IRM Blog

89 Acre Siegel Farm Purchase

nospam@example.com (Nick Kallas) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:11:17 -0600

DONE

Those were the words that were telegraphed across the country when the golden spike was hammered in at Promontory Point signaling the completion of the transcontinental railroad and that would be an appropriate word to use today Friday November 20th at 3:50 p.m. Why? Because that's the time that the closing was completed on IRM's latest land acquisition, the 89 acre Siegel farm located directly east and adjacent to Museum owned land.

Siegel Farm Purchase

The Museum has been trying to purchase this acreage for over two years now and thanks to your donations to the LAND ACQUISITION FUND we were in a strong position to take advantage of the recession in land prices and purchase this parcel at a VERY favorable price. Mortgage rates are down now and as a result of being able to put more than 40% of the purchase price down we were able to secure favorable terms from our local bank.

Our plans are to continue to rent this out for farming and hold on to it as a buffer against future development encroaching on the Museum. The full story with pictures will be in the next Rail and Wire, but in the meantime if you are considering your end of year donation PLEASE consider the LAND ACQUISITION FUND so that we may replenish that fund and be ready for the next opportunity that may arise.

Thank You.
Nick Kallas
Executive Director

Milwaukee Streetcar 972 Update - November 18, 2009

nospam@example.com (Robert Kutella) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:10:36 -0600

Lettering

It just keeps getting better and better! Pete Galayda is finishing up some handpainted lettering on the north side of this car.

Wood Shop Update - November 18, 2009

nospam@example.com (Robert Kutella) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:58:49 -0600

The BIG Band Saw

Tim Peters is well along on his 'winter project'. Here he is working on parts for 44 (!) new windows hoped to be made over the winter for the CRT 1268.

Parts and Cleanup

Henry Vincent is moving things around a bit behind a bench already piled high with 1268 window frame parts in progress.

Car Jack

Victor Humphreys is cleaning up and restoring this old wood bodied car jack. The only identification we have found on it is "Crerar, Adams, Chicago" - anyone out there know anything more on this company, the age of the jack, etc?

Passenger Dept Update 2009-11-17

nospam@example.com (Phil Stepek) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:35:18 -0600

As we go into winter mode, I have decided to at least log on the majority of the report I send to the board every month. This way, even if I run out of time to write updates, our remote friends and visitors will have a bit of information.

In adfor a dition, we hope to have the Yard 5 set open for volunteers during the Holiday train event. While it is not planned as a public area, our friends will have a place to go for a cup of coffee or tea or cocoa, and a place to "set a spell".

GENERAL DEPARTMENT PROGRESS

The month of October was spent mostly supporting Terror on the Railroad.

The screamliner set was successful, and we encountered no significant mechanical issues throughout.

The wheel switch on the CRIP coach is delayed until spring, and expenses estimate is included in the 2010 budget.

We hope to complete several projects this winter, as well as awaiting the completion of Barn 11.

CBQ 993, a Havelock built baggage car is now en route, having left St Louis 11-8 via UP through Pekin and Proviso.

CBQ 1309, a baggage car owned by IRM at least since 2001, has been located recently and we have begun to inquire about the method of movement to finally get it home. Info coming from the Executive Director includes availability of a flat car in the area. A crane service has been identified by the Colorado Railroad Museum as someone they know. We project making progress on this car over the winter and hope to move it in early 2010.

INDIVIDUAL EQUIPMENT REPORTS

DLW coaches (3)

Two cars are service.

The third car is still undergoing required structural welding. The repairs are now progressing, with deck plates being installed.

Glen Springs

Roger Kramer has made significant progress on the car. Batteries have been reinstalled, and basic electrical function of the car has been reactivated. Exterior cabinet doors have been reattached, and latch mechanisms have been restored.

ATSF 2544

One side of the coach area has now been installed, and the second side of “modern” seats is being removed, to allow for completion of the area for spring. All seat frames are now located, and the prep work on the second set will be conducted over winter.

http://www.irm.org/gallery/ATSF2544

John McGloughlin

Interior restoration continues, as well as metal and paint work on one vestibule

Dover Strait

Most interior painting is complete, with some ceiling to be completed in spring. Light fixtures were removed and refinished, now being reinstalled.

B&M 3288/1094

No significant changes, beyond the continued progress. Jack continues on the coach area of the car. Windows are reinstalled. Seat frames are being located and installed. We await the assistance to use the forklift and retrieve the steps from the material yard. Once they are located behind the barn, prep work can begin.

RDC 9933

We have begun to disassemble more seating for repairs.

We have also disassembled one bathroom wall, to restore the proper doorway.

