Steam Department

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.   You can keep the progress flowing by funding the Steam Department with your donations!                Thanks        Roger

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

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. Please be sure and view my blog referring to the successful UP 428 Challenge grant.  It was listed two days ago.  Just a reminder... Please consider joining the Team IRM.    Whether working on coaches, buses, interurbans or steam engines volunteering at the Illinois Railway Museum is well worth your time and investment.      Thanks      Roger

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 

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 

Here 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. 

Another milestone has been reached in the Steam department.  The first  electrical operation of our 90 inch wheel lathe.  To my knowledge only three or four other RR museum have a large wheel such as ours.  This is quite an accomplishment.  We now can begin to plan for the turning of the driving wheels  for the UP 428.  This has long been the one of the roadblocks to restoring the engine to operation.   What's the other you ask?  One Word...  MONEY!! Please consider a donation to the UP 428 fund! This is the next engine to operate at Irm!  With your help we can make it happen.   This was another fall Accomplishment.  The RI 938 sure looks magnificent since the cosmetic restoration.    Yet to be installed are the marker lights.   Phil has told me they are working on the lighting circuit in order to display the  head light and markers.   Now that would look real Kool!  The three 1630 drawbars have been removed so that they can be tested for any cracks that may have developed over the operating season. New this coming 2018 season will be the celebration of the 100 anniversary of the 1630s manufacture date.  Yes, she was built by Baldwin in 1918.  A special party is being planned for the engine.  Special events might include a visit from a mainline fan trip steam engine!   Stay tuned for future announcements!   

 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