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Monday, July 31. 2017Freight Car Urgent Needs
The freight car department is in the need of a few more volunteers. Right now there are only three full time volunteers participating in the department. As one can imagine their efforts are only concentrated on a couple of projects. Right now the Pennsylvania Bobber Caboose and the B & O RR Wagontop boxcar are their main focus. Leading the efforts are the following: Victor Humphreys, Dave Rogan and Bill Peterson. Like all departments, these three active members are looking for more recruits to help in the freight car department. That is the urgency, They would like a few good men and women to help them. If you have any talents such as carpentry, painting, piping or welding they sure could use your efforts. Matter of fact if you don't have any talents they will teach you. See Victor on any Wednesday or Saturday in their new shop, barn 10, for more details. They share the barn with the coach dept. AND don't forget to bring your lunch! That group breaks for lunch around 11:30. Contrary to some rumors, we at Irm are not all work. We as well, do our share of socializing!
 Its cold when this was taken Vic and Dave are drilling holes in a new piece of wood for the Bobber Caboose  Vic is removing some old paint from a section of wood from the interior  Please notice the brand new siding installed  Dave abd Vic up in the world with more installations  Bob Albertson from the coach department helps Dave install more siding Monday, July 31. 2017SPC Equipment Worked on in the Last 4 Months
Its has been many months since I have updated you on the happenings in the coach department. I apologize for the delay. Unfortunately, besides volunteering at Irm, I recently purchased a new home. Settling in my new home in Huntley and moving out of the old one this year has taken up a lot of time. Here is a list of the equipment and projects we all have participated in these last four months. The list includes the following pieces: RI 2524, 2612 2602; BLE 25; DMIR 84; GBW 109; EL 556; Mt Harvard; John Mcloughlin; Lake City; Inglehome: Nevada Northern, Ely; DM&IR 84; CB&Q 481; L&N 2726 and our two new pieces Milwaukee Road coaches, 649 and 542. Some pieces have been receiving more attention than others. Here is a picture exposé of some of the progress.
 One of two recent acquisitions MR 649  The other coach MR 542  Repaint wooden windows of the BLE 25  Sanding roof of the John Mcloughlin  Installed drumhead on the Lake City  New antimacassars cloths for Inglehome  Painting ceiling vents in Mt Harvard Monday, June 12. 2017Luncheon is served in the Birmingham
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.
 The interior full of patrons for lunch  The team went all out preparing for this first event White tables clothes were even used.  Mark and Andy enjoying the conversation  Paul and Dale  Sandi and Ken  Sandi and Rich and in the very background Howard Mary and Jeff.  Kevin just said hello as I snapped the picture.  Some of the important dining crew L to R Brian P, Mike, and Brian L  Warren of X5000 fame  Paul, Head waiter Friday, April 21. 2017Freight Car UpdateHere 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.  Door before restoration had begun  Door installed What a difference  The bobber side frame undergoing repair  Old WC boxcar 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.  Charte One private passenger cars painted in NYC colors. What beauties!  Paul Cronin and Roger Kramer sitting in luxury in the dome section Monday, April 3. 2017March Steam News
I will begin and end with the vertical boring mill. Sure glad we have this machine!
 I forgot to add this one on the last blog. Ben gets some assistance in machining yet another part for the UP 428  Stu assists Chris in the smoke box of the Shay  Machinist first class, Brian, is working on a part for the brass bearing on the 1630  Mike takes a moment out of his busy day. He has been working on the Frisco 1630 cross compound air pump.  Phil is working on the shay. This long bar is part of the new grate shaker mechanism.  Working on the annual spring hydro of the 1630.  Yes, that is Jane working on the riveting detail. She playing the part of ROSY aka the riveter. The three person rivet team is working on the cab of the UP 428.  Its hard to make them out but the three person team are all pictured here. They are riveting the overhang of the cab roof.  Not to be out done, both sides of the 1630 cab are receiving new primer followed by a new coat of black paint and correct lettering.  The restoration of the 975 SP 2-10-2 headlight is under way!  This is the 90 inch wheel lath that will be in service this summer.  This machine Ex Milwaukee Road planner has been operated many times this season. Here its being set up for another job.  Our vertical boring mill is set up for more machining of 428 parts. Ben stepped away for a few minutes. I got the shot! Thursday, March 30. 2017The Shay and More News
Yes, more information regarding the on going 428 and the Shay
 Here is another picture of the interior of the 428 cab restoration  More precision machine work of 428 parts. This time part of the main drivers brake rigging.  The woodshop and steam crews are working together on this huge beam. This huge oak timber is replacing the old one that was removed from the front of the shay years ago  Rich, Buzz, Dan, and Collin are squaring this beam on the museums large jointer. This is a replacement large white oak beam for the front of the Shay.  The three primed areas are the location for the new oak beam mentioned in the above picture.  Trevor working on the Shays steam dome. All the insulations is now secured to the dome.  Tom and one of his favorite hats machining another part for the UP 428  Yes, there are father and son teams that also work on the steamers |
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Comments
Fri, 08-11-2017 00:05
Randy, The 543 was never in that paint scheme. It'll likely be restored to the zebra stripe scheme whenever it does get restored. Jamie
Thu, 08-10-2017 17:46
If you ever get the money to repaint this engine, I would hope you would repaint it to have the big letters Santa Fe instead of the small print. [...]
Thu, 08-10-2017 10:38
I would like to know if these MR #649 and #542 were part of FEVR excursion in Nebraska? Awesome to have them to be part of IRM collection!
Sat, 08-05-2017 23:30
They need to restore Milwaukee road 33 and 37c along with the 3 Milwaukee road f units hey have
Wed, 08-02-2017 20:01
It was supposed to be restored and sat behind the NS Altoona shops for the better part of two years, waiting for that to happen. We finally had it [...]
Tue, 08-01-2017 02:42
those 2 Milw cars would actually look good behind one of the Milw F7's or the E9's.
Sat, 07-29-2017 22:02
I just donated to the Save the 800 campaign. Should the campaign fail, I would like my donation re-directed to ATSF FP45 #92 please. Please tell the [...]
Sat, 07-29-2017 13:14
I see Conrail 4601 has finally arrived. I suspect a cosmetic restoration and getting donations to put it in a barn are in order?
Sat, 07-29-2017 01:51
It was restored at Altoona before coming to Union from the Essex, CT area. BTW, is or was it going to be restored as a Virginian engine? or kept as a [...]
Fri, 07-28-2017 11:54
It appears to be the E33 that IRM aqquired a year or two ago.
Thu, 07-27-2017 14:06
What is the 4601 locomotive parked in front of the diesel shop?
Wed, 07-26-2017 17:53
Since your archives list no E mail address or any other form of contact I am sending this here. Over the years I have been given a huge amount of [...]