Illinois Railway Museum Blog

Priming

In the prior BLOG entry we mentioned that work was continuing on our MILW caboose and the roof might get painted on Wednesday.  Yesterday Buzz Morisette was out again and was helped by electric car guys Frank Sirinek and Dan Fenlaciki.  More sanding and prep work completed, see the above image from Jamie Kolanowski.  Sunday night he worked late and completed priming the body.  Now that is FAST WORK!

On the Button

On one of my favorite projects, Bob Sundelin again volunteered most of his Sunday.  Here he is fussing with recalcitrant passenger signal buttons on the south side of the Sand Springs 68.  We found a few problem buttons and amazingly located one shorted set of wires.  At days end 8 of those 10 buttons had 'rung out' satisfactorily and had been repaired.

North Side

But wait, you say.  You had been working on that same system on the north side of the car.  Sunday saw the installation of the motorman's BUZZER and the battery power so all of that side is DONE, complete with working buttons producing the irritating buzzer BRAPPP.  Here they are, most of the trim and woodwork reinstalled.

Step Box Boy

Jim Windmeier was in the shop sanding and painting his beautiful step box replicas.  I bet he could sell those, but with all the hours he and his son have invested in them, I bet no one could afford the price tag.

Truck Swap

In the afternoon I noticed that our TM 972 streetcar had been lifted ever higher using a set of air jacks.  The car's St Louis EIB truck was rolled clear and a temporary shop truck was being rolled under the east end of the car.  Frank Sirinek takes a short sit down break before the shop truck disappears under the car.

Signage

Last week saw the Buildings and Grounds Department erect another of the historic signs that IRM has worked to acquire and restore.  In this case it was the sign (almost more of a monument) that stood for years in Mc Cook Illinois at the EMD factory.