late winter /early spring. Things keep moving along, beginning to get ready for Opening
In Barn 3 we have begun to set up the display cars. First the globes for the reading lights in the ATSF lounge are finally in! After years, all the lights in the car now have lenses and are working.
http://www.irm.org/gallery/ATSF1534
Next we went through Susan Marie and Ely and double checked all the lights in those cars as well
We are preparing for two main walking tours within the barn; 3-4 cars each, plus the streamliner sleeper train out in Yard 5. we have also talked (ok mostly me) about more display pieces in Barn 9.
Again a call for anyone interested in acting as a docent in one of the passenger sets in Barn 3 or Yard 5 this summer. We want to open more equipment for visits, but cannot unless we have folks we can count on to "keep an eye" on the equipment. the task is not to be a traffic cop, more a guide, answer person and all around social visitor.
On the mechanical front, Mike is making serious progress in the vestibule and buffer of the lamented DLW coach, hoping to have it operational early this season as well. Still a lot of work to go, but progress is always good.
The walls in ATSF 2544 are getting primed and painted after a lot of metaland sanding work. After this the "new" seats will go in and one side will be done for this season, with the second side planned for next winter. The car has thin wheels, so she is not going out this year anyway.
While I dont have any new photos yet, I dont want to forget that Roger has been working away at the bathrooms in John McGLothan as well, and I know when they are done they will be Gorgeous!
Out in Yard 5 The baggage racks in the front of the RDC are in and beginning to be painted. We had a broken seat frame, and managed to locate a replacement unit, so now all the seats are secure in place, and ready for guests. The second bathroom has been cleared out, and we are trying to come up with a way to feed AC into the car until we can afford to replace the blower motor. Plans for multiple displays in one section of the car, should make it a reasonably interseting place to visit. We also got the light units for the number boards out today, and should be a straightforward fix once we convert the ballasts like the ceiling fixtures. Then we hope to get correct number plates made and installes, make the unit 9934 again!
Birminghams air curtain is done and working fine. The kitchen is nearly ready for opening, with a bit more cleaning. We found the correct tablecloths and so this year we may have real table settings. While the dining area AC was stable last year, we have modified the kitchen AC to allow a bit more realistic space, and we hope it will give our visitors even more of a sense of the "way it was".
Come on out and say Hi. We are now in season prep mode, so anyone with the interest feel free to get in touch. We will be spending next week and probably the week after getting stuff "gussied up" sio even if you dont have the desire to be mechanical, we can use the help just cleaning and shining.
Comments
Fri, 03-29-2024 21:26
We're slackers and spend more time working on the equipment in the shop than keeping all you readers updated. We'll work on it, but I'm sure updates [...]
Thu, 03-14-2024 08:02
What happened to the Department Blog? It's been over 2 years and I still regularly check for updates, but nothing comes...
Mon, 12-27-2021 16:28
Happy New Year to all the Departments at the Illinois railway Museum! Thanks for all the good work you do in railroad preservation. Ted Miles, [...]
Wed, 10-13-2021 13:33
Was the CB&Q 1309 every transported to IRM?I’ve been reading old issues of Rail&Wire and the car was mentioned several times.
Mon, 06-07-2021 22:40
I was wondering if in the model layout display what scale would you guys be using and would you be displaying model train history as well? Just [...]
Wed, 06-02-2021 17:27
Nice to see 428's cab back on. Looking forward to when it is operable!
Tue, 06-01-2021 16:47
I hope the work will continue on the UP #428. Now that they are the museum's connection to the national railroad network; she would be very [...]
Sat, 04-17-2021 23:07
What is the status of 126, the Milwaukee Buffet car that is in S. Dakota? Any guess on when or if it will get to IRM?
Wed, 04-14-2021 21:09
Perhaps it is time to scrap the remains of the c, B & Q 7128 to make room for the Villa Real. Ted miles, IRM member
Wed, 04-14-2021 15:26
Hi IRM my name is Jason and I was wonder If you guys would be willing to save a CN Dash8-40cm they are currently being retired by CN and being [...]
Fri, 04-09-2021 19:56
Bear in mind that the Nebraska Zephyr is an articulated train set, so cars cannot be inserted at will. Although cars and/or a second engine could be [...]
Wed, 03-31-2021 11:37
I believe Silver Pony is currently on the back burner, and has been put into storage in one of the barns. The car needs a lot of work done to it's [...]