Entries by James Kolanowski

The United States Army 8537, a GE 45 ton diesel locomotive, was brought into the shop at the same time as the BN 9908. The purpose is to finish updating the cab interior by installing the new cab lights, a two way radio, permanently wiring the cab heaters, finish the painting inside the cab, and several other items. On Saturday the 3rd, the cab lights were installed, which are a standard EMD style. This required pulling all the old wire out of the conduit to the existing cab light and roof beacon and pulling it all back into the conduit, just to add one wire to provide constant power to the new lights. The lights are done now, along with the wiring to the cab heaters, which was run along the existing wiring in the electrical cabinet. They had been temporarily wired last year just to get heat in the winter months.

A number of years ago, Dan Currens installed a DC to DC isolated converter that took the 36V positive ground loco system to a 12V negative ground. The truck stlye cab heater motors, a priming fuel pump, and the two way radio run off the 12VDC system. The next step will be to wire in the radio and mount the AAR radio plate to the console. After that, more painting in the cab.

There was a bit of progress made on the 9908 in the past few days. On Thursday, the first section of new steel was formed and welded into place on the firemans side of the nose. This was done by cutting a flat sheet to the correct dimensions and placing a close bend to fit the horizontal curve of the nose. The flat portion was welded into place on the side, and then some relief cuts made in a few places to allow the patch to bend on the vertical curve. All the seams were V'ed and welded into place.

On Friday night, Riley and Jeron began to wipe the panels on the engineers side, making them shine right up. The BN used Imron paint, so some rags with lacquer thinner does a great job cleaning off the rust streaks and dead paint. They completed about 4 side sheet panels in a short time. There are many more photos available than are shown in this blog, and are shown here with the most recent being shown first.

On Tuesday night, Kyle M worked to remove some additional rot spots on the engineers side of the nose. This takes some time since there are a few layers of steel skin and angle iron supports to cut through, and not hit anything behind it all. Meanwhile I started to weld some new steel supports around the firemans side nose, along with adding some support to the side of the mount for the cab signal box. A new sheet has been cut to wrap around that side, and will be fitted and installed in the coming days. There are many more photos available than are shown in this blog, and are shown here with the most recent being shown first. This photo album will more than likely be updated more often than the blog, but we'll do our best to keep both up to date.

On Sunday, November 20, we moved the BN 9908, an E9Am, deep into the shop to begin some steel work around the cab and continue interior prep, prime and paint of the floor. Jim West has spent the summer working on sealing up some of the water leaks around the carbody and engine room, and needle chipping, sanding and cleaning the engine room floors, under the cab, and in the nose. It is all primed and is about ready for paint, but needs the heated shop to complete it.

E units are pretty close to F units in where they rust and rot around the nose and sides of the cab. Our plan is to spend one month doing as much steel work as we can before other projects will need the same space in the shop and 9908 will have to be moved out. Back in 2006 we were able to do all the same steel work on the CNW 411 in about five weeks. That story is available here in a photo album. After the work is done on the 9908, it will be painted back to its existing green and black scheme for the short term. Sometime in the future, it will be restored back to CB&Q 9976 with stainless steel side panels and will be used as backup power for the Nebraska Zephyr.

Some of the typical places of rust and rot are around the lower base of the nose steel against the anti-climber, and where the sheets were welded together along the beams of the cab side, and all around the nose door. Also around the sand fillers and step wells on both sides. We are starting around the anti-climber and nose door and will work our way backwards as these areas are completed. There are many more photos available than are shown in this blog, and are shown here with the most recent being shown first. This photo album will more than likely be updated more often than the blog, but we'll do our best to keep both up to date.

On the evening of November 18th, Jeron G, Riley L and myself installed a used primary fuel filter housing in GB&W 2407. We decided to standardize on a common element on several locomotives to reduce costs for stocking several styles of fuel filter elements and eliminating the really expensive ones. We removed the two housings and the fuel lines going to them, cut and welded some brackets to hold the new housing in a good angle to be able to change elements without hitting other parts in the engine room. All that remains is replacing the fuel lines to the filter housing. Afterwards, Jeron and Riley moved on to an oil leak on the oil strainer housing, making and replacing a couple of gaskets.

Be sure to visit this album for photos of other recent shop work. Also, donations to the RSD15 are still needed to replace cab glass and repair the turbocharger.

Leviathan #63, an American 4-4-0 steam locomotive, will operate two more days at the Illinois Railway Museum this weekend, Museum Showcase Weekend - September 17th and 18th, pulling coaches and delighting many. This may be the last opportunity this year to ride behind Leviathan, with both day and night trips, and experience the sights and sounds of a live steam locomotive.

About the Leviathan... In 1868, the Central Pacific Railroad purchased four steam locomotives from Schenectady Locomotive Works. They were The Jupiter #60, The Storm #61, The Whirlwind #62 and The Leviathan #63. This Leviathan #63 replica is America's newest operating steam locomotive that was built from scratch by Kloke Locomotive Works, LLC beginning in 1999. It is a fully operable steam locomotive that has been on display under steam at a few events around the midwest. Read more about Leviathan 63 at http://www.leviathan63.com/ and about its operation at IRM at http://www.irm.org/events/Leviathan63.html.

Museum Showcase Weekend celebrates the Museum collection and honors the members who make it work! Daytime operations begin at 10:00AM on Saturday and Sunday and end about 5:30PM. Trains leave the main station approximately every 15 minutes or as required. Night operations begin at 8:00PM on Saturday, September 17th.

The Nebraska Zephyr will operate both Saturday and Sunday, September 17th and 18th, along with many other pieces of historic railway equipment, including Caboose trains, Interurbans, Steetcars and more. For a complete list of equipment operating, visit Museum Showcase Weekend Information.

Your admission ticket entitles you to an unlimited number of train rides, as well as our several barns with over two miles of indoor track, and our collection of over 400 pieces of railroad rolling stock. Your membership includes admission to the Museum, a subscription to Rail & Wire, and more.

The Illinois Railway Museum is an independent volunteer operation, relying on admission fees, membership dues, and contributions. It is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational corporation. Schedules and operating equipment subject to change without notice.

For information about the Museum, visit our website at http://www.irm.org/ or recorded information available by calling 815-923-4000 or 800-BIG-RAIL.

We look forward to seeing you and your family and friends.