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Thursday, November 14. 2013Sunday, November 10th Passenger Car Department UpdateIt could have been one of the last really nice days for 2013 on Sunday the 10th and a lot of work moved forward that day. Inside the second Exhibit Car ceiling painting was continued by Shelly Vanderschaegen, Kevin Kreibs and Jon Habegger. Two coats of paint will be applied to the ceiling.  Shelly Vandershaegen painting the 2nd Exhibit Car 11/10/13 - Photo by Jon Habegger  Kevin Kriebs also painting the 2nd Exhibit Car 11/10/13 - Jon Habegger photo John McKelvey worked in the Barn 4 shop on seat bottoms from the smoking section of the Duluth Missabe & Iron Range Railway #84 coach. He is reupholstering them in a leather-look vinyl once the basic repair work is done.  John McKelvey sewing seat bottoms together prior to recovering them  The underside of the DMIR 84 coach bench seats Jon Habegger took a photo inside the DM&IR car smoking section to show some of the completed seat covers in place. It was completely dark in the car when the image was captured.  A shot in the dark of DMIR 84 smoking section from Jon Habegger Buzz Morisette is making progress in the Ely dining room ceiling repair. Because of previous repair work done on the car, Buzz explained that the curve of the roof has been changed. He is correcting for this cosmetically as much as possible but said a new roof would be required to make it right and that would be a tremendously time consuming and costly project.  Buzz Morisettes skills are being put to good use in the Ely dining room  Buzz patiently waits for the photographer to catch up Milwaukee Road Dynamometer project leader Warren Newhauser worked with new X-5000 volunteers Dan LaKemper and son Brian on getting mechanical equipment operational while Chuck Trabert sealed the second bay window. The car is expected to be weathertight this winter.  Chuck Trabert and Warren Newhauser working on the Dynamometer Nov. 10, 2013  New X-5000 volunteer Brian LaKemper  New X-5000 volunteer Dan LaKemper As Warren and Chuck worked outside the Dynamometer car the streamliner cars were switched from their temporary mainline position back to Yard 5.  The streamliner cars were moved back to Yard 5 Mark Gellman helped with switching moves to get the streamliner cars back in their spot in Yard 5. It takes a series of moves to get the train set out of and into Yard 5 and it took about an hour of steady switching to complete the work.  Mark Gellman helped out with the streamliner cars switching moves After the streamliner cars were back in place, Mike Baksic, Mark Gellman, and Jon Habegger worked another two hours putting extension cords back in place and hooking up heaters so the cars could be warm for meetings.
Thursday, November 14. 2013RI 2612 November 2, 2013 update
Even with the approach of colder weather we keep on working in and around the 2612. Recently, we have resumed the removal of the second stair frame. It's not in as bad a shape as the other one but the support brackets that hold it on to the car need to be replaced. Soooooo..... off it came with the help of Paul Cronin. He, along with Gary Sherman and Mark Gellman have removed much of the rusted out steel on this one side. Now, the trick is to replace it with new steel and rebuilt stairs before the running season begins. I'll keep you updated on our progress.
 Heres Paul cutting out rusted steel on the opposite side of coach  Paul is preying out more rusted steel  Sparks-a-flying! Gary cutting out more rusty steel below the windows  There are 12 rusty areas that must be removed and new steel installed  Jane and Loraine taking a break  This is Jan hard at work wire wheeling around the air brake valve Tuesday, November 12. 20132612 update 10-26-13
The advantancements are many this fall season in the interior of the 2612. The devoted crews have been slowly accomplishing the goal of needle chipping the remaining interior panels by falls end. Even with the approach of cooler weather our dedicated crew has made much progress. We now have moved two propane heaters into the interior to keep us warm during the cold winter months. Yes, we are planning to work in the car during the colder weather. Common scents prevailing. Here, now, are some of our latest efforts.
  5 of 6 seat frames needed have more been rebuilt and painted  Paul Cronin has just cut off one stair frame and removed it from the car body  The primer is freshly applied Another step closer! Tuesday, November 5. 2013November Chills and Thrills Started on the 3rdLet's go back to October 29th when Buzz Morisette put up the the first brace in the Ely dining room ceiling. He primed it and started working on the second brace.  The first brace in place in the Ely dining room courtesy of Buzz Morisette Sunday, November 3rd, Mike McCraren and Mark Gellman were putting odds and ends together in the streamliner cars. Mike Baksic was caulking in the second Exhibit Car.  Mike Baksic caulking seams in the 2nd Exhibit Car 11/03/13  A work in progress Kevin Kreibs and Shelly Vanderschaegen were peeling the never ending decals from the second Exhibit Car.  Kevin Kreibs peeling decals on November 3, 2013  Shelly Vanderschaegen peeling decals on November 3, 2013 Chuck Trabert was caulking one of the bay windows in the Milwaukee Road Dynamometer car. Pauline Trabert was taking pictures and helping as needed.  Chuck Trabert applied sealant around a Dynamometer bay window on 11/03/13 John McKelvey was working on reupholstering the smoking section seats for the DM&IR 84 car. More photos to follow. Sunday, November 3. 20132612 update 10-23-13
I am almost caught up to the currant date. Here is a week ago last Wednesday's update.
