Entries by Pauline Trabert

We want to welcome Paul Cronin to the Passenger Car Department. He officially took over as curator on January 1, 2015 when Michael Baksic retired.

Paul Cronin - New Passenger Car Department Curator - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Paul has been a volunteer at IRM for seven years and has moved here from the east coast where he had a career in railroading from 1966 to 2011.

Michael Baksic joined IRM in 1995. He was appointed Passenger Car Department Curator in 1998 by Nick Kallas. Mike plans to continue to volunteer at the Museum but will not be here as much and plans to have more fun.

In other news, in December, Michael Baksic, Ray Mormann, and Michael McCraren began working on the wiring in the Birmingham diner parked in Yard 5. The railroad china disply in the 1st Exhibit Car is still going coming together but slowed a bit with the colder weather in December.

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Saturday started out as a foggy day in old Union town.

Looking west down Central towards Olson Rd. - Photo by Michael McCraren

Mark Gellman and Michael McCraren started working on the Union Pacific portion of the china exhibit. Seven different patterns will be displayed covering the history of the Union Pacific passenger trains in the 20th century. In addition to china, this exhibit will also include silverware, flatware, glassware and menus from the railroads.

Here is some of the china and glassware that will be on display - Photo by Michael McCraren

One exhibit that ended this year was Gwyn Stupar's "Brilliance: An Exhibit Honoring the Lives of Women on the North Shore Line". Thanks to Gwyn and others who helped with that fine exhibit. Those pictures came down today and in it's place will be the china exhibit and an exhibit on the station restaurants of Chicago.

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Shelly Vanderschaegen and Michael Baksic arrived in the morning. Shelly cleaned the Birmingham for the Christmas party to follow. Michael spent time with Paul Cronin.

On Sunday Mark Gellman, Kevin Krebs, Jim Windmeier, Michael McCraren and Jon Habegger all turned out to work in the 1st Exhibit Car on the railroad china display. They finished up the north side of the car (or left side as you walk in).

Union Pacific patterns - Photo by Michael McCraren

More of the Union Pacific section - Photo by Michael McCraren

The Chicago &

Planning started on the south side of the car (or right side). This side will continue the railroad china story to Amtrak. We will also have an interurban section and a section of Chicago railway station restaurants. We are also looking into a section that would change during the year so the exhibit would not be entirely static. It gives visitors a reason to keep coming back! The costs of materials (plate hangers, sticky tape, ect.) has been donated by the volunteers putting this exhibit together. If you would like to help with expenses, please send a check to the RARTRA fund. Thank you in advance.

Lunch was at 1:00 o'clock in the Birmingham as usual but today it was the Christmas party. Guests included Susan and David (birthday boy) Stepek, Buzz Morisette, Jim West, Nick Kallas, Sam Polonetzky, Kevin Brown (thanks for the soda pop!), Mark Hoffman, Jon Habegger, Michael McCraren, Mark Gellman, Jim Windmeier, Kevin Kriebs, Brian LaKemper, and the crew from the Happy Holidays Railway. Thanks to all who brought a dish to pass. There was plenty of food, soda, water, coffee, and desserts.

The Christmas Party made a pretty full house in the Birmingham - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Happy Holidays Railway crew members Jerry Saunders and Jim West joined in the fun - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Sam Polonetzky and Brian LaKemper visit from the center aisle - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Paul Cronin and Buzz Morisette - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Jon Habegger and Nick Kallas - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

David Stepek blows out his birthday candles - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Susan and David Stepek sit with Michael Baksic and Shelly Vanderschaegen - Photo courtesy of Shelly Vanderschaegen

Michael McCraren made some railroad specialities for the party. The potato salad was from an Atlantic Coast Line recipe. The cole slaw was from the Missouri Pacific. The salad dressings were Frisco French and Illinois Central dressing (1000 Islands type) and the cocktail sauce was from the Louisville & Nashville railroad. Shelly brought ham and cupcakes. Jim Windmeier brought shrimp. Brian LaKemper brought cookies. Kevin Krebs brought cheese and crackers along with cookies. Jon Habegger and Michael Baksic also contributed to the party food.

