Entries by Roger Kramer

             These pictures were sent to me courtesy of Robert Banke.  They were taken in the late 70's at the Rock Island station.   Today, you can not even get close to many passenger commuter yards to take pictures  like this let alone just to view them.  How times have changed!    Please take note of the surroundings in the following pictures.  You can see the lack of maintenance of both equipment and infrastructure.  Notice there is more grass growing than ties     Sad, how a once great railroad would end up like  this!            Here, then, is a snapshot of what it was like to ride the "ROCK" in the late 70's; the good old days!          

                               My thanks again to Robert Banke for having the foresight to take these informative pictures of the Rock Island commuter service.      If you would like to help Irm portray a similar scene please when sending in your yearend donation please include a contribution to the Restricted RI 2612 coach or the RI 938 steam loco fund.                             Thank You      Roger Kramer

            Our restoration crew took a short break  between Thomas and the middle of September when our restoration resumed on 2612 after the coach was switched back into yard three.   I also requested, during that time, to moved the 2555[which is bad order] and the 2602  back into yard 3.    Now we had three cars to work on and finish some more projects.   

                       Not only did our crew work on the 2612 but we also had significant inroads in the upgrading of the 2602.   As the  pictures  show below we finally painted the primed standee grabs that had been left primed for many years.  That made a big difference in the appearance.  Next, Dan Bixler completed his task of cleaning out the car card holders.  Now we can install  the new reproduction advertising cards provided by Mike Baksic .    Also accomplished but not pictured but was the sandblasting, priming, and painting of the four advertising sign holders for the 2602 and the removal of th four peeling holders in the 2555.     Lastly, still in warm weather,  Buzz was lettering a coach   Wow, where did the warmth go!                    Please remember your  museum for the Xmas holidays.  Make a donation to your favorite piece of equipment!    How about  the passenger coach dept?   Thanks   Roger

               The future barn construction reality is finally setting in and Randy Hicks and I are  keeping you up to date  on the progress of  the future  barn sites.   As we have said the work continues at a quick pace.                         Yards 13 and 14 are ballasted and here in these pictures yard 13 is being tamped and regulated [swept free of excess ballast]The museum still needs donations to facilitate the construction of the second barn so please do not forget to send your  donations to the fund, Barn 14 Construction.    Thank You      Roger             Thanks to Bob Olsen and the entire track crew for dumping ballast, Mark Reimers and his crew for surveying the sites, Dave Diamond and his crew for all the site preparation and Jamie Kolanowski and his switching crews for moving equipment.

                 Here are a couple of new pictures of the ongoing restoration efforts on the Rock Island 938 4-6-2 Pacific.   If it was not  for the colder weather setting in and the need to maintain  and repair the Frisco 1630 the pacific would still be in the shop.    If the reader would like to see more restoration efforts on this steamer please send in your donation to the Rock Island 938 Fund    Thanks   Roger                

                     The tender of the Rock Island steam Locomotive, 938, was primed and painted September 26th by  Phil and myself.  Using Sherwin Williams primer and top coat Phil and I primed and painted the entire tender and part of the steam loco's cab all in one day.            This last picture is of great interest to many people for it shows the boiler work being preformed on the engine.   Yes,  We are taking out the boiler tubes as well as the super heaters flues to inspect the boiler for future considerations.   Now, do I have your  attention, curiosity and interest?   Yes?!      IF you want this project to continue, Please, send your donations to the Rock Island 938 Fund.   You never know where this might lead!!      Roger

                          Because the Rock Island coach fleet has been in active use since late August, the passenger coach restoration crew has concentrated some of its efforts in the interior of our heavyweight pullman sleeper, John McLoughlin.   This project now has  taken center stage to prep the walls and ceiling for future painting.   The 24 foot long hallway and ceiling have been completely "chipped" down to bare metal.   From this needle chipping phase we have now begun the  sanding and wire wheeling phase.   Here are a few pictures to show our progress.    

          If you would like to view more pictures of our restoration projects please visit the Members Photo section then move to Bob Kutella's pictures then follow Roger Kramer photo's.                             Like many restoration projects at Irm this too is reliant on donations from the membership.   Please consider sending a donation to the restricted fund, John Mcloughlin.  We still need  more $ to complete the welding installation of the wall panel between the women's washroom and the first compartment.    Thank you.    Roger Kramer    

               I would like to publicly thank all the following volunteers who faithfully partook in the restoration of Rock Island 2612 and the repaint of Rock island 2602!    Without your interest and devotion  these projects would not have been completed.    So...   Thank you all again for your efforts.    We are continuing working on some projects  and starting others.    See you then.     

                      Gary Sherman, Loraine Bixler, Dan Bixler, Dave Cook, Brian Patterson, Andy Patterson, Mark Hoffman,  Ray Erickson, Austin Harvey, Kyle Vander Meer, Jane Blackburn,  Andy Townsend, Mary Geier, Howard Geier, Jan Hervert, Nancy Ring, Dan Boguse, Mike Steigerwald, John Mckelvey, Eric Olesen, Brian La Kemper, Shelly Vanderschaegen, Jim Opolony, Paul Cronin,  Matt Voss, Chase Renwick, Logan Gaerlan, Warren Newhauser, Roger Kramer  and from the steam dept; Christian Ellis, Jim Opolony, Eric Wahlmark  and Dave.  Here, again, are more pictures of some of the crew in various degrees of action. 

Gary

Jan and Loriane

Gary and Brian LaKemper

Dave

Dave Cook

    I am certainly proud of all of you for volunteering your time and labor in these two projects.        Roger Kramer     

Mary and Howard 

Austin

Brian, John our contract welder, and Roger 

 Howard, Gary, Roger, Loraine Dan and Dave 

Roger and Kyle  

Jane and Austin  

        Would you like to meet new people,  who also have similar train interests, and at the same time help restore and maintain museum artifacts?   Why not join our team and begin volunteering this coming week.   We meet in back of barn 3 where there is plenty of parking.    Remember to bring your lunch and your favorite drink.    All else is supplied including good conversation!       Thanks