Entries by Pauline Trabert

Brian LaKemper and Warren Newhauser created an additional post about the Milwaukee Road Dynamometer Car which was part of the coach train during the recent Diesel Days event. Thanks to Brian and Warren for their work on the car and the additional notes.

Friday afternoon, July 18th, Warren Newhauser came out to get the X-5000 car ready for Saturday with help from IRM volunteer Fred Van Dorpe. There was a lot of Diesel Department activity until about 11:30pm.

On Saturday, July 19th, several gallons of cold lemonade and pretzel sticks served to Dynamometer guests on the car were a hit with the warm temperatures. One of the younger guests (in the photo below) perhaps 8 years old, made a recommendation to Warren Buffet that he put the same very comfortable chairs [Milwaukee Road parlor car seats] in his trains!

One of the younger guests focuses on the monitoring lights - Photo by Warren Newhauser

UP 8148 with its 4,000 hp easily brought the coach train up to speed, barely reaching notch 3, whereas BN-1 and BN-2 (not running) took more effort.

On Sunday, X-5000 volunteer Brian LaKemper had the Dyno open for riders as part of the coach train. Many people got to look inside the car and ride. The car's on-board testing equipment was active, including monitoring throttle position, wheel slip, and air compressor use via 27 pin MU jumper; and drawbar pull and buff (push), monitored by the hydraulic drawbar spliced to the car's centerline. The car's timers for recording throttle position and event monitoring (such as wheel slip) were also functioning.

X-5000 volunteer Brian LaKemper - Photo by Chuck Trabert

The drawbar's operation was determined Saturday evening by Brian L. and Warren N. and Brian put the knowledge to work Sunday; registering up to 50,000 lbs of drawbar pull behind UP 1848 and BN 5383. The drawbar functioned flawlessly all day, usually registering about 20,000 lbs of pull or buff depending on direction of travel. A peak of 40,000 lbs of buff shock also observed at one point.

History note: this is the kind of activity the Dynamometer car observed while in service, though with a lot more trailing tonnage. A buff or pull shock could easily cause a derailment under the right conditions, ie., starting/stopping long trains on mountain grades.

The Dynamometer Car tested a total of 5 different locomotives during the day: UP 1848, BN 5383, C&NW 411, BN 9908, and MILW 37A.

The Dyno’s next schedule operations are IRM Museum Showcase Weekend Sept 20-21, 2014.

Volunteers are always welcome to help with restoration of the Milwaukee Road Dynamometer Car. Please comment on this blog post and we will get back with you.

It was a warm, beautiful day on Saturday, July 19th; the start of the Diesel Days event. There were many photographers on the grounds of IRM to capture the impressive Diesel Days action.

Action packed Diesel Days event had photographers looking every direction - Photo by Chuck Trabert

Shelly Vanderschaegen and John McKelvey spent the entire day in preparation for restoration of six more bench seats for the Henrietta, RI 2612. Shelly removed upholstery tacks and installed metal bandings on seat springs as needed to secure them in position. John connected bands made of tarp from the top of the springs to the edge of the seat frame top to hold the springs in place and then applied epoxy to tack holes and areas of missing wood.

Mark Gellman, Ray Mormann, and Michael Baksic drilled holes in the refitted door which is now installed in the Birmingham giving access to the vestibule which abuts the Pacific Peak. After installing the hinges, the door was installed then spray painted silver as it hung inside the Birmingham. The exterior side of the door may need further work. Kevin Kriebs painted the door handles prior to installation.

Jon Habegger was at his post in the 1st Exhibit Car talking to visitor. Mike McCraren was conductor on the coach train which included the CMStP&P Milwaukee Road Dynamometer X-5000 car, the Chicago & North Western 7700 lightweight coach/baggage car, and three passenger coaches, all pulled by Burlington Northern BN-1 and BN-2 diesel electric locomotives. BN-3 pulled the C&NW bi-level Gallery cars on a second coach train.