Everyone sang Happy Birthday to David Stepek and Shelly made his favorite cupcakes for him. David, Susan, Nick, and Shelly went to visit Mr. and Mrs. Claus who happened to be at the Museum for the Happy Holiday Railway event, but they were too early so they went to the 1st Exhibit Car and visited Kevin, Mark, Michael M., Jim, and Jon and admired the railroad china display under construction.

After lunch Brian helped Paul put the straightened tension bar back on the Galt House buffer. Paul will adjust the buffer to bring it to level on Wednesday. One step closer to having Galt House roll down the Museum's tracks once again.

The re-installed buffer rod, small black arrow points to the re-installed rod - freshly missing paint shows where it was straightened - Photo by Brian LaKemper

Mark G., Jon, Mike M., Jim W., Paul, and others continued work in the 1st Exhibit Car. Mike B. and Buzz did some work in Ely. Mark H. was working in the John McGloughlin and Lackawana 556.

Mark G. and Jon removing a board to install the top of the display cabinet being added to the exhibit car - Photo by Brian LaKemper

Mark G. marking the location for a bracket to hold the top of the new display cabinet while Jon is holding the top of the cabinet - Photo by Brian LaKemper

Elsewhere on the property, Happy Holidays Railway was making it's last trips of the year, and Jerry Saunders, Sam Polonetzky, and Jim West carried loads of happy families in our 2200 series "L" cars decorated for the holidays. One of our trolley buses was running as a shuttle service for patrons.

The 2200s leaving East Union Depot with another load of kids for Happy Holidays Railway - Photo by Brian LaKemper

This Trolley bus was acting as a shuttle for visitors - Photo by Brian LaKemper

David Stepek had a nice visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus and ran into another friend before heading home with his mom.

David visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus as Susan Stepek looks on - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

David with Dorothy from the Gift Shop give the thumbs up - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Saturday, December 6, 2014:

Michael McCraren reports that he was the 'lone ranger' in the 1st Exhibit Car on Saturday, December 6th. He set the Milwaukee Road portion of the display this day.

Michael McCraren continued setup on the Milwaukee Road china - Photo by Michael McCraren

Another view of the Milwaukee Road display on Saturday - Photo by Michael McCraren

Paul Cronin worked on the Galt House Diner buffer. Back in Winter 2008, Phil Stepek reported on the Louisville & Nashville 2726 Diner Galt House: "The diner returned from Horicon but suffered buffer damage in transit. Repairs will require the removal of the diaphragm and buffer plates to reshape the metal. This will probably be deferred until the 2008-2009 off-season. The car will be on display in Barn 3 during the 2008 season." The Coach Department is working to get this car back in service.

Sunday, December 7, 2014:

There was a light crew on Sunday with only Michael McCraren. Mark Gellman and Jim Windmeier working in the 1st Exhibit Car. More china was put up and some details were added. The Burlington Route section features the "Violet and Daisies" pattern. This pattern was on all major CBQ trains and the California Zephyr.

On Sunday the Milwaukee Road china display was even more polished - Photo by Michael McCraren

Jim Windmeier took pictures of the china for later use - Photo by Michael McCraren

NYC china - the menu in the middle is a dinner menu from the 20th Century Limited - Photo by Michael McCraren

This is the Pennsylvania Railroad china. We have every pattern from the 1900s to the close of operation - Photo by Michael McCraren

Jim Windmeier and guest Kevin Brown at lunch on Sunday - Photo by Michael McCraren

Saturday, November 29th: Michael McCraren worked in the morning on getting the Pacific Peak set up for winter work. Bedrooms E & F will continue to be restored back to the days when the car belonged to the Union Pacific.

Mark Gellman painted the panels above the windows in the Birmingham dining room on the south side of the car.

Both men spent the afternoon working on the railroad china display in the 1st Exhibit Car. The Santa Fe section is "done". Changes may still be made be Michael feels they are close to final placement.

Part of the Santa Fe railroad china section - Photo by Michael McCraren

The Santa Fe section is close to final placement - Photo by Michael McCraren

IRM has gone into holiday mode with lights along the fence by the main parking lot - the Holiday Train starts running next weekend - Photo by Michael McCraren

Sunday, November 30th:Kevin Kriebs and Shelly Vanderschaegen hung curtains in the Ely in the morning. Michael Baksic and Ray Mormann worked in the Birmingham. Shelly cleaned the Birmingham dining area before lunch.

