Entries by Roger Kramer

April 1 the coach dept had their yearly Start The Season luncheon. Mike McCarren prepared the menu from actually recipes from rr dinners.   This was a lot of work purchasing the ingredients and then following the recipes to the letter.    We welcome everyone and hope the upcoming season will be safe and will include a lot of hard work regarding the passenger coach dept. 

Here is a short Freight Car update given to me by Buzz Morisette.  The Rail and Wire had a short article about the Wagon Top Boxcar, it is still primed and ready but now we have the funds available to paint it this Summer.    It was great weather, finally, April 8th so I  [Buzz]  reinstalled a rebuilt door onto the Soo Line caboose # 162.   The Wednesday  single project crew have been wire wheeling and bush priming the caboose.   They are restoring back to the its Milwaukee heritage, #992300.   As mentioned before Buzz is repairing and painting the two exterior doors: one down one to go. 

He also stopped by to see the progress on the Pennsy  476199 Bobber caboose located in the new shop barn,#10.This past winter Victor, Bill,  and Dave have been energetically working away on the exterior old frame woodwork.   Much of it is beyond saving so many new wood parts must be fabricated and custom fitted.   Sitting right next to the bobber is an old Wisconsin Central steel and wood frame boxcar # 131650.   It has been long used as a storage car for El car parts.Its now out of the weather!   The Freight car department is sharing space in barn 10 with the passenger coach dept.   Three cars are currently undergoing various forms of restoration.  They are the RI 2524, IC 3345 and the heavy weight Pullman sleeper, John Mcloughlin.   The fourth car B & M diner is now under cover but not being worked on.    

For two weekends we had two private varnish coaches visiting the museum.   Stored on station track two they made a beautiful back drop to the entrance of the museum campus.

What  beautiful private varnish these two were.   Sitting in the dome one could fantasize  traveling down the rail at 90 mph   WOW!     Please remember the freight car department when  making out your donation check.     Thanks  Roger and Buzz Morisette

I will begin and end with the vertical boring mill.  Sure glad we have this machine!As you can see its definitely a team effort!There is sure a lot of maintenance to contend with when your operating a steam locomotive.    The old saying goes...  For every hour it runs there are two hours of maintenance to perform. This certainly true for the 1630. As you have seen and read its been a busy first quarter for the steam dept.  Now,  the crunch really comes because it about one month till 1630 is due to run.    If it continues to rain that might put a hold on some of the outside testing the locomotive has to go thru before its certified to operate.    Again, remember to send your donations in to the Steam shop fund to support and fund the  work  on these  "Iron Horses".      Thanks     Roger

Yes, more information regarding the on going 428 and the ShayOk, now to the Main Event.  As I have said before, the push is on to complete the Shay this year.  The next pictures shows how the museum works together to get a job done and done correctly.  April is right around the corner.    Come out and visit your museum!     Thanks   Roger

The new year has brought a lot of action in the steam shop.   Every Saturday brings about 20 volunteers to the museum largest venue.   Whether working on the shay, machining parts for the UP 428 or installing new shelves for storage of parts the members are making a difference.    Yes, the restoration on the shay is continuing.   If all goes according to plan it should be available for service later this year.           Want to join the Steam Team?  Make American history come alive by volunteering.  The ability to work along side equipment and machinery pertaining  to the American steam locomotive is a real draw.   Like one of the new young volunteers just recently said"  this is better than working on my train set at home!"   Can't make it to the museum because of other commitments?  Why not, then, consider a donation to the Steam Shop Fund!   You will be supporting the museum's volunteers and there efforts.    O, Yes, for those who drive,  there is plenty of parking: right next to the Steam Shop.     Thanks  Roger Kramer

Here is more news from our crew working on coach projects.  This covers the time line from about January 15 to late February 2017. By the time were are done this winter season we will have painted approximately 400 individual parts for this the last Rock Island Restoration.          This is indeed a proud moment. The next two pictures are of me holding a newly manufactured part for the John Mcloughlin.  This steel frame is the culmination of three years of  restoration and planning of the women's washroom in the John Mcloughlin Pullman sleeper.    Many people were involved in the remake of this missing frame.   First, Ted Anderson and the Pullman Library found the drawings then the Used Bookstore gang supplied the funds to manufacture it,  Henry Vincent and Rich Witt remade all the wooden parts to  be used to secure the glass mirror to the frame, and lastly R and B Metal of Woodstock, Illinois did the work.  Thanks to all those who contributed their time and talents. Would you like to donate a few $  towards our restoration efforts!   Just call Jan in our office and she will be happy to help you! Its been a while but do you remember when the temperature was 60 degrees.   Here's the results when the warm weather finally stays around.   Shirt sleeves!!     A few more updates will be forthcoming.  I'm finally catching up.      Roger