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Sunday, March 25. 2018The Steam Dream is Taking Shape
The Steam Department reached a major milestone yesterday by installing the smokebox cover to the front of the boiler barrel on our Shay #5 steam engine. This is the culmination of years of work and many numerous people working towards this goal. I can't remember when the group first started working on this project but it certainly has been at least nine or ten years. Please notice at least one thing as you view these pictures. The many volunteers are relatively young. These young people are the future of the Steam Department and it bodes well for the museum in general. As I have said previously, on any given Saturday, you can come down to the Steam Shop and see at least 20 people working on various projects. Here now is what happened yesterday and last week in the shop. Yes, this is a new smoke box cover. Completely remade and manufactured by the steam shop forces.
Trevor was inside the smokebox making sure the studs were in the right position. He just climbed out and happy to the light of day again. Only kidding, of course, hes smiling because the job is done! Another look of the shop forces. Just like the old days. A picture of the guys who participated in the work gang. Not to be outdone Christian holds the builders number plate onto the front of the smoke box for me to photograph. Charlies Dad Paul is painting the front pilot beam of the 1630. The 1630 is getting sprucing up. We will be celebrating the engines upcoming 100th birthday this year. Thursday, March 8. 2018Hot Steam Shots
Here is some of the hottest steam shop news from February! But before I go into to much detail I would like to invite everyone to the annual Steam Department Benefit taking place this June 24th. It is a tour of the magnificent collect of antiques and culminating with a concert using the beautiful Wurlitzer Theater organ of the famous Sanfilippo Estate located in Barrington Illinois. For the nominal price of $69.99 you will tour this amazing museum and culture center. Tickets must be purchased before the event. For more information please visit the front page of this web site. Now, most of the volunteer work has been focused on the Shay and some minor repairs on the 1630.
The above picture shows the newly manufacture petticoat pipe made for the interior of the smokebox. The old one is in the foreground. This piece was made by a local steel contractor called Harmony Steel. The cost, incidentally, was $1,500. Repairing these old timers is not cheap!Now to the other engine being worked on the winter, the 1630.Jason, with assistance from Carnia, is heating the ash pan cover in order to replace the old worn out steel. These missing pieces should be welded into place in a couple of weeks. Just in time for service this year. If you ever wonder where your donations are used just view this blog to get your answer. Now your up to date and hope you keep your interest and donations coming into the museum and specifically the steam dept. Thanks Roger
Tuesday, March 6. 2018UP 428 Improving the Possibilities
First, let me say that on recent visits to the steam shop I was duly impressed by how many volunteers there were. Counting 25 would not be an understatement. Working on five or so different projects has created a number of teams. These teams are comprised of like minded Men and Women concentrated on various tasks to get the job done. Incidentally, there are also two father and son teams that regularly volunteer in the shop. Here are the teams working on the 428.
Here the new floor is being test fitted onto the frame. Yes another new volunteer from northern Illinois is assisting him. Another view of the test fit. The object is to get the new floor in place so that we can finally install the cab frame. Just a view of part of the shop. The reader should remember that this is one of three steam locomotives currently being worked on. This last Sunday February 4, saw the last cross head shoe being filled with hot molten metal. The temperature is about 1600 degrees. Sure could quickly fry a hamburger! The molten Babbitt is being poured into the frame. This also has to be heated and thinned to accept the hot metal. This is the final result. It takes about three days for the metal to cool! This is another team effort. Those involved are getting pretty good at pouring. They better for the next big project will be pouring the Babbit into the driving wheel journal boxes. This team was comprised of Tom, Nick Dey, Jeff, Chris and Sunday, March 4. 2018A UP 428 Thank You!