BN-2 couples with the Dynamometer for one of the coach trains - Photo by Chuck Trabert

Diesel Days coach train pulled by BN-1 and BN-2 with the X-5000 and 7700 - photo by Chuck Trabert

Prior to the Diesel Days events, visitors were able to go inside the Dynamometer while it was waiting for the train to fully form. Passengers were carried inside the Dynamometer during the daily coach train rides. Warren Newhauser and Brian LaKemper were on hand to answer questions. Chuck Trabert rode on the first trip of the day then took photos.

Prior to coach train operation, visitors were able to take a look inside the X-5000 - Photo by Chuck Trabert

Saturday, July 5th: Ray Mormann and Mark Gellman made progress on the Birmingham dining car. They installed the vestibule door on the kitchen end and while there is more work to be done, the door at that end will now work.

A door has been modified to fit the Birmingham vestibule on the kitchen end - Photo by Jon Habegger

The new door opening into the Birmingham - Photo by Jon Habegger

The closed door seen from inside the vestibule - Photo by Jon Habegger

The new door as seen from inside the Birmingham - Photo by Jon Habegger

Sunday, July 6th: Kevin Kriebs continued the process of removing the adhesive from the former decals on the 1st Exhibit Car. John McKelvey worked on seats for the Henrietta. Shelly Vanderschaegen cleaned, waxed and buffed walls in the Ely dining room area. Mark Hoffmann worked in the RI 2602 needle chipping and grinding.

Mark Hoffmann has been needle chipping and grinding in the RI 2602 - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Mark demonstrates grinding - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Closer shot of Mark grinding the surface smooth - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Saturday, July 12th: Mark Gellman and Michael McCraren installed glass on the south side number board of the "Pacific Peak". This weekend the north side will be finished.

Numbers were added to the Pacific Peak south side number board - Photo by Michael McCraren

A layer of sealant was applied - Photo by Michael McCraren

A glass plate was inserted - Photo by Michael McCraren

More sealant was applied and smoothed - Photo by Michael McCraren

South side number board on the Pacific Peak completed - Photo by Michael McCraren

Sunday, July 13th: A little cutting, a piece of steel, some paint and some screws. The door for the west end of the Birmingham is ready to be installed after Mark Gellman, Mike Baksic. and Ray Moorman completed repairs and adjustments.

Mark Gellman removes rusted bottom of door - Photo by Michael McCraren

Mike Baksic cleans up to area to be patched - Photo by Michael McCraren

Ray Mormann and Mike Baksic work on the door bottom - Photo by Michael McCraren

The bottom of the door is ready for the patch - Photo by Michael McCraren

Stainless steel is drilled - Photo by Michael McCraren

The stainless steel patch is in place - Photo by Michael McCraren

Foam sealant was applied to seal the edges of the patch- Photo by Pauline Trabert

Kevin Kriebs continued adhesive removal on the 1st Exhibit car.

Kevin Kriebs removing adhesive on the 1st Exhibit Car - Photo by Michael McCraren

Jim Windmeier, Kevin Brown, and Nick Kallas were in the Birmingham for lunch. Shelly continued the mahogany waxing process in the Ely dining room throughout the day.

Shelly isnt afraid to get a little dirty when working on IRM Passenger Cars - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Shelly Vanderschaegen buffing wax she applied in the Ely dining room area - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Chuck Trabert spent the day replacing the face on the bottom half of one of the side doors on the Milwaukee Road Dynamometer car and also replaced all three air brake hoses and fittings. Pauline Trabert took pictures and helped Chuck as much as possible.

Chuck Trabert vacs loose rust from Dynamometer door frame - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Pauline Trabert applies rust converter to Dyno door - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Chuck uses the old door face as a template for the replacement cover - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Chuck uses a straight edge to cut the metal replacement - Photo by Pauline Trabert

The straight edge is turned to make the vertical cut - Photo by Pauline Trabert

The old door cover is used to mark the new holes to be drilled - Photo by Pauline Trabert

While Chuck was working on the Dynamometer door rebuild, Pauline captured a few photos of passing trains on the mainline, visitors lining up to check out the 1630, and movement of diesel locomotives near Barn 2.

