Entries by Pauline Trabert

The first thing Curator Michael Baksic did was to modify and install a light fixture in the 2nd Exhibit Car. Then while Michael and Kevin Kriebs talked about the painting work, Shelly Vanderschaegen got things ready for Kevin to paint the first coat of tan in the vestibule.

Mike Baksic modifying a light fixture for the 2nd Exhibit Car

Kevin first painted the vestibule closet door and then started on the walls and ceiling in the vestibule.

Kevin Kriebs applying tan paint to vestibule door

Kevin began applying the 1st coat of tan paint to the vestibule

Kevin applied tan to the seams and hard to reach spots first

Jim Windmeier stopped by to speak with Michael about working with Jon Habegger in the Exhibit Cars. Jon and Shelly then visited with Jim in Barn 4 to discuss displays in the exhibit cars.

Mike Baksic speaking with Jim Windmeier in the 1st Exhibit Car

Then Shelly worked on a shadowbox display for the Birmingham while Michael did paperwork. Later Mark Gellman and Michael put a lock on a door in the 2nd Exhibit Car.

Mark Gellman and Michael Baksic installed a lock on a door in the 2nd Exhibit Car

Lunch in the Birmingham included Nick Kallas and his friend Marcus Reuf, Mark Gellman, Jon Habegger, Michael McCraren, Kevin Kriebs, Shelly Vanderschaegen and Michael Baksic. Michael McCraren brought homemade rosemary garlic flatbread and biscuits to share at lunch.

Conversation at lunch included the Rock Island commuter cars currently located in Texas which will be coming to IRM for spare parts and use on the Terror Train. Nick and Marcus finshed wheel chocks that will be used in Galveston, TX on the Rock cars there.

Nick Kallas admiring new wheel chocks

Easily amused by wood scrap, a crowd gathers around Nick

Nick Kallas and Marcus Ruef admire freshly painted chocks

Jon and Shelly had assistance from Tim Peters to cut the plexiglass for the barrier around the Union Station sign in the 1st Exhibit Car. Then Jon and Mark finished putting the barrier together. All that remains is to sand the wood and stain it, then final assembly.

Jon Habegger and Mark Gellman appear to be dancing with plexiglass for the barrier

Mike and Jon hold the plexiglass while Mark secures the frame

The Union Station Arrival and Departure Board near the end of the day

Michael McCraren continued his work in the Pacific Peak. Kevin had applied the first coat of tan paint in the vestibule between the exhibit cars by the afternoon having switched from brush work to a roller.

By this time Kevin had nearly finished the 1st coat of tan in the vestibule

Jon Habegger captured an image of the exterior of the Exhibit Cars on this cold day.

Outside the Exhibit Cars

Shelly Vanderschaegen helped Kevin Kriebs get things ready to continue to prime the vesibule between the two Exhibit cars. Then Kevin began priming.  Ray Mormann and Mark Gellman changed out a 250 volt plug on the Loch Sloy so they had power at 9 am.

Kevin Kriebs applying primer in the vestibule between the Exhibit Cars 2/22/14

Vestibule door primed by Kevin on 2/22/14

Jon Habegger and Mark started working on the barrier to go in front of the Union Station sign in the first Exhibit Car. We don't want anyone to touch the original sign as that would likely cause damage to the artifact or to people.

Jon Habegger and Mark Gellman testing barrier ideas

Mark cutting wood for the barrier in the 1st Exhibit Car

Jon and Mark fabricating a barrier to protect an artifact

Jon captured this shot of the barrier progress

Before lunch Kevin primed one side of the vestibule closet door. Right before the end of the day's work, Shelly primed the other side of the door.

Kevin priming the vestibule closet door

After lunch Ray and Michael Baksic worked on the kitchen floor area in the Birmingham. There is a bit of a step which needs to be fabricated in stainless steel and they were measuring carefully to get it right. Shelly was working with Goof Off taking stickers off of plexiglass and cleaning the 2nd Exhibit Car baseboards.

Shelly Vanderschaegen cleaning Plexiglas with Goof Off

Michael McCraren was working again in the Pacific Peak on Saturday, February 21st. Mark Hoffman worked in the Passenger Car Department on Sunday.

Yard 5 shot from Jon Habegger on 2/22/14

Jon also captured the RDC in Yard 5

A big thank you to Kevin Brown who brought cookies and soda pop for the snack bar in the Birmingham and who has provided such things in the past. Donations of soda and packaged goodies, chips, candies, etc., are always appreciated. The Department also wants to thank all contributors who have made generous donations to the Passenger Car Department. We can't do it all without your help!!

