 is scheduled to be in operation.  Wouldn't it be awesome to view both engines in operation and setting side by side.     YOU can help make the UP 428 happen!   Call today and/or send in your donation!  The museums number is 815-923-4391.     Thanks   Roger     

Another cold week here at Irm but that does stop the progress of building and repairing pieces for the historic equipment and facilities.   I didn't cover everything in the car shop but got some of the highlights.   Take a look!    While your  viewing this report please realize that this heated barn 4 area is very important to the museum.  Not only does it provide a warm area for the electric car department projects but it also provides for the freight car, coach and  the wood shop.   Wouldn't it be a great improvement if the car barn 4 was heated.   Stay tuned!  There is a movement from the members to build a heated combined shop.    I would say it was a good production week considering the cold weather.    Thanks    Roger

The first  Saturday of  2018 brought out the usual hard working members using the heated barn four annex.  Activities ranged from painting windows frames, chemical painting stripping, electrical paint stripping, using the table saw, sandblasting of parts, renewing wood with epoxy,inspecting our new planner, and polishing brass parts.  I probably missed a few but surprisingly there were a lot of volunteers working  various projects.       Are you already getting bored from  the cold winter?   Why not travel to Irm and volunteer in one of our heated project areas.   Barn 2,  Barn 4 annex and the Steam Shop are all heated for your comfort.   So.... consider volunteering at the museum.   You will enjoy some fresh air, get some exercise, and help the museum.     Thanks    Roger