Very early Sunday morning at IRM - Photo by Mark Gellman

More plates were hung by Mark and Michael M. on Sunday - Photo by Mark Gellman

Jim Windmeier and Mark Gellman pondering the dining car china display in the 1st Exhibit Car - Photo by Jon Habegger

A note of thanks to Buzz Morisette who recently stripped the Ely dining room celing light fixtures. They will be primed and painted later.

On Sunday, November 23, 2014, work continued on the railroad china display in the 1st Exhibit Car. Patrice Connelly again joined the crew to advise and help direct the set-up of the exhibit.

Last week the team made paper plate "china" which could be taped to the glass of the display case. This week they got down to business placing that "china" on the glass. By the end of the day the first glass shelf and china was placed in the cabinet. This is just the start of the work to mount the china.

Jim Windmeier arranging the paper plate china - Photo by Patrice Connelly

What the Burlington Violets and Daisies display will look like - Photo by Patrice Connelly

Placement of the Santa Fe china - Photo by Mark Gellman

Elsewhere in the 1st Exhibit Car, Jon Habegger and Mark Gellman were working on a display for LaSalle Street Station.

Lunch was held in the Birmingham even as work has started on it. Mark Gellman has been scrapping the panels above the windows to get the last of the glue off. He has primed the south side of the car. Ray has started to re-wire the car. At lunch were Patrice Connelly, Jon Habegger, Mark Gellman, Kevin Kriebs, Jim Windmeier, Ray Mormann, Nick Kallas, Michael McCraren and Michael Baksic.

Kevin Kriebs and Jon Habegger at lunch - Photo by Michael McCraren

Ray Mormann and Patrice Connelly in the Birmingham diner - Photo by Michael McCraren

Michael Baksic and Mark Gellman at Sunday lunch - Photo by Michael McCraren

Ray, Patrice, Nick Kallas, and Michael B. - Photo by Michael McCraren

Michael McCraren arrived before 9:00 AM and captured an image of the first snowfall at IRM.

First snowfall of the year covers IRM - Photo by Michael McCraren

Michael Baksic and Shelly Vanderschaegne arrived about 9:30 AM. They spent the morning gathering display items to put into storage for the winter.

A crew was at work in the 1st Exhibit Car including Michael McCraren, Mark Gellman, Jon Habegger, Jim Windmeier and guest Patrice Connelly. Patrice has a major in museum studies and design and was asked to come and lend a hand with design elements in the current railroad china display preparation. Mark Gellman and Jon Habegger worked on installing a shelf.

Mark Gellman installing a shelf - Photo by Michael McCraren

Jon Habegger measuring the gap - Photo by Michael McCraren

Jim Windmeier talks over the china exhibit with guest Patrice Connelly - Photo by Michael McCraren

The LaSalle Street Station display had to be moved for the china display - Photo by Michael McCraren

Patrice brought paper plates and cups to make a mock up of the china exhibit - Photo by Michael McCraren

John McKelvey came out and Shelly took pictures with him in the Santa Fe Lounge Car. In the photo below, John sits on a completed seat juxtaposed with the obviously soiled appearance of the current seats. The new upholstery material is a close match to the fabric used in the last upholstery work done in the 1534, which was possibly in 1938 when the lounge cars were further remodeled by Santa Fe. At that time, all interior furnishings were removed. Seven Pullman sections complete with upper and lower berths with tables, berth curtains, hangers and etc., were installed. The Pullman berths were used for Dining Car overflow seating, passenger lounging, games, and etc. At night the upper and lower berths were made up and used by the Dining Car crew as a dormitory area to sleep.

John McKelvey sits on a seat he has recently reupholstered - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Shelly cleaned up the kitchen and eating area in the Birmingham just before the crew came in for lunch. Visitors included Jim West, Buzz Morisette, and Patrice Connelly.

Jim West joined the crew in the Birmingham for lunch - Photo by Michael McCraren

Jim Windmeier, Shelly Vanderschaegen, and Michael Baksic at lunch - Photo by Michael McCraren

Jon Habegger at lunch - Photo by Michael McCraren

Patrice Connelly was a lunch guest - Photo by Michael McCraren

Buzz Morisette and Mark Gellman at Sunday lunch - Photo by Michael McCraren

After lunch, items to be used in upcoming displays in the 1st Exhibit Car were collected. And the creation of the paper plate "china" continued. A big Thank You to Patrice Connelly for lending her expertise to the display project underway!

