Entries by Roger Kramer

                            Here again, are some more views of the activities in the steam and diesel depts.  Activities abound but its not always reported!             

                     

   

                             

Now to the diesel dept where Jamie and his crew are continuing the reconstruction of the CGW 4061.   It looks a lot better than the previous pictures.  Its amazing what a little welding will accomplish!                                                                

                                         

                                          

    

Just a reminder.....another angle of RI "Pacific"  938 still in need for inside storage $. 

 

Please remember to help in this important fund raiser for the museum.   Protection of equipment inside the new barn 14 is the number one agenda for the new year!!   Roger    

Here are pictures of the repainting project of the 4061.   These scenes are the results of the hard work of the Wednesday retired crew.  The combine was placed in the East end of Barn 2 where it could be primed and painted.   The area has a heated shop only one of two on the property.    What a nice job Joe and the crew did!

               

After a week of needlescaling and painting, the priming is almost done.  It sure looks a lot better already.  The body was certainly in need of "care."     

In a few months will you see the results of Jamie and his crew as they turn the car into a thing of beauty.  Please consider a donation to the Barn 14 Inside Storage Fund!!          Roger

                        The "John's"  vestibule finally had progressed into various shades of red primer.    Let's celebrate!  After much priming and surface preparation, the job was finally complete and ready for topcoat. 

   The date was August 2011!!  I had purchased a new GRACO portable,battery operated painting system.   Its exclusive  from Sherwin-Williams, my old employer,  and was I excited to try it out.  

The following pictures are the results of my efforts. 

  I started painting a few days before Members Day Weekend Sept, 2011.   My goal was to complete the top coat, Pullman Green, before that Members Weekend.                                                                                        I did achieve my goal!!!!   

 

 

Activity abounds in the heavyweight 8-1-2 sleeper, John Mc Loughlin.  Here is an update to the accomplished progress by two volunteers.   It takes a lot of time because of the complexity of the surface. 

I, along with Mark Hoffman have been busy the last three years restoring the vestibule to its former glory.  The following  pictures and descriptions through the next few blogs will help the reader view our  progress.   This blog will pay particular attention to the surface preparation of the vestibule on the east end of the sleeper. 

The Goal.... to paint it "Pullman" green. The first pictures are of Mark faithfully needlechipping the vestibule, inside and outside walls.

Last in this series of pictures is the partly primed outside wall of vestibule.  Next job applying the paint!  Which is easier? Needlechipping all the various small areas, or sanding, or priming or painting?   What ever your answer its a tedious job.   The result are well worth our efforts.   Care to join the team?  Donations can be made to the John Mc Loughlin fund...

This last winter the Wednesday retired crew have been busy prepping this combine for partial restoration.  The combine is currently located in the diesel shop waiting its paint job.   Nobody knows when the final coat will painted but I can attest to the fact that the Wednesday crew has completed their part of the job.   This car would make a nice passenger addition to the fleet but the diesel dept is still using it as a parts car.   Maybe they can move the parts and the coach dept can place it in future service. Please voice you opinion, should we place this combine back in service? Donations can be sent to the CGW 285 fund. It needs a new buffer, traps and stairs rebuilt, and interior restored but it's possible.

The Passenger Car Dept is progressing on a number of projects, albeit slowly.

Jack Biesterfeld has returned from an interesting vacation and is again concentrating on the B&M 1094 wood cafe-diner. With the help of Mike and his crew they removed the non-historic sink and cabinets in the kitchen. Whew, was it ever a HEAVY cast-iron sink. It just made it out the door!

Last week, Mike and Ray repaired the damage to the CNW 7700 combine, caused by a train crew. A new angle cock and air brake line were installed replacing the bent one. The new angle valve cost about $200. It took most of the day to repair the damage. Hopefully, the crew is more careful next time.

Nancy Ring was out cleaning exterior and interior windows on the ATSF 2544. Boy, did they need it! Bob Opal and crew were cleaning some of our service coaches. More exterior windows were cleaned!

Mark Hoffman was prepping more wall area in the Lack car for future priming. He also needlechipped a wall area in the JOHN MCLOUGHLIN women's bathroom. Roger also primed a small area on the roof and installed 2 painted  metal strips for the diaphragm.

Bob Hunter again was working on the Dover in stalling shades. Phil was also working on the Dover towards the future conversion of the electric system from historic DC to common AC.

Earlier in the day, Shelly and Phil cleaned the Ely then in turn cleaned, repaired and installed new bulbs in all 3 drumhead signs at the west end of barn 3. Their lighting really creates an atmosphere. The coach dept is looking for another drumhead. Would anyone like to donate one? We need one for display. It looks like you're walking into the train shed at Union Station in 1943!

Lastly, Mark Gellman and crew were working on the display cars over in yard 5. Nice work Mark! More Progress to come in the following weeks.

LAKE CITY is really coming! In May? Yes, I hope. Please.....send your donations for this rare beauty!! Thanks for reading.

Roger Kramer

We last operated the L&N diner in 1995. It has been a s-l-o-w job of upgrading the diner to meet the McHenry County food service code. All our efforts have been focused  in the kitchen. We met one of our the goals last August by achieving a successful test of flowing water through the newly installed plumbing system. Most of the work has been accomplished by Gerry Boguse and with assistance from Roger Kramer. Here are some pictures leading up to and including that event.

Next project, testing freezers and refrigerators. We need freon. Won't you help with a donation to the L &N 2726 diner?  Fund R2726  Long term project; purchasing and installation of  a STATCO generator.