Entries by Roger Kramer

About a month and a half ago I took a big step towards finishing the exterior of the IC 3345 coach. The end buffers were not installed when we painted the coach last year.  Wanting to finally  finish that part of the project I went into the storage field and found both of them.  With the help from Jeff, from the steam department and operating the large fork lift,  we moved them from the storage field to an area next to barn 10.  This happened in the early spring of this year. This September I personally hired a contractor to abrade the exterior of both buffers.  Kane DeKalb Dustless Blasting is the name of the contractor. The process  involves using water as the medium mixed with in this case with fine particles of ground up glass to remove the old paint and rust. I would highly recommend its use on other projects around the museum for it worked very well.   Anyway, they were prepped, blasted and primed on a Saturday and then top coated with two coats, of Sherwin Williams urethane paint on Sunday, September 22 of this year. 

What a difference sandblasting and painting will do for any piece. Painting makes anything look  good.  The next step is to finally install each buffer onto the coach and then finally move it into barn 3 for display. If you would like to help defray the cost of the removal please send your donation and mark it for the IC3345 fund.              Thanks, Roger!

Yes, the 975 is receiving more paint from its painting friend, Gregg Wolfersheim. A coating of primer then the top coat of black paint sure makes the locomotive almost come to life.   The painting will continue until Gregg runs out of good 50 degree  weather. Here is a future consideration for all you steam fans. Why not send in a donation to increase the 975 fund for its future storage inside. This engine with its new paint job needs to be protected. Help place this engine into our next new building!               Thanks  Roger

Here is the latest news regarding the Pennsy bobber cabin restoration.   Victor, Dave and Bill have been focusing all their efforts on finishing this project. All three are out every Wednesday and most Saturdays working on it.   This second side is finished including fresh paint.  This is a follow up to the Buzz Morisette blog a couple of weeks ago.     Thanks  Roger

Here is the current update on the Milwaukee 649.  Steve has removed many of the window frames on the south side.   In doing so he has also cleaned the car body frame, primed and  top coated each opening.  He also manufactured eleven new white oak lower wood frames in the museums wood shop.  They were made because many of the old pieces were badly rotted and discolored.  He then took them home sanded and applied clear spar urethane to them.    The next two weeks were devoted to gluing them in the interior  of each affected window.   That phase of work is now completed and we are waiting for new glass for the window frames.  New glass will be purchased in the next budgeting period of 2019.   Then the process of reinserting new gasket  material into each frame can begin.         Thanks  Roger

The picture views speak for themselves and are very impressive.  Howard, Mary and I finished spray painting one side of the Milwaukee coach in early September.  Steve, unfortunately, was not at the museum this day, but since then has been working on the exterior windows.   That project along with the repair of interior fluorescent  lightening will be covered in the next blog report.   Meanwhile with all these changes the new look of the 649 gives you an idea what the coach will eventual look like when completed next year. If you want to help us preparing this coach for next season we are here every Wednesday and Saturday.   Why not come out and join us.    Thanks   Roger  

Here are more developments on the restoration of the Mt. Harvard!  Our small band of volunteers continues to remove old paint in preparation of more painting. Every week brings on line new painting projects and new results. The project has received much help from many people including these two volunteers Dave Cook and Jerry McGonagall.   Future posts concerning the Mt Harvard will show more interior painting progress.   Thanks     Roger