Just a short note to thank all of you who participated in the Union Pacific 428 Challenge grant. I will give you a little background for those of you who missed reading about it in an earlier blog. I wrote about a benefactor who offered a challenge of $5,000. to the 428 fund if donations could be matched up to that amount! Yes, he would contribute that amount! The response so successful that the time limit as well as the match was extended. The challenge grant was increased to $8,000 and time limit was extended thru the last day of February. I am happy to report that most of that grant was matched bring the total to $15,389. As a direct result of the interest generated there has been an uptick in activity on the engine. Already, in the steam shop there are three teams working on various jobs concerning the 428. Please consider your donations to the 428 fund! Your money does make a difference. The future seems a lot brighter now for the 428! I will show more results in a couple of weeks
Thanks Roger
Thursday, January 25. 2018UP 428 Challenge Grant Extended
We have reached the matching grant goal of $5,000.00 for the UP 428 steam locomotive. Since there has been such a genuine and increased interest in this project the donor has decided to increase the match to $8,000 and extend the match time till February 28, 2018! Many of you are interested in financially helping with this project. Here is your incentive and opportunity! Remember to either send in a check or call to the office and make a contribution to the UP 428 Challenge Grant. The office number is 815-923-4391. Here are a few pictures of recent progress. Work has already increase on the 428 since this was originally announced! Your gift does make a difference!
These next eight pictures are of last weekend's developments. Part of the steam team poured hot hot Babbitt into the cross head guides of the engine. There are four of them. This is just the first one to be poured. Unfortunately, I was not around to take a photo of the actual pouring of the hot material into the guide. But, arriving at the museum yesterday, Tom Schneider show me the results of the successful pour. B-t-w, we could send some of these projects to outside venders
but in this way we are teaching the next generation how to repair and restore these "iron horse" locomotives. I will certainly keep you informed on the progress! Thanks again for all you donations and interest! Roger Kramer
Sunday, December 17. 2017News from the Steam DepartmentHere is a Christmas update of the Steam Department from my point of view. Some major accomplishment have happen in the last three months. Among those were the first operation of our 90 inch wheel lathe, the final painting of the Rock Island Pacific 938 and smoke box completion on the shay. In this photo Phil has almost completed the painting of the RI Pacific. It took a lot of team members to accomplish this task. A side view. Please notice the grey firebox That was all painted by hand hand using a mixure of graphic and linseed oil. This 90 inch lathe was built by the Putman Machine Works. Heres the very first time it was operated under power. This is a side view of the lathe. Please notice the jaws. They are really big. This is where the driving wheels will be secured in order to have the steel contour reshaped The steam shop resident welder, Dennis, here is straightening a support rod for the IC 3345. You may have seen the article in the latest Rail and Wire. A special Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all. I hope you all are looking forward to the new year as I am. A number of new and exciting events are planned for the 2018. If you haven't visited us for awhile please plan a trip to Irm this coming year. Hope to see you at the museum! Thanks Roger |
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Comments
Wed, 04-11-2018 11:28
You mention in the header that you would like to have the Electroliner operational by its birthday. Was it?
Sun, 04-08-2018 20:03
As a child, IRM was always my favorite place to visit. Well, other than grandma's house next to the Geneva Sub. It's been many years since I now [...]
Wed, 04-04-2018 16:01
Those temporary walls could be constructed in a way that allows their reuse after the phase is done to close off the new phases.
Tue, 03-27-2018 03:08
Why did the smoke box cover on the shay need to be replace Do?
Mon, 03-26-2018 16:29
It never ceases to amaze me of the diligence and passion of the current mix of volunteers associated with IRM in 2018. Back when I was a active [...]
Mon, 03-26-2018 11:10
Awesome paint job Jamie!!! I never would of thought with the Rock Island history this locomotive in this scheme would of been preserved. Thanks for [...]
Sun, 03-25-2018 23:56
The Hick's blog lists it as Fruit Grower's Express FGEX #55407. Arrived in Union June 2016.
Sun, 03-25-2018 20:51
Good job on the diesel update 2018. Sincere, Ethan A.
Sun, 03-25-2018 20:45
Good job on the steam update 2018. Sincere, Ethan A.
Sun, 03-25-2018 00:12
Bill, The 1990 Roster has the PFE #68428; this may be the reefer that we saw moved. It is a rare car and deserves a paint job. Ted Miles, [...]
Fri, 03-16-2018 11:10
It would be rather difficult to operate an 11,000 Volt AC locomotive on our 600 Volt DC wire.
Thu, 03-15-2018 05:57
Good job steam update. Sincerely, Ethan A.