Our off season restoration plans include further repairs to baggage rack lighting circuits, as well as a planned spring effort to repair the secondary air circuit to provide interior brake control as well as a horn.

http://www.irm.org/gallery/CNW9933

CBQ Silver Ridge

Electrical conversion of low voltage DC fixtures has been completed

We are proceeding to backdate some of the bedrooms to original salmon

In addition the hope is to continue to backdate more bedrooms and bathrooms to original CBQ colors.

ACL Birmingham

The kitchen has some backdating to be done, but it will take a secondary role as we focus on Silver Ridge and the ventilation system.

Track Dept Weekend Report - November 14/15

nospam@example.com (Adam Robillard) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:38:11 -0600

Saturday's gang began with Greg Frech, JD Marzec and Adam Robillard. We received 100tons of ballast this past week and it was time once again to load ballast cars and continue working on surfacing yard 11 (outside of the barn) as well as the tail track lead at the Yard 13 diamond. Greg and JD were on the Model 50 Burro crane crew and sorted material throughout the yard. We had lots of scrap, rails, timbers, etc scattered all over the yard and they spent all morning loading the gondola and stacking material.

JD and Greg sort scrap in Yard 11 with the Model 50 Burro Crane and magnet

In the meantime, Adam loaded our green CNW ballast car with the Model 30 Burro crane. Joel Ahrendt received his first lesson on the Model 30 as well and now has a good taste at what it takes to load a ballast car. Typically each full car takes roughly a day (8hrs) to load with the clam shell bucket.

Joel Ahrendt takes a break from the Electric Car shop to load some ballast

By lunchtime, Adam had nearly 3/4 of the ballast car full and asked to use the diesel dept switch crew to help dump ballast. Jim West and Warren Lloyd as the crew of the ComEd 15 switched Yard 11 and dumped 1/2 of the car on the tail track lead. Jim West ran the engine while Warren, JD, Greg and Adam ran the doors. Finished with that Greg, JD and Adam got out the Amtrak regulator and regulated the freshly dumped ballast in prep for tamping. Dark took hold soon after and we called it a day.

Sunday's gang was made up of Steve Lewkowycz, Jim West, Joel Ahrendt, Warren Lloyd and Adam Robillard. The day's priority - Tamp and Regulate. Steve L and Adam R started the day out by checking fluids and starting up the Amtrak 6000 tamper in Yard 11. We took it to the Yard 11 tail track and set up the machine. Steve L took to the controls for his first time and made the first pass with only a minor 'cord' problem which continued to short out and trip the circuit breaker.. A quick crop of the light buggy extension cord was in order but remedied quickly. After the first pass was through we got the Amtrak regulator out and plowed stone to prep for the next pass. By this time we were joined by Jim W and Warren L who helped finish the next few passes with the tamper. Jim ran the tamper for the rest of the evening and did a fine job as this was only his second time at the controls. We made three passes on the track now it no longer resembles a roller coaster. Warren ducked out about the time Joel A showed up to help out. The next steps were to tamp 11-4 and 11-2 tracks from the Barn to the switches. We split into two gangs: Steve and Joel ran the ballast regulator while Jim and Adam ran the tamper. We did our final passes on both tracks and the crew on the regulator had them both broomed and looking like mainline track by dark! The 6000 ran great with no mechanical problems all day long.... Looks like the hard work over the past few months is paying off. Thanks to all who helped this weekend, especially Joel Ahrendt, Jim West and Warren Lloyd visiting from the other departments, as we get ready to open up Barn 11!

Model 50 Burro Crane. Photo by Frank Devries

Adam Robillard

IRM Track Dept

lzeje657@msn.com

Do We Want this New Car - Update

nospam@example.com (Robert Kutella) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:23:30 -0600

You will remember earlier posts about this FINE CNW boxcar.

40 foot car

Progress is being made and now is the time to step forward with pledges and donations to a fund designated R 284. The CNWHS (historical society) is stepping forward and backing this project. THANKS!! And just below you will see a copy of the railroad car card scan that has been preserved in their archives.

RR Car Card

Their research uncovers a lot of the car's heritage and history.

Built by Pullman Standard in Michigan City, Indiana October 27, 1953. A record of reweigh numbers, dates, and locations - including on line re-weigh at Chadron, NB in 1957, Southern Railway System in 1962, and finally by the Missouri Pacific in 1966. Retired in 1983. Sold to Lawrence Foods and delivered to their siding April 4, 1983 and now waiting for us to rescue it.