Steam and electric trains running on the mainline - Photo by Pauline Trabert

A good crowd of visitors were waiting for the 1630 boarding call - Photo by Pauline Trabert

A lot of activity was happening at the diesel barn in preparation for Diesel Days - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Chuck drilling and tapping holes for the new door face - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Next a Skill saw was used to cut out the key hole and door knob holes - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Countersinking the screw holes - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Deburring the screw holes - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Wire wheel polish of external surface - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Test assembly of door cover to frame - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Drilling holes that didnt line up properly - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Chuck took a break from the door restoration project to install three new air brake hoses and six new fittings. The Dynamometer car is to run on the coach train during Diesel Days and will be brake tested prior to the event.

New air brake hose applied - Photo by Pauline Trabert

New air brake hose fittings secured - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Hose and fittings tightened and marked - Photo by Pauline Trabert

A quarter turn past the mark and the air brake hoses are ready - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Original insulation material replaced inside the door frame - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Sealant bead applied to entire edge of door frame - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Door fully reassembled and reinstalled to be painted later - Photo by Pauline Trabert

The last 1630 revenue run of the day - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Restoration projects happen daily at IRM. Big or small, interior or exterior, they all take a huge amount of time. We are fortunate to have many skilled volunteers who donate time, tools, materials, equipment, and money to get each job done as quickly as possible with as much quality workmanship as they are able to provide. Your donations help make it possible to get more work done in a timely manner. Thanks for your interest in our Museum!

It was a fabulous day. Early in the day Shelly Vanderschaegen and John McKelvey continued the big job of reupholstering seats for the RI 2612 coach. Michael Baksic, Ray Mormann, and Mark Gellman were trying to drill holes for the vestibule door between the Birmingham and the Loch Sloy. They worked on it all day but were unable to make much headway.

During the mid-morning Jon Habegger helped Shelly prepare food for the lunch to come.

Before his shift as conductor, Michael McCraren and Mark Gellman tackled the number board on the north side of the Pacific Peak. Last weekend work was done on the number board on the south side of the car.

Pacific Peak north side original number board covered with a panel - Photo by Michael McCraren

Mark Gellman drilling out the pop rivets and removing the panel - Photo by Michael McCraren

A one inch wide band of yellow was discovered which was a surprise - Photo by Michael McCraren

Michael McCraren painted the area yellow with UP model railroad paint - Photo by Michael McCraren

Michael masked the area painted black on the south side and sprayed on the yellow paint - Photo by Michael McCraren

We had a great turnout for a plaque presentation to Susan, David, and Rob Stepek in honor of Phil Stepek who passed away last year. Shelly Vanderschaegen came up with the idea to create the plaque, Jon Habegger put the words together, and Pauline Trabert helped Shelly choose the plaque and design. Michael Baksic made the presentation to the Stepek family. A second identical plaque will be hung inside the Birmingham diner where Phil spent a great deal of time.

David, Rob, and Susan Stepek in the Birmingham - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Michael Baksic presents a plaque to Susan Stepek - Photo courtesy of Shelly Vanderschaegen

After the plaque presentation, there was a picnic lunch in the Birmingham followed by a ride on the coach train. Later on David and Rob Stepek crushed cans which had been collected by the department. This is David's usual volunteer job.

Jon Habegger went to his post in the 1st Exhibit Car following the luncheon.

Jon Habegger wears a Birmingham serving jacket - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

David gives the thumbs up inside the coach train. Behind him are his brother and mother - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

A glorious day at the Illinois Railway Museum. It was beautiful all day - a bit warm but we'll take it.

Mitch O'Brien, Ray Mormann, and Kevin Kriebs each had a screwdiver and removed most of the hardware from two doors purchased to use in the Birmingham diner. Once most of the hardware was removed, Kevin started stripping paint from one of the doors.

Kevin setup for stripping a door - Photo by Michael McCraren

Kevin stripping paint from a door to be used in the Birmingham - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Kevin had to strip many layers of paint from one door - Photo by Jon Habegger

There is much work required to repair the rust damage at the bottom of this door - Photo by Jon Habegger

While Kevin was stripping paint from one door, Michael Baksic, Ray Mormann, and Mark Gellman worked on positioning a second interior door on the kitchen end. Because the kitchen wall is at an angle, installing a door there, mounting it to the car, will be a challenge.