 Gary and Ray constructing new table  Jan and Dave needle chipping Dave chipping away Line up of 5 of 6 new seat frames needed in coach Thursday, October 31. 2013Dynamometer Car Runs Sept 14-15th, 2013 – First Time Since 2007!Thanks to MANY volunteers, we were able to run the Dyno on Sept. 14-15 and 22nd, 2013. We began plans to ready the car for service after Laddie Vitek from the IRM Diesel Dept. inquired in mid-July if we could run the car for folks visiting IRM post-MRHA convention in Rockford on Sept. 22. We agreed it would be a great idea and then also chose to run it Museum Showcase Weekend as well (Sept 14-15). From July-Sept we would spent several weekends removing no longer needed items aboard the car clearing out space on the car for riders and getting the necessary repairs made and the necessary systems working. Getting the car ready to be run will be a separate blog post in and by itself that encompassed many weekends. The car performed flawlessly Members Showcase Weekend and Sun 9/22/13. The following people at IRM helped make this happen: Chuck Trabert, Pauline Trabert, Laddie Vitek, Adam Farance, Jeron Glander, Paul Sawicki, Bob Olson, Jamie Kolanowski, myself, Warren Newhauser, and a few others.  Welding the cut lever bracket back on in Yard 11. The Diesel Dept guys straightened it out for us. 9/14/13.  X-5000 was pulled out to the mainline 9/14/13  Looking forward into the night. 9/14/13  Looking back from the instrument room towards the kitchen. 9/14/13  Warren Newhauser at the instrument panel 9/14/13  Instrument Panel showing loco throttle position, gen field, and other on/off events. 9/14/13  Buzz Morisette making coffee with the old percolator coffee pot on the propane stove. 9/14/13  X-5000 volunteer Brian LaKemper (left) and Jeron Glander (right) work on the hydraulic dynamometer unit. 9/14/13 We offered to replace some of the 120V bulbs with 32V to provide more light, but when we did the passengers adamantly insisted they preferred the soft glow of 120V bulbs better.  Dyno’s 32VDC trainline powering the 3 coaches equipped with 120V bulbs makes for a nice ambiance! 9/14/13  Red Mars light mounted on back protects the car. 9/14/13.  Red Mars light beacon protecting the back of the Dyno (frame from a video). 9/14/13 Most images and text provided by Warren Newhauser. Wednesday, October 30. 2013John Mcloughlin updateWe have some progress to finally report on the ongoing restoration of the 8-1-2 sleeper. Mark Hofmann has been wire wheeling and needle chipping the women's bathroom and connecting hallway for the past two months. He was at it again this last Sunday, Oct 27. He worked on grinding off the excess paint on the ceiling where he had previously chipped. This is a very difficult job. First, working overhead with an electric grinding is very painfully. Very quickly your muscles fatigue from the overhead work. Second, the temperature near the ceiling is always hotter at the top. Don't try this in warm weather! It's another reason for fatigue. The heat can be unbearable. That's the reason we accomplish these tasks in either early Fall or Spring. He also finished priming the hallway where months ago he had needle chipped and sanded the area. If you don't prime the area it will soon start rusting. Here are the results of his efforts.  Here is the reason you dont try this in the Summer. Heat rises.  Before the primer is applied  Mark is concentrating priming the hallway No runs Mark! He does good work! We are also getting some estimates for making a missing wall panel from R&B Welding of Woodstock, Ill. Please consider a donation to help defray the costs of manufacturing. Thank you. Roger and Mark  Mission accomplished. Mark is admiring his work. Nice job, Mark EXTRA!!!! EXTRA EXTRA EXTRA EXTRA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Steam Locomotive, Frisco 1630, our 2-10-0 was test fired for the first time today! It also moved under its own power!! Thanks to the men and women of the steam dept! A job well done! A special Thank You to Tom Schneider. |
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Comments
Mon, 12-09-2013 19:25
Charlie, This does not sound like something for the steam shop but I have passed your information to our librarians. Nigel
Mon, 12-09-2013 19:24
Jason, Thank you for this we will certainly look at this company. Nigel
Mon, 12-09-2013 10:02
i have hundreds of original engineering correspondence letters from ingersol rand to various other locomotive mfg and development of deisel, steam, [...]
Sun, 12-08-2013 18:47
Hello Michael I am sorry to tell you but the Silver Beaver is a long way from arriving at Irm. It could be years!
Sun, 12-08-2013 18:35
Nigel, You may find interest in contacting Louisville Firebrick. They are the same company which once produced "American Security Archbrick". They [...]
Sun, 12-08-2013 16:29
The Olympus was scrapped by mistake where it was located. IRM is getting a replacement car, the Silver Beaver which is coming soon.
Sun, 12-08-2013 13:48
Hello Logan: Unfortunately, the CB&Q Olympus was scraped last year. Substituted in its place, is the Silver Beaver also a Budd baggage car. Due to [...]
Wed, 12-04-2013 12:37
Thanks John for the info. Any and all help is much appreciated. J.Sakash Co. has just donated a brand new drawbar sling to us, very useful. We also [...]
Wed, 12-04-2013 05:57
This reply not in its right thread, but I was having trouble posting a comment there. Again, not my Department but I believe the Olympus was scrapped [...]
Tue, 12-03-2013 08:39
Hello I have a question about one of the passenger cars that IRM was going to acquire. What happened to buying the CB&Q Olympus? Just curious as you [...]
Tue, 12-03-2013 08:34
Ah well that's a disappointment. Thanks for getting back to me.
Tue, 12-03-2013 05:19
Not my department but I know plans have been made for acquisition. When some of them became available in the first round of those retired, [...]