Here's a sneak peek at next year's railroad china display! On Sunday, November 2, 2014, Jim Windmeier sorted and photographed all the china we have so far collected.

Milwaukee Road patterns - Photo by Jim Windmeier

Chicago and Northwestern patterns - Photo by Jim Windmeier

Burlington Route patterns - Photo by Jim Windmeier

Union Pacific patterns - Photo by Jim Windmeier

Illinois Central patterns - Photo by Jim Windmeier

On the morning of Sunday, November 2nd, Shelly Vanderschaegen, Michael Baksic, and Michael McCraren 'winterized' the Birmingham. They moved the stairs to the preferred winter door and distributed electric heaters. There was a small turnout on Sunday for lunch but good company.

Nick Kallas, Shelly Vanderschaegen and Michael Baksic at lunch - Photo by Michael McCraren

Jim Windmeier at lunch in the Birmingham - Photo by Michael McCraren

John McKelvey at lunch in the Birmingham - Photo by Michael McCraren

After lunch, Michael McCraren and Mark Gellman went to work inside the 1st Exhibit Car. John McKelvey and Shelly worked together on Santa Fe Lounge Car berth seats. They removed five seats from one section of the 1534 and took them to their work area inside the Barn 4 shop for reupholstery. Fabric purchased recently is nearly identical to the original upholstery.

Shelly Vanderschaegen and John McKelvey with a Santa Fe Lounge Car seat - Photo by Michael McCraren

The underside of a Santa Fe Lounge Car bench seat - Photo by Michael McCraren

Saturday, November 8, 2014: Ray Mormann and Mark Gellman removed bad steps from the 2nd Exhibit Car and began planning how to secure the trap as they worked.

Ray Mormann standing where the step used to be on the 2nd Exhibit Car - Photo by Michael McCraren

The steps on the pavement in Yard 5 - Photo by Michael McCraren

Ray standing with Mark Gellman on the vestibule platform - Photo by Michael McCraren

Michael McCraren stained three boards that would become the lower shelf of the china display in the 1st Exhibit Car.

These stained boards are to be used in the new railroad china display currently under construction - Photo by Michael McCraren

Inside the 1st Exhibit Car on Sunday, November 9th, Jon Habegger, Jim Windmeier, Mike McCraren and Mark Gellman installed the bottom shelves for the railroad china display. The LaSalle Street Staion display was restyled. Work began in the Pacific Peak to lay carpet protection for winter removal of more wall carpet leftover from Amtrak service. Brian LaKemper also spent part of his afternoon in the 1st Exhibit Car working on the new railroad china display.

Mark and Jim Windmeier discuss ideas for the china display - Photo by Michael McCraren

Mark installed the lower shelf inside the display case - Photo by Michael McCraren

Michael McCraren and Mark Gellman work on the china display - Photo by Brian LaKemper

The china is laid out in position of where it will be displayed - Photo by Michael McCraren

Starting to recreate the gate board from Union Station in the late 1960s - Photo by Michael McCraren

The display for LaSalle Street - Photo by Michael McCraren

John McKelvey continued working on the Santa Fe Lounge Car seats inside the Barn 4 shop.

John McKelvey pinned new material to a previously stripped Santa Fe Lounge Car seat - Photo by Michael McCraren

Outside Barn 3 on Sunday, Brian LaKemper and Chuck Trabert worked together on the Milwaukee Road Dynamometer, finishing up winterization, packing away tools, and removing the jammed safety bars for the side doors. The bars had slid up on their hinges, shearing off the tapered pins that hold them which prevented lowering the safety bars. The bars were freed from the hinges and the hinges removed from the carbody. No photos were taken of this process.

The Steam Department kindly straightened the safety bar that had been bent at some point, and punched out the broken pins that were supposed to hold the safety bars in place on the hinge. Next time out, Brian's plans include sandblasting the hinges to remove accumulated build-up, and then to prime and remount them to the carbody. Once they are remounted, the latch mechanism for the bars can be removed, as one is damaged and requires repair.

A Call For Volunteers: Need something to do this winter and you're itching to work on railroad coaches? The Passenger Car Department at IRM is in need of more volunteers to work in the Silver Cars removing old paint and carpets. Come on out and get involved!