Illinois Railway Museum Blog

Another week of steady progress in the background.

Mike found and repaired several holes in the walls of ATSF 2544 sanded and prepped them to get ready to paint. Mark hoffman was going at it sunday when we left Its still looking like we will be able to have one side of the restoration seating installed for this season, and he wants to do the other side next winter.

In addition the seats we are removing have no where to go , so anyone interested can email or comment. The seats are photographed in the cars' gallery.

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

The sample lens for the reading lights in ATSF 1534 fit ok after several tries, and so we hope to have the rest done soon, and then we can install.

The hood lights in Birminghams kitchen are done, and the new exhaust fans for the hood area are in, so the kitchen area is almost finished for the winter. All I want to do now is get the air curtain working, and then enclose the end wall which has been missing since we got the car in 2005.

I keep being surprised by the different visual it is now in the area with a much more yellow light. It really looks more subdued, and yet its a warmer feel. when folks stop by this year take a peek.

We have ten weekends until we open for display, and we have a two page list of things to do before then, so anyone that wants to can stop out and pitch in....

If you dont have the time or desire to "build or scrape" you are welcome to check in and lend a hand in April as we clean and spruce up the displays.

As always, if you prefer to help with the displays themselves during season, we need docents and/or tourguides.

And for our remote friends, donations are gratefully received to continue the work, either for heavyweights or streamliners. Much of our department funding went to the new barn, so we are going to be a bit cash strapped this year.

hope to have new photos of the work soon.