Michael Baksic and Ray Mormann work on the kitchen end door - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Mark G. and Michael B. kneeling down to work on the kitchen end door - Photo by Michael McCraren

Michael Baksic looks through the Birmingham kitchen door as it is being installed - Photo by Michael McCraren

Because of the wall angle, installing a door at the kitchen end will be challenging - Photo by Jon Habegger

From Michael McCraren: All sleeping car and coaches of a long distance passenger train had a number assigned to them in the consist. For example, on "The City of Los Angeles" the first sleeping car would be assigned the number 1031 meaning train #103 (westbound COLA), first sleeping car. This way the passenger would know which car they were in. On the Union Pacific "Peak" series, the number board was located below the porter's room window on one side and below the bathroom window on the other. During the Pacific Peak's time with Amtrak, the number boards were plated over. On Saturday, Mark Gellman, Jon Habegger, and myself removed the plating and exposed the original number boards. They were cleaned, primed and painted black. Glass will be placed over the number boards to complete the work.

Mark Gellman drilling out pop rivets - Photo by Michael McCraren

Mark prying off the plate - Photo by Michael McCraren

Pacific Peak original number board uncovered after some 40 years - Photo by Michael McCraren

After some clean up and priming the board is painted black - Photo by Jon Habegger

The number board taken from the inside the Pacific Peak - Photo by Jon Habegger

Shelly was working with John McKelvey in the wood shop all day stripping RI 2612 Henrietta seats down to the frame. Broken metal clips on the springs were replaced, then Shelly epoxied the bottom of the seat frame where the tack strips are located. Meanwhile, John put tarp material over the repaired springs, tacked it down, then applied horsehair padding. A layer of padding was applied over top of the horsehair, then another layer of horsehair was added, then another layer of tarp was applied to cover the layers of padding. Next, the actual upholstery material can be applied. There is a great deal of work involved in reupholstering these old coach seats and this is why we ask passengers to treat them with care.

John McKelvey sewing upholstery padding pieces together - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

John working on layers of seat material for a Henrietta coach seat - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Lunch was in the Birmingham as usual with a small celebration of Michael Baksic's birthday. Elegant Farmer apple pie and whipped cream were enjoyed by the crew. Everyone returned to their respective work for the day after this all too brief intermission.

Kevin Kriebs and Mitch OBrien at lunch - Photo by Michael McCraren

Shelly Vanderschaegen and Michael Baksic with birthday apple pie - Photo by Michael McCraren

Michael B., Buzz Morisette, and Ray Mormann finishing up lunch - Photo by Michael McCraren

We have had some beautiful June weather at IRM!

Sunday, June 1st:

Kevin Kriebs continued his adhesive removal project on the exterior of the 1st Exhibit Car. Jon Habegger was at his post inside the 1st Exhibit Car greeting visitors. Jim Windmeier brought printouts of a Milwaukee Road dining car table set up, to demonstrate how they set the table as each railroad dining table was set differently. He talked to Michael Baksic, Jon Habegger, and Shelly Vanderschaegen about creating a display featuring railroad dining in the 1st Exhibit Car to use various railroad dishes from the Museum collection.

John McKelvey stripped several DM&IR 84 coach smoking section seats in his continuing effort to reupholster that section of the coach.

John McKelvey stripped DMIR 84 coach smoking section seats - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

A look inside the 84 coach seats - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

John McKelvey with an 84 coach seat he reupholstered - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Mike McCraren was conductor on the passenger coach train.

Mark Gellman helped Michael Baksic complete three air brake tests on the available passenger cars and then assisted Jon Habegger in last minute interior repairs, cleaning and preparation of the Chicago Burlington & Quincy 1923 Steel RPO/Baggage car for the upcoming Railway Post Office Weekend.

Mark Gellman cleaning in the Chicago Burlington &

Mark made the tail sign for the 1923 RPO car - Photo by Jon Habegger

Shelly Vanderschaegen continued waxing and buffing the Honduran Mahogany woodwork in the Ely dining room then discussed reupholstery of coach seats with John McKelvey.