Thanks for all your help!

Blog updates contributed by Pauline Trabert with lots of help from Shelly Vanderschaegen.

The nimble fingers of Pauline Trabert

The day started as Curater Michael Baksic epoxied the vestibule closet door in the 2nd Exhibit Car. Previously Shelly had epoxied and sanded half of the door. Shelly took all the photos today except those attributed to others.

Mike Baksic applying epoxy to the vestibule closet door

While the vestibule closet door dried, Kevin Kriebs began priming the vestibule between Exhibit Cars 1 and 2.

Kevin Kriebs applying primer to ceiling in the vestibule between the Exhibit Cars

Kevin applying primer to walls in the vestibule

Jon Habegger helped Shelly Vanderschaegen put picture frames together while Mark Gellman and Michael Baksic sanded the vestibule closet door after it was dry.

Mike and Mark Gellman sanding the vestibule closet door

Later Michael, Ray Mormann and Mark went through the Birmingham diner fixing tables that had missing screws, needed to be tightened, etc. They brought a table top to Shelly to epoxy the edges and Michael also applied epoxy to a table top.

Mike applies epoxy to a Birmingham table while Jon Habegger looks on

Lunch in the Birmingham was almost back to normal with humor and many smiling faces.

Lunch in the Birminham with Jon, Michael McCraren, Mark, Kevin, Ray Mormann, and Mike Baksic

Michael McCraren continued his work in the Pacific Peak. He reports that he is getting close to priming. Michael took some photos of the snowfall that day and you can see the mounds of previous snow that had piled up. Mark Gellman also captured a snow picture to post.

Taken 2/16/14 from the steam lead looking at the door leading into Barn 9 from Mike McCraren

Looking south towards barns 7 and 8 on 2/16/14 from Mike McCraren

Looking east on 2/16/14 towards Electric Park from Mike McCraren

Looking north toward the station with a 10 ft pile of snow by Barn 3 on 2/16/14 from Mike McCraren

Snow pile at museum entrance 2/16/14 from Mark Gellman

After lunch Kevin was priming the vestibule again but discovered that condensation had formed a layer of ice so that was the end of the work day.

After lunch Kevin was priming the vestibule again

Kevin encountered a winter priming problem

Condensation formed ice inside the vestibule

The day started with Mike Baksic and Shelly Vanderschaegen working on the vestibule closet door from 2nd Exhibit Car. First Mike planed off the edge of the previous week's oops, then they took and fitted the door handle faceplate and drilled the holes. Shelly put wax paper down and Mike put the faceplate on it and then screwed the faceplace in place. Then they turned over the door and Shelly whipped up some epoxy and filled in the holes and now it will cure until next weekend in the 1st Exhibit Car which is a bit warmer. Meanwhile, Mark Gellman was showing Ray what had been done in the 2nd Exhibit Car. Jon Habegger was taking pictures.

Mike Baksic and Shelly Vanderschaegen planing the door edge for the 2nd Exhibit Car

Mike lining up the door handle faceplate

Shelly filling in holes on the vestibule closet door

Jon Habegger on hand to help out and take photos

Next the group went into the Loch Sloy. Mark, Ray Mormann, and Mike are going from room to room putting in missing screws, putting doors back on track and checking that the lights are working, checking the metal work to be sure everything is in place and so forth.

Ray Mormann repairing a sliding door track in the Loch Sloy

Mike adjusting a berth in the Loch Sloy

Mike and Ray adjusting a door latch in the Loch Sloy

Mike and Ray working on sliding door access panel

Mike replacing screws in Loch Sloy compartment

Mark Gellman explaining door mechanics to Jon Habegger

Michael McCraren continued his patient work in Bedroom F of the Pacific Peak. (All images below are from Bedroom F.) He joined the rest of the gang for a chilly lunch in the Birmingham, as did Buzz Morisette.

Left side of the hallway leading into Bedroom F - this shot shows every color the room was painted

Right side of the hallway and the wall by the divider

Wall by the divider showing some stainless steel

Curator Michael Baksic and Shelly Vanderschaegen were the only ones in the Passenger Car Department who braved the weather and made the long journey to IRM. They made good use of their time with the 2nd Exhibit Car. Shelly stained the trim that was to go on the wall where the TV will be located and Michael installed the trim. Once the heater is repaired underneath the counter, the doors will be reattached to close it up.

