Passenger Car Department

                           Here are a couple of updates from the Coach dept rolled into one Blog.       First,   Mike, Ray, and Mark have been completeing the annual assessments and inspections of the operating  coach fleet.   This takes about a month to month and one half.  They have been  checking on  the functions of brakes, wheels, and the condition of the trucks.   This year upon inspection of the Inglehome's wheels and truck frame it has been determined that one truck has a serious defect and it has been taken out of service.   Until this is resolved the  observation car will not be operating anymore!   Taking into consideration that it is more then 100 years old it will need some Major work to be placed back in service.                                                                                                                                                    Another project almost finished  by the Sunday crew has been and cleaning and repair of the "Silver train."  Last week Mike, Ray, amd Shelly installed the portable A/C  units into the various car to keep them "Kool" for the Summer viewing public.    More guided tours are on the schedule for this year.     A note for you folks who enjoy these cars is the fact that Track Storage Charges have not been paid on the LOCH SLOY!    If you would like to help erase this debt Please send a donation to the LOCH  SLOY FUND.  It owes more than $6,000.    Thank You!!!                             This Spring, one more project  has again started up.    It's the restoration of the women's bathroom in the John Mcloughlin sleeper.    Irm is hosting a convention for the Great Northern  RR Historical Society in late July of this year and touring  John Mcloughlin is on part of the schedule.  This gives the small team of Mark, Brian, and Roger  an added incentive to make things happen.  Would you like to join us?  Just stop by any Saturday in back of Barn #3.  Look us up!      We'll be there!                              A major project gaining added interest is the Lake City.   Already, it has been switched to the front of Barn #3 for display.   Please come in and view this amazing car!    John Mckelvy has also been working on reupholsterying the seat cushions in the section area of the sleeper-obs.    The lights  are working; ready for your viewing.   Not many museums can boist of four obs cars lit and ready for  viewing like we have at iRM!!!               Lastly,  recent news has been bloged about the reinstallation of many exterior windows in the D M & IR 84.   Chuck has done a great job!   The car was already back in service for the WW11 reenactment days this last weekend.  Great Job.     Don't forget to consider a donation to the Loch Sloy fund and the Inside  Storage Fund.   We are still working towards this "new barn" goal.    Thanks   Roger Kramer     

                                      The Cafe/Coach 1094 has received a significant  improvement to restoration of the car. Specifically, eight replica brass sconces have been installed in the dinning room.    These were made at home, over this last winter, by Jack Biesterfeld and then installed in the BM 1094 these last couple of weeks.    Just as important is how this improvement will be viewed by the visitor.   It will improve the  vistors experience.    How?    Just look at the results thur the car's window.       It really, really dresses up the diner.    Its a beautiful example of the elegance of early 1900's upper class, railroad travel.                                                   Another interior improvement was  advanced while Jack was  home replicating the sconces.    Shown in the next set of three pictures are the before and after of the  work and effort proformed by Mike, Ray and Mark Gellman.   The oil tank and its various pipe attackments were finally removed.  You can see the results with the last picture.    Sure looks different.    What was once there you ask?     This was the area for the Baker heater and the mens bathroom.     Eventually, the mens bathroom and it's appointments will be installed.                                              Would you like to help "Smilin Jack" achieve more improvements on this beautiful cafe diner?  Jack tells me there are a couple of "HOT" projects on this years list.    On the list  is the installation of two curved windows being manufactured by the museum's wood shop.     Please see Bob Kutella's woodshop Blog for construction pictures of the windows.  Ted Anderson is going to construct  two stain glass windows for these frames.   Together, Jack and Ted will install them.   The other project is centered on the vestibule reconstruction.   Needed in this job are some big dollars for the manufacture of two steel stairs.   Jack also plans to strip off all the old paint in this vestibule.                                                                                                                                                                 Please consider helping this project with donation to the BM 1094 Restricted Fund.    A N D    don't forget to send a donation to the  Barn 14 building fund.   We, at Irm, are still working towards building this barn!!!  Please don't forget.                            Thanks         Roger Kramer                   

                                 Here, are a few more "shots" of the unloading of The Lake City!    Nick and the truckers began moving the car into postion about 3:30 pm and didn't stop until the job was done.... at 9:45pm at night.    O,  I almost forgot to tell the reader that the night work lights were provided from members cars shinning their high beams on the work area.    This sounds real fimiliar to many of us e old-timers. That's the way we did much our work at night.   Remember guys!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The problem that was encounted was due to the position of the load on a piece of curve rail east of barn 10.  The first wheel set lined up fine but when Nick began to lower the obs car on the second wheel set it was fouled by part of the underbody.  We needed a straighter piece of track.  Thus, the trucker with his 100 foot plus rig, had to repositon the load on the unloading rail.   This moving back and forth happened about 3 or 4 times.                     Half the car was already on its wheel set while the other half  was still swinging in the air suspended by the crane.  It was jockeyed back and forth before the right postion was obtained.     Finally, about 8pm and after a quick pizza  delivery break, thanks Nick for the dinner, the car was finally lowered onto the second wheel set.   Also, a BIG  Thank You goes out to Rod, curator of the Electric Car Dept, for sitting in the cab  of the 45 tonner for 3hrs while this effort was  taking place.  He then moved the Lake City to yard 3.    Gerry and I went home about 9pm and had a great story to tell the next weekend.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Today, the Lake City is now housed in Barn 3 for your viewing.   When visiting Irm this year don't forget to stop by and view this splended example of 1910's railroad transportation.  Wouldn't it be grand to sit in this car while traveling down our right-of-way?   This can be a reality but the coach dept needs a "Few" funds to accomplish this.   Many items still need to be purchased before this can happen .   We need to purchase and install period carpeting, reupholster 10 sitting chairs, purchase light fixtures and globes and then complete the two washrooms.   Please consider a donation to the Lake City restricted fund.  Your generosity will help us meet this goal.     Also, please remember the museum's ongoing  Barn 14 building fund raiser program.       Thanks      Roger Kramer