Entries by Roger Kramer

          As the winter continues with it's first big snowstorm looming the shop forces are again working on the museum's favorite steamer, the 1630.   Here are just a few of the many maintenance projects begun on the engine.                               The removal and subsequent hydro and hammer of the air tanks is a FRA requirement.  It takes a out of time just to meet the yearly regulations.  Then on top of that, during the down time, repair of any problems that might have been observed thru the daily operational inspections.  Inspecting any operating piece of equipment at Irm takes a lot of time but is the most important of tasks at the museum.         Part of the teams attention has now been shifted towards the Union Pacific engine .   The  installation of rivets into the cab frame of the UP 428 has finally begun.  Once all rivets are installed  the next task will be the installing of the wood interior framing.   Then, when finally painted the cab can be lifted and installed back onto the frame of the engine.          The boiler backhead for the UP428 is receiving more attention. Here is a picture of the results of one months work reinstalling the pipes and accessories.      The need for donations is alway great but especially during the winter months when supplies, parts, etc are needed.  Please consider a donation to the following projects: UP 428, Shay, RI 938, Tuskegee 101,  and of course, our 1630.   Thanks  Roger

            Last Saturday, the 40 degree weather brought out four volunteers to continue the paint upgrade in our Lackawanna coach.   January 17th, the crew of Mark Hoffmann, Rick Serenda, Derick Nipper, and myself  sanded  then primed the area  where the baggage racks once occupied.

     This area now is primed grey and awaiting the further work on the ceiling before applying the finish coat.       The prepping of the ceiling will be the most difficult because of all the overhead work.            When the  weather warms I will then take all these racks in my truck  to a company called Ready Strip.   All paint and rust will be removed and brought back to Irm where they will then be primed and finished coated ready for installation.              Also, on Wednesday the 21th, while Bob Olsen was grinding away in the warmth of the 556, Paul Cronin and myself walked thru the snow/ice and complied an inventory of steam heat appliances that were on 11 possible candidates for our winter train.   We wrote down what was missing and what appliances were still on each.         If you would like to help place this coach back is service please visit us in barn 3.  The project sure can use the help.   When finished this coach will be a candidate for winter steam heat operation.    Thanks  Roger

                   The Illinois Railway Museum has signed a letter of intent for the purchase of a Steam generator unit, the former CN 15444.    Through the generous donations of two members, Nick Kallas and Roger Kramer, this car will be arriving at Irm sometime this year.  

         The unit was purchased from a tourist line operation in Northern Georgia.  It is the coach department intent to repair and restore it to operation.   We now will have the opportunity  to run late fall and early winter passenger consists using steam heat and the electrical capability that it offers.     However, this capability will not come quickly .   The entire system must be restored to operation by inspecting and then testing the two Vapor-Clarkson steam generator units.  This will  be expensive.  If you would like to see this unit under steam and in operation please consider a donation to the newly establish fund; CN 15444.    Also included in this unit is a small diesel generator set capable of producing 12KW of64/76 V.D.C. and a small 25 cfm air compressor.  Fuel for the operation is provided by 2 tanks each carrying 250 gals, for a total of 500.  Water capacity is 2000 gals having  four tanks per unit with each tank holding 500 gals..               Here are some  more of the mechanical data supplied to us courtesy of  Kent McClure, Chief Mechanical Officer, Monticello Railroad Museum.  The museum in Monticello, Illinois has the exact same car, their number is 15421.   If you would like to view their car it has been repainted to the original CN colors.  Very impressive!   I was down there visiting January of this early new year.   The next time it will be in operation will be for their Santa train in late November of this year.

        Date built:1958     Builder: Canadian Car Company      Lot Number: 2188     Total length over end platforms: 43'10"        Weight of car, light: 97,000lbs      Weight of car in working order: 132,000 lbs     Type of Truck:  Commonwealth BX- Double Equalizers, 4 wheels  5 1/2 X 10     Roller Bearings:  Fahuir    Wheels:  AAR 33"   Brake Equipment:  14"X 12"  Type 'Q' Passenger brakes  D-22-AF Control Valve  

       All the above pictures of the CN 15444 are courtesy of Ozark Mountain Railcar.   YOU CAN HELP Irm by sending in your donation to the CN 15444.    Nick and I have donated the money for the purchase but we still need to solicit funds for the transportation, track storage charges and the restoration.     That's where you can help your museum!   Please send your donations so that we can begin the process.  If you are interested in helping with the restoration please contact Paul Cronin or myself for more information.      This piece will expand the museum's capabilities and make it even more exciting to experience late fall and early winter passenger train operations along our main line.     Thanks   Roger