Michael Baksic and Ray Mormann spent the day caulking seams and windows on the streamliner cars in Yard 5.

Ray Mormann and Michael Baksic applied caulk - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Friday, June 6th:

A group from Monarch Landing Retirement Community in Naperville, IL visited IRM. Thanks to Ray Bellock for showing them around our wonderful railway museum. They rode the Illinois Terminal 415 with motorman Bob Opal and then were pleased to have a boxed lunch in the Birmingham dining car in Yard 5 with Shelly Vanderschaegen as hostess. We hope they come back again!

Monarch Landing Retirement Community group tour - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Sunday, June 8th:

Mark Gellman and Jon Habegger worked on the RPO Days catch program. The Chicago Burlington & Quincy 1923 RPO was pulled by the St. Louis-San Francisco Railroad 1630. Six retired postal clerks were in attendance and everyone had a good time.

RPO catch sequence pulled by 1630 - Photo by Jon Habegger

The bag hook approaches - Photo by Jon Habegger

The mail bag is caught - Photo by Jon Habegger

The mail bag is pulled inside - Photo by Jon Habegger

In another run-by our own Mark Gellman made a catch and dropped a mail bag like a pro.

Mark Gellman prepares for the mail bag catch and drop - Photo courtesy of Mark Gellman

Mark made it look easy as he dropped one bag and hooked the other - Photo courtesy of Mark Gellman

John McKelvey continued reupholstering the DM&IR 84 coach smoking section seats. Two of the seats have walkover backs without the same "triple hump" padding as the stationary seat backs. John put in extra effort to make the walkover seat backs match the stationary backs. In the image below where John is installing a newly covered walkover seat back you can see the results.

John McKelvey installing a walkover seat back in the DMIR 84 - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Work continued on the Dynamometer car. Warren Newhauser, Brian LaKemper and Chuck Trabert were on hand in the X-5000. After operations had completed, Mark Gellman assisted in replacing the brake pads on the Dyno.

Chuck Trabert repairing pipe in the Dynamometer - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Pipe repair in the Dynamometer - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

This rusted door panel was removed from the X-5000 - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Curator Michael Baksic met with Gerry Boguse in the Louisville & Nashville diner 2726 Galt House to discuss needed floor repairs.

Gerry Boguse and Michael Baksic in the Galt House - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Brian LaKemper captured the following images during Streamliners at Spencer, an event organized by the North Carolina Transportation Museum, gathering 26 streamlined locomotives from railroads and museums across the country. The event was held at the former Southern Railway Spencer Shops, now the site of the North Carolina Transportation Museum.

IRM sent E5A CB&Q 9911A Silver Pilot, F7A C&NW 411, and several volunteers. The locomotives participated in various photo line ups, and took turns with other locomotives pulling the North Carolina Transportation Museum's coach train. IRM volunteers operated IRM's locomotives, and manned a booth in the museum's 37 stall roundhouse.

All photos by Brian LaKemper.

Nick Kallas is prepared to man the museums booth with plenty of brochures and a poster with photos of the museum

Silver Pilot with Atlantic Coast Line 501, the only two operational slant nosed E-units in the world

Silver Pilot accelerating away with the North Carolina Transportation Museums coach train

Jamie K. riding CNW 411 to couple up to the Silver Pilot for departure

CNW 411 under the water column next to the roundhouse

CNW 411 with FT demonstrator EMDX 103, the locomotive that paved the way for all other F-units

In the last photo, Silver Pilot and C&NW 411 share the roundhouse tracks with Erie 833 (New York & Greenwood Lake Railway), New Haven 2019 (Railroad Museum of New England), Wabash 1189 (Monticello Railway Museum), Pan Am Railways 1 (Pan Am Railways Executive F), ACL 501 (North Carolina Transportation Museum), and Soo Line 2500-A (Lake Superior Railroad Museum)

Sharing the roundhouse tracks

A big thanks to Brian for passing along this information to share here on the blog.