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Saturday, June 22. 2019Steam Department June Update
Sorry for the extended radio silence: things have been busy in the real world and in the steam shop.
As I’d imagine everyone knows by now, for the first time in many years IRM has two operable steam engines! Shay 5 entered service over Memorial Day weekend.  A beautiful sight to see.  Some machines just look fast. Looks can be deceiving. But there is more good news. It is not enough to preserve the machines; we also have to preserve and teach the skills needed to run them. To that end, I am excited to report that already this year we have qualified two new steam locomotive firemen and one new steam locomotive engineer. Congratulations to Ken, Don, and Eric.  Ken, newly qualified as an engineer.  Don, newly qualified as a Fireman.  and Eric, newly qualified as a Fireman. Congrats all! But today, I am not here to talk to you about locomotives, I am here to talk to you about holes. Pits, to be specific. The IRM steam department has long been hampered by the lack of an inspection pit, which makes a lot of work underneath the locomotive very inconvenient to perform (especially for those of us who are not as skinny as we once were). Last year plans for an inspection pit were drawn up, and work began this summer almost as soon as the Shay and 1630 were out of the shop.  Volunteers began breaking up the asphalt pad inside the shop almost as soon as 1630’s steam test was complete.  The next day’s spoils.  The next Monday, volunteers from the steam and track department began unbolting the rails.  Which were then removed from the building, courtesy of mechanical assistance from the track department.  A bolt can’t be stubborn when its a liquid.  This was the state of the shop as of Memorial Day. This is a once in a lifetime view—you will never see our shop this clean again.  During the week our friends in B and G came through and removed the remaining concrete and pavement. All that is left now is to start digging. Stay tuned! Wednesday, June 5. 2019Repainting the Section Walls on the Mt HarvardAfter the bathroom was repainted my energies turned to repainting the walls between the sections. Here is the photo essay on the project.  Tim Fennel, our newest volunteer, is sanding the dividers in preparation for priming.  He along with Dale Steichen, Bob Olsen, Jessie Felt and Sandi Harreld made this repaint possible.  Sandi here is priming.  More Sanding  Then I decided to strip and small area where the lower berth lights are installed. Now there is more continuity with all areas repainted.  Early May finds Sandi again doing what she does best, painting with primer.  We also removed more old paint on the wall adjoining the womens bathroom. Thanks Roger Tuesday, June 4. 2019Bathroom Ceiling Painted on Mt HarvardWe finally finished the major painting project in the women's bathroom. The ceiling, of course, was the most difficult. Working over head is very time consuming and a bit taxing on one's upper body muscles.  Here I am working away.  Early April and Sandi is touching up a few spots on the wall.  Priming the ceiling.  Two panels are now primed.  The middle panel is scraped and sanded ready for primer.  Primed.  Painted with the top coat. As of this date I have now installed all the lamp shades and all but one of the sinks. Still to be made is the dressing table below the mirrors. I hope to get at that in the middle of July but before we exercise the sleeper on the main for the Septembers railfan weekend. Thanks Roger Monday, June 3. 2019Rock Island 2524 Welding ProjectThe restoration of our last Rock Island coach, 2524, has slowly resumed with new panels of steel begin installed in the vestibule.  Two years ago Paul Cronin removed the old rusted steel stair along with the old damaged panels.  Another look after all the damaged steel was removed by Paul.  December of last year we again began working on this project. Here we have cleaned out the area so that we can evaluate the condition and begin to weld new pieces to the frame.  Jarred, our welder, is considering which new pieces to install and where.  Frame pieces welded into position.  This new piece is where the stairs will be attached.  Working on more steel refit.  Jarred and Gregg pose for the photograph.  New steel welded in place and now primed to prevent rust.  Now the focus is on the other side where stairs will be attached.  Finished product. Many thanks to Jarred and Gregg for their time and expertise! |
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Comments
Fri, 11-08-2019 12:47
what is the status of me 18 I thought this unit was operable? if not is something wrong that's a major problem. I remember watching this unit go by my [...]
Fri, 11-01-2019 09:04
I hope they named the kitten "Gigi".
Fri, 11-01-2019 05:36
An update will be coming soon. But yes, the rails have gone in--we are still working on connecting them to the outside world though.
Tue, 10-22-2019 16:01
August was a long time ago; how about an update on the pit project? Are the rails in place yet? Ted Miles, IRM Member
Wed, 09-11-2019 06:37
Sam--I'll shoot you an e-mail with more information. -Chris
Tue, 09-10-2019 21:16
Exciting news about your new pit! We at Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum are planning a pit in our Car Barn extension project. Any information that you [...]
Tue, 09-10-2019 16:25
The Shay will be running both days. Thanks for checking!
Tue, 09-10-2019 07:32
Hello! I'm coming in for the big event this Saturday and had one quick question: On the Showcase event page it says the Shay will be on a caboose [...]
Thu, 08-22-2019 16:35
Very nice things indeed for IRM. The new model train and archive building is done, the Shay came back, you've got a new U-boat to play with (and [...]
Sun, 06-30-2019 12:45
Eighty feet if I remember right.
Sun, 06-23-2019 11:40
How long is the pit going to be? Ted Miles, IRM Member
Tue, 04-23-2019 01:12
One Step closer to recreating "The Varsity" Circa 1950's.