Illinois Railway Museum Blog

Sorry for no pics but little opportunity to tote a camera around with the work being done.

This was a GRUELING weekend in high heat and humidity but a substantial amount of work done in many departments.  For the Freight Department there were 26 pieces of equipment inspected.  Passed - 3 cabooses and 21 freight cars.  Failed - two freight cars.  So STAY TUNED for some real work during some of the planned Diesel Days operations next weekend.

I would be remiss if it was not recognized that this could not have been done without the cooperation and active participation of the Internal Combustion Department.  During the preceeding week, an enormous amount of switching and shuffling of cars was needed to get them out of the Barns and yards and into position.  On both Saturday and Sunday they also supplied a locomotive, operator, and two to four additional volunteers to help as inspectors, car knockers, and gophers.  Thank you all.

We are also putting plans into place for July 24 to have a dedication of the CHEVRON financed restoration of tank car IRCX 1277 and thanks to Dan Fenlaciki for giving this a quick wash job last night.  A special train will operate and that will include the unveiling of UTLX 17222 in its newly completed restoration, and a rider caboose, CGW 601.

As we note in other planning, any number of things can go wrong or cause a delay, but that is a peek under the tent as things stand now.

There was additional lettering applied to URTX 26640, several windows glazed and painted for the CA&E cars, a motor and truck swap on the CTA single cars, a massive barn reorganization switch move for the Electric Car Department - lots of cars to see and photograph in their rare few hours exposure to daylight and fresh air, restoration progress on the Vera Cruz 19, painting on the CTS 4223, CTA 1797 door work, re-upholstered seats unpacked for the TM 972, the list goes on and on.  Oh, did we mention that the Steam Department re-installed the fifth driver set under the decapod in a MARATHON Saturday work session?