URTX 17222 Update November 14, 2009

nospam@example.com (Robert Kutella) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 05:27:49 -0600

Still Shiny

The day started with seemingly perfect weather for this time of year. Pleasant temperatures and a clear blue sky. Somewhere between 12:30 and 12:37 (seemed that quick) the sky clouded over and became darker and darker. However, we got more lettering done on the car using a combination of stenciling and hand painting to add 44 characters to the car before day's end. Remember, the other side of this car (and the B end) is complete. Added today to the right side, was the Union Tank Car Co., the Lithcote liner info and the start of the Capacity data.

URTX 26640 Update November 14, 2009

nospam@example.com (Robert Kutella) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 05:22:58 -0600

Trucks

Hardworking volunteer Ray Pollice is buried under the car working on cleaning grunge from the wheels and trucks. This might not be everyone's idea of an ideal volunteer task, but Ray cheerfully and ambitiously takes on these jobs. Thanks Ray!

Roof Edge

Victor Humphreys is up on the ladder cleaning and priming on the metal car roof. Another month of good weather would have this done before winter, but I expect much of the remaining cleaning and paintwork will wait for next spring.

Electric Car Department Projects November 14, 2009

nospam@example.com (Robert Kutella) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 05:16:04 -0600

Threshold

Tim Peters and Richard Block were working on CTA 4146, the "baldy". Structural repairs are complete in this doorway area, and the threshold is being re-installed.

Loose Paint

Joel Arendt has taken on the role of Service Car Maintainer and he immediately brought over North Shore 714 to take advantage of the good weather (for November). He scraped, sanded, and primed a lot of the woodwork on the car upper sash windows. Yes, we need to start NOW to be ready for operations in 2010!

Barn 4 Addition Update, November 14, 2009

nospam@example.com (Robert Kutella) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 05:10:53 -0600

The Telephone Department

IRM volunteers swing into action with Wally Ostopowski and Les Ascher installing cable for telephone service in the new addition.

Sheathing

And the contractor was out working on a Saturday. Most of the insulation has been installed in the wall cavities, and they were busy installing plywood sheathing to finish the walls in the soon to be shop area.

Light Tower

nospam@example.com (Robert Kutella) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 04:38:46 -0600

For some months now, the Building and Grounds Department has been working on an aerial light tower for our parking lot. This has become more important with after dark events like the Terror on the Railroad and the upcoming Holiday Train event. Ray Piesciuk has posted pics in the IRMlist Photo files on Yahoo and Pete Galayda sent me these. The tower was erected last Friday November 12, 2009. If you think it has a railroad 'flavor' you are correct - it was salvaged, moved, reassembled and now installed; having originally served to light a rail yard area.

Getting Ready

Setting Lift Cables

Going Up

Vertical

Onto the Anchor Bolts

Done

Not real sunny and at times downright windy - but the crew got 'er done!

Gallery stats as of November 12th, 2009

nospam@example.com (James Kolanowski) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:54:29 -0600

791 albums
13,330 images
23,903,680 Kbytes

UTLX 17222 Tank Car Update - November 11, 2009

nospam@example.com (Robert Kutella) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:05:12 -0600

B End

The weather was not exactly warm, but above average for this time of year and dry! So this gave us a chance to complete the lettering on the B end of the car.

On the Wye

Following a lunch break the car was taken for a spin. Well, not quite, but it was turned. Here the car travels on the wye being pushed by little Joy No. 2.

Returning to Track 40

The crew is returning the car to its work spot, now with the side still needing some lettering facing south. Hopefully this will buy a few more weeks of work time before hard winter sets in. Gerry Detloff is riding lead on this switch move, Henry Vincent in the cab at the controls, and John Faulhaber does the ground work. Thank you one and all.

Also noted was a lot of other activity at Union this day. Loads of crushed stone were being delivered to the parking lot near the site of the new aerial light tower, Mike Alterio was seen painting signal masts, and one of our stalwart steam department regulars was out painting the cab of GN&A 26. You already have a report form the track department.

Milwaukee Streetcar 972 Update - November 11, 2009

nospam@example.com (Robert Kutella) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:58:37 -0600

Layout Work

Here is some of the layout work in place to hand paint more of the lettering on this car. As when in service in Milwaukee, decals were used for the herald and numbers, and other lettering was hand painted.

East End

Here is the bright and sparkling east end with the last coat of paint having been applied on November 10. This substantially completes the painting on this car body, with the exception of some detailing and trim items. Headlight and stop light housings, ad boxes, etc.

CRT 1268 Update - November 11, 2009

nospam@example.com (Robert Kutella) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:54:37 -0600

Canvas Roof

The new roof canvas is about complete, and here is Tim Peters working on the copper flashing below each window. On the schedule for the winter - making another 44 NEW WINDOWS in our woodshop! Donations needed and always welcome!