Illinois Railway Museum Blog

GENERAL DEPARTMENT PROGRESS

Thomas was encountered

One car on the Thomas train suffered a hot box during one operating day

with the assist from Rod Turner, the car was removed to the pit and serviced same day.

It was determined that the lubricating pad was not feeding to the bearing surface.

Cause is still unknown

The bearing was replaced, pad replaced and inspected

The car was returned to service the following day and performance was monitored by passenger dept following each trip, with no further incidents.

a mainline DLW coach experienced a brake hangup the last trip of revenue service on the last day of Thomas' visit, and is currently out of service receiving repairs.

Final inspection of Barn 3 following the end of weekday operations was completed, and displays are now shut down between weekends to reduce power consumption as well as wear.

The plan to secure car interiors, while still very much planned, has stalled a bit as we have been busy with other display and department needs.

Our next event priority is preparation for a significant operating display for Showcase Weekend.

Inspections have made a 6 car heavyweight train and a five car streamliner sleeper train possible,

If the decision is to lengthen the heavyweight train, the four CRIP cars are available, operational with different roof lines. 

Other winter plans include:

completion of the third DLW coach restoration,

completion of the ATSF combine restoration

structural repairs to the vestibule of one CRIP coach

improvements and repairs to the second Exhibit car in preparation for additional exhibits in 2011

continued review of electrical demands inside Barn 3

INDIVIDUAL EQUIPMENT REPORTS

DLW coaches (3)

 The restoration of the third DLW coach has been on hold during the Thomas event and other repairs.

           One car is in service.

           The second car suffered a brake malfunction during revenue service, and appears to be an accumulation of wear and component failures that finally caused the brakes of one axle to lock on.  Parts are being fabricated to perform the necessary repairs.

           The third car is progressing in the repair of the vestibule, but is on hold until other repairs are completed.

Rock Island Coaches (4)

As noted earlier, four revenue Rock Island coaches are now in service. The fifth remains awaiting restoration

CBQ RPO 1923

          With the placement of the car in Barn 3, we are now beginning to have a display for view to our guests. The visible car display has been supplemented by a video loop of postal clerks, and has been well received by visitors.

We are considering moving the car to a more guest friendly location to improve the presentation for next season.

Jon Habegger has been active both within the car as well as with the RPO exhibit within the special display cars.

ATSF 2544

          The prep work for the second side of seats has continued, also stalled a bit as other projects have made demands on the time of the department.

Dover Strait

          No change from last report.

Progress continues piecemeal, interior painting is now essentially complete, and reassembly of the lounge area continues.

Hardware installation also continues. 

As stated earlier, we hope to make this car part of another interior display for next year.    

 B&M 3288/1094

          The restoration continues, with long range movement plans also on hold until now as the two commuter cars under repair have slowed the movement plans.

CNW 9933 RDC

          Mike has completed the process of preemptive overhaul of the brake cylinders of this car. This should provide years of low maintenance operation.

It is now inspected for season ending use.

Interior  braking ability was delayed by other more pressing issues within the department, as the repair will require a complete repair of piping to the cab.

The car was used strictly as a trailer in its final days at MBTA, and all air lines to the control stand have been cut.

YARD 5 DISPLAYS

Safety and anti climb signs have been posted on many of the pieces within the yard, in an attempt to make the area safer and more consistent.

Opening between cars have been barricaded as well, to reduce traffic into the service aisle.  Thanks to Dave Diamond for supplying them.

Extra signs remain if needed.

Boundary ropes were added on the public pathways for the Thomas event, to help control wandering .

In addition to the cars in revenue service, we have been successful in re-awakening the special exhibit cars. As reported previously, this display re-opened for the July 4th weekend, and we hope to have it open for public display throughout the remainder of the summer. We also continue to add items.

We have recognized a need for security within the display; Les and Wally have reviewed the sites' needs, and provided Mike Baksic with a comprehensive and long term plan for video monitoring of the interior displays. 

Five exhibits are now in place;

a).  A display of railroad artwork by George C Clark,

b).  a poster and informational display of the WW2 /railroad effort, and Pullman troop sleeper

c).  a program explaining the role of the railroad postal clerk. This display is still in progress, and the plan by the program leaders is to tell the chronological story of the service , and end with a display of the experiences at IRM.  This display will tie in with a more visible display within the RPO car itself in Barn 3 , now that the car is turned around for visibility. We also have the rights to present a "living history" video produced by a team member from Eastern Illinois University.

d).  A display explaining the history of the Fox River Interurban system, with thanks to John Cloos.

e). An enlarged reproduction of the Chicago Railroad station story, as told in an excellent article in a earlier NRHS Bulletin. Rights for reproduction were received from NRHS prior to display, and they were appreciative of the dissemination.

Coming attractions include,

   The Freight Dept has been preparing for a freight traffic display.

   A Chicago Railroad Fair exhibit from Ray Bellock, upon his return from leave.

   Jon Habegger has now begun development of a "THEN and NOW" display. He hopes to have a portion prepared in time for IRM 45th anniversary of operations at Union, coming next summer, and continue to expand in time for the 60th anniversary in 2012.  

Jon has continued to have conversations with folks around the museum , including Julie  Johnson, Barb Lanphier and Gwyn Stupar .

 Several folks here have expressed interest, and we invite them to share archive information and memories to put together  a solid presentation.

The sleeper display appears to have fulfilled a successful season as display, and we now turn to making the cars ready for movement.

winter restoration projects have been identified, and will be reviewed in November.

Our desire to acquire Olympus has continued. We have accumulated significant funds and hope to file formal acquisition papers soon.  Mike wishes to personally inspect the car before filing, and has made contact with fokks to arrange that visit in late Sept or early Oct.

funds have also been accumulated for loading and transport of CBQ 1309 from Denver, and with the General Manager decision to allow us to use the UP move for this year, we hope to move forward on this project as well.