Union Pacific 3786 Steel Caboose

2006 Photo

Our Union Pacific caboose, 25086, has seen significant progress and ongoing efforts by a dedicated group of volunteers who travel to IRM to work on this car almost every Wednesday, year around.

For ROSTER info, click here!

EXTRA! As you will see toward the current entries of this blog, the car has been sandblasted and painted. So, I need to ask for donations to work toward getting this fine work under cover in one of our barns. Donations are tax deductible, should be marked for fund R 25086, and sent to:

Illinois Railway Museum
PO Box 427
Union, IL 60180

EXTRA EXTRA!!!  As of August 2009 the caboose restoration work has allowed this car to reclaim its previous identity - UP 3786.  So you will see mixed id's depending on when the blog was posted.  Don't worry, donations can be sent to either car number and they will be properly credited.

All the comforts of home department - -

Lamp and Sink

The kerosene lamp and wash basin grace one end.  Another lamp has been installed for lighting the other end.

Flares and Fusees

The original boxes have been replaced for these items.

Hot Box?

Instructions are thoughtfully provided for action in the case of an overheated journal bearing.

Cupola Brakes

The cupola area has a brake valve and controls for the crewman to stop the train if a problem is noted form his lofty observation post.

Step Painting

The very tedious job of handpainting the end platform and step gratings is proceeding.  Want to help?

Interior

And the interior painting is nearing the 100% completion point.  It would be a shame to let anyone walk on that shiny floor!

Shop Work

Wayne Bates is making good progress on restoring stove parts for this caboose.

Interior

What a change!  Painted walls and now the floor area is being primed and painted.  It will not be long now.

CRACK!

What a revolting development!  A crack was discovered in one of the coupler bodies, meaning it will have to be replaced before we consider this car entering service.

Step Treads

Bill Leider was busy painting the step well treads, a very tedious job to say the least.

Sharp eyed readers will note this change in the category identification.  We did not get another caboose, but rather our old car has reclaimed its new identity, consistent with the progress of the restoration work.

And a whole lot of images are following to catch up on the work done, all on Wednesdays!

New Windows

New windows, made to order, are being fitted for the end doors.

Interior

More Interior

More Interior

Interior Almost Done

Interior painting progress.

Exterior Lettering

Exterior lettering showing the new (to us) number.

Interior Number

Bill Leider is applying the correct car number to the interior car end.

Stove Parts

Wayne Bates is working to clean stove parts.

Underbody

Dave Bates is cleaning and painting parts underbody, here the brake valve.

Sweet!

Bill Leiter is continuing this important task of adding lettering to the painted carbody.  Slow and careful work, but it really pays off.

Painting -

Does Lee Regione look guilty about something?  Have we caught him in the act?  But he is doing a fine job on the caboose interior which has progressed to the point of finish painting.

Mounting Hardware

Bob Payne watches as Bill Leiter wrestles the large drill, working up on the cupola deck, inside the caboose.

Interior Trim

The fellows on this project have worked throughout the winter, sometimes at a reduced level due to weather conditions.  The interior of the caboose is being trimmed out with moldings, some of which have to be custom sourced to match existing.

Interior Painting

Lee Regione is priming completed trim areas in preparation for the interior repaint in finished color.

Lettering Begins

Bill Leider is at it again!  Here he is starting the layout and pattern work on the outside of the caboose, which was finish painted last fall.

Thanks to Kirk Warner for taking and sending photos of much of the ongoing work and recently accomplished work on this and other projects.

Below the Cupola

Lee Regione works on the 'main floor' below the cupola as the crew gets ready for final trim and finish work inside this car.

In the Cupola

Bob Payne is up in the cupola fussing and fitting some of the final trim pieces.

Interior

Another shot of the interior.  I know it seems rough but if you look closer a lot of the prep work for priming and painting has been done and only awaiting warmer weather.

Cabinet Tops

Bill Leider and Wayne Bates work on new interior panels for this caboose; and to complete the pun, they moved to the benches and tools of the Woodshop, for interior workspace on a cold day.

That Paint is Nasty Stuff

The caboose got pulled out of the Barn 3 spot to provide better light for continued painting. Here you can see (l to r) Lee Regione hiding behind the scaffold on the left, Wayne Bates and Bill Leider on the platform. The red trim color is going on the grab irons, railing, and platform appliances.

A RAIN OUT!  But the plan was to paint the roof red on this caboose today.  Here are some Kirk Warner photos.

Might Mite

The trusty little Joy 2 was used to pull the caboose from Barn 3.  In an extraordinary bit of "museum first" cooperation, the Steam Passenger Coach Dpeartment has made a space available in Barn 3 for most of the summer for Freight Department painting projects.  This keeps the car clean and dry and allows masking without weather worries.

Ready to Paint

Here we are ready to paint, about the time the first raindrop fell.  Back into Barn 3 to await another day.

In Primer

The crew and painter worked Tuesday to get the car completely primed.  Here is the ghostly sight we encountered early Wednesday morning.

The FIRST Yellow

And now for the Armour Yellow.  First the cupola area.

Looking Good

Then - two coats on the south side.

Nearly Done

The sun was getting low but the north side has some yellow and on to the east end.

This has not been a forgotten project.  Throughout the summer, the fellows have been trying to ready the car for SANDBLASTING!

Sandblasting

And on Wednesday, 9/24, the contractor was out doing the deed.

Cleanup

Two days later the car had been blasted, and a crew of Joe Luciani, Bill Leider, and Bob Payne were working to clean up the car to get it painted, hopefully early next week!