Mike Baksic installing new trim in TV area

Trim fully installed

Then it was time to work on the closet door which was started last weekend. Under the metal which had been removed last weekend, the laminate was separating from the door. Gorilla Glue was used under the separated laminate on the door and then clamped to dry. Then Michael trimed one side of the door 3/8" or more. Ooops! Time for more Gorilla Glue which will sit until next weekend. The frame on the closet door had rotted wood so Shelly took the rotted wood out from underneath the door frame.

Gorilla Glue applied to laminate and clamped

Extra cut being glued

On the way Shelly took some pics of the monumental snow banks for all to enjoy. Remember these were taken in northern Illinois - not northern Michigan!

Snow bank so high the mailbox is flagged

Its just like being UP NORTH!!

Work continued on the second exhibit car. Kevin Kriebs sanded all day in the vestibule between the two exhibit cars to take off the high spots. Later Mike Baksic primed all the bare metal exposed by Kevin's work so that the area is ready to paint. 

Kevin Kriebs in the vestibule

Kevin removing the high spots in the vestibule

In the second exhibit car entryway a storage closet door which was not properly seated was taken down and metal pieces were removed in preparation for shaving off about 3/8" from edges of the door so that it will fit better. Work on this will continue next weekend.

Mike and Kevin removing metal from door

Mark Gellman removed a cabinet (which wasn't needed) from the furnace room of the second exhibit car. While Mark was doing this, Mike Baksic measured and cut holes on each side of the furnace for air vents to allow better airflow.

The former cabinet to the left of the furnace

Mark Gellman removing cabinet legs

Cabinet without legs

Mark removing the remainder of the cabinet

Mike Baksic measuring for a vent opening

Mike cutting one of the vent openings

Vent opening cut as seen from inside the furnace nook

Mike and Shelly apply a vent cover to the new opening

Jon Habegger took pictures in the second exhibit car and the Ely to show progress, then he helped Shelly Vanderschaegen finish up odds and ends in the second exhibit car.

Shelly Vanderschaegen continues baseboard cleanup

Our department photographer, Jon Habegger

Mike McCraren continued working in the Pacific Peak. He was sanding in the morning and priming in the afternoon.

Buzz Morisette has continued work on the Ely dining room ceiling. One really cool thing he has done is to leave notes on the tops of the boards he has installed so that when the roof is rebuilt in the future the crew will be able to read what needs to be added to the carline where the ceiling is now shimmed. Buzz also noted when bringing up the carline that the roof is coming away from the walls. There are obvious cracks and separation indicating a new roof is badly needed. Buzz has epoxied the areas for more strength but this is a temporary solution. Donations specified for the Ely restoration fund will help make a new roof possible.

Notes on Ely ceiling boards left by Buzz Morisette

Looking toward the berths

Original metal strips every 12 in the Ely

Hip sanded, ready to be primed and painted

Buzz Morisette looking up at his work

Roof separation areas epoxied for strength

The rear of exhibit car is looking very good. Mike, Kevin, Mark, and Shelly worked on tasks to complete the car's interior.

Kevin Kriebs used a wire wheel to start on the west vestibule of 2nd Exhibit Car. Shelly Vanderschaegen and Jon Habegger cleaned main room of the car. Curator Mike Baksic and Mark Gellman worked on east end of the car. They installed 4 new air vents for the air conditioning system, and wall molding on north exhibit wall. It was another snow day

Kevin Kriebs removing loose paint

Mike Baksic working on the door

2nd Exhibit car - looking forward

2nd Exhibit car - looking to the rear exit

Ely update Jan 2014 from Buzz Morisette:

Emergency roof repairs done sometime in the 80’s(?) made the roof watertight but were not quite a restoration. The dining room ceiling has now been properly repaired and re-framed to match the original curve of the roof. Wood backings to mount the original light fixtures, removed during roof repairs, are also back in place.

Next step is to replace the conduit and wiring to those light fixtures. Shelly is starting to strip the fixtures for restoration.

The Baltic Birch plywood purchased last year is primed and ready. Looking for warmer inside work I refinished the Mahogany corner bead that will go in last. Not all of it was there with ceiling work done over the years so new trim needed to be milled. Victor Humphres of the Freight shop located some Honduran Mahogany stock for us and I ran off about 30’ of the replacement trim.

The picture below shows front to back new, refinished, and original finish trim.

Front to back: new, refinished, and original finish trim