          Here is a progress update on the  Erie Lackawanna, Coach 556.   Much of fall 2014 the 556 has been languishing in inactivity.   The  Wednesday of Dec 17th, saw a increased  commitment on the coach.  Our new curator designate, Paul Cronin,  decided to try and removed a few baggage racks that were holding up our interior painting efforts.  His past experience with similar racks at another museum paid off.         With the help of myself and Bob Olsen the three of us not only removed a few but removed one entire side of racks in about 1 hour!               This last rack will be the first to be reinstalled.  Paul and I were surprised how smoothly each section was removed.     We saved all the brass screws and placed them in a box then stacked all the rest of the parts.        The  Sunday before Christmas, Mark Hoffmann begin the task of sanding the wall vacated by the racks.    He then primed those areas.  I was not at the museum that weekend but did get a report from him in which he stated that he had sanded and primed about 30 feet.  Pretty good production for one day in a rather poorly heated area.  We intend to have the racks commercially paint stripped then primed and paint at the museum before reinstallation.   If you would like to help pay for the paint stripping please send a donation to EL 556 fund. Thank You!   Since the Rock Island 2612 project is winding down we need many volunteers to help us with this project.  Volunteer days are every  Wednesday and Saturday.    Won't you help!?      Roger 

            The L&N diner, 2726, aka The Galt House, has finally been removed from track 33 to track 31 in preparation for much needed 2015 mechanics and inspections.  On December 6th  Paul Cronin and I began the work needed to repair the buffer damage  that was on the eastern side of the car.  This damage occurred more than 6 years ago as a result of the diner's movement back to the museum.                                               As the picture below shows Paul is quite knowageable in his techniques while using a torch.   That's one craft I never learned!        With the help from Bob Olsen, the three of us tugged and pulled and finally had enough room to pull out the bent buffer bar.                                        Wednesday, Dec 10, also the day of the woodshop xmas party, found a larger crew working on the buffer reassembly.                A special member came to visit us in barn 3 that cold day in December.             Not pictured but equally important was the reinstallation of the torsion rod.    This was accomplished on Saturday, Dec, 13th by Paul Cronin and Brian Le Kemper    Yet to be accomplished is the repair of the extremely bent steel buffer.    We must cut out the damaged area and weld in a new piece.   This will take place sometime in January or February , weather permitting.   With a new push on the diner the air is fresh with renewed optimism that the 2726 might operate in 2015.                        Again, Happy Holidays     Roger Kramer

        First, I would like to thank all of you for reading my restoration blogs and to wish all of you a Happy Holiday Season!!  Next, thanks to all the volunteers in the coach dept who have help make this a very successful year for us.  A number of projects are nearing completion as well as more receiving attention. Do not forget the blogs about the railroad china display. Two weeks ago  Paul Cronin and myself inspected the progress.   Quite impressive and very professional done, I might add.    Look for in the new year more progress and maybe a new arrival or two!    Remember, your donations, whether large or small, help Irm's many, many equipment restoration projects.   Thanks    Roger Kramer,  lead restoration manager                         

                   This fall we have completed two milestone projects on our Rock fleet.   Advertising cards have now been installed in the 2602 and  we now have fifty glass windows in the 2612.     

                    Here on a sunny day in early December I am  installing the last painted window frame in the 2612.  Austin Harvey prepped the last three frames and then I Installed them.   I would like to thank Dan and Lorraine Bixler, Gary Sherman as well as Austin for taking the time to sand each car body brass frame.   This  task was needed to remove the old paint and glue so that each window would more easily open and close.   Now all 50 window frames are painted and glazed with AS2 automotive glass.    Yet to be completed is the installation of 35 feet of new wooden window sills.     This will happen  warm  weather permitting.                                          We also  have done some detail work on the newly repainted 2602.    Rick  Serenda  has installed the car cards in the coach where earlier in the fall Dan Bixler had spent three days cleaning out the groves.   Rick has also removed the peeling wall advertising sign  holders and we will sandblast and paint them when the weather warms returns.              Again,  I  hope you all have a joyous holiday season! 

                   Here is the second installment of pictures taken by Robert Banke.  They were taken in and around the Chicago area in the late seventies. Please notice the condition of the yards, facilities and the equipment.                                           

          We could easily portray the next  scenes by restoring our last coach RI 2524 to active service.  How would you like to volunteer?            On the above picture, the next track over, is the end  of a bilevel.   Is that one of  the 2700 series bilevels?              I believe the RI 630 has survived the scrappers torch and is in existence today.      Years ago, Irm had a chance to buy this engine.   Instead,  we own the last RI steamer to run in commuter service, the # 938.                 Here is some  thought and a challenge to someone who is goal oriented and wants to see the 938 again in steam operation.   Formulate and submit a plan to raise money for the future operation and maintenance of this locomotive.   Then  present your plan before the Board of Directors of IRM and, with approval, begin raising  money to restore the 938 to operational  status.   In the meantime,  send your donations to RI 2612 coach fund and the RI 938 steam fund.                     Thanks   Roger