Illinois Railway Museum Blog

A Bender

Fred Ash is examining a new sheet of masonite roofing in the large bending caul for the Michigan Electric 28.  It works out to processing about one large sheet per week.  Soak in water 2-3 days, place in the caul, and wait 2-3 days for it dry back out and take a set.

Whistling Off

Here is a new assembly destined for our ICG caboose.  The valves and fittings were missing and capped off but Mike Alterio is a metal working wizard!  He handcrafted a new exhaust muffler to match the original - this exhausts train line air during a back up move when the conductor, riding the back platform, applies the brakes.  The smaller branch pipe sports a new homemade whistle to alert traffic during the same move.

Other work during the weekend included some little work on a new door for our depot (stiles pictured in the background of the above picture), more seat work on TM 972, more lettering on our insulated boxcar URTX 26640, and Dan Fenlaciki starting to install the new drop sash in CA&E car 460.  Of course we had to dodge more rain (not in the forecast) and that resulted in a hasty change of plans.

We were also happy to have Art Schwartz from PTM visiting, show him around, and then had an advance planning meeting for the upcoming meet of the Old Wood Working Machines group.  We have hosted this event several times in recent years, it has earned money for the Museum, and furthers our educational mission.