Illinois Railway Museum Blog

I sent a lot of time on my back under the Sand Springs 68, continuing to repair and trace wiring with Victor Humphreys, so there was not a lot of opportunity to take pictures from there.

Visitor

During the work, a friendly and personable visitor stopped to talk.  Paul Parks actually knew something about the car and its history in Oklahoma.  And he stayed on to assist in some of the work, cutting tape, handing tools, and aiming a very large flashlight.  Above, he awaits the interior lighting as Victor raises the trolley pole.

Sanding

Tim Peters worked away on the CRT 1797 wooden L car, in the shop, sanding on some window panels from the sliding side doors.

Side Doors

And Eric Lorenz was on hand, continuing to work on the side doors of CTS 4223.  This week it was to install the trailing black rubber nosing on the four door leafs.

First, there was a surprise visit by Kirk Warner who was passing through town.  Very good to see him, hope he can get back to help us soon.

New Trim

John Faulhaber is cutting some stock for new trim for a passenger car, B&M 1094.  This is a new request and the crew got right on it.

How to Do It

Rich Witt made good drawings of the cross sections and pored over catalogs to try to find cutters that would produce the profile.  They are on order by now.

Feel the Pane

Randall Hicks continues to plow ahead on the tiresome job of sanding old finish off of CA&E windows and it must seem to be a never ending process.

Other items of interest, is that Victor Humphreys again helped on the Sand Springs 68, painting reflectors for the front and rear running lights, and helping Henry Vincent and I on more wiring work.  We have completed the car lighting segment and are now puzzling over a very difficult schematic for the passenger signal bells.  Most cars at IRM have those disabled so as not to drive motormen stark raving mad once young passengers discover their function.

Victor also began the first work on our wagon top boxcar, B&O 374065.  The Wednesday Special Projects Group continued to make good progress on the CB&Q 993 baggage car; and began new work on the NP 230 baggage car.  Won't that look sharp in the two tone green used on the North Coast Limited?