Time to give all you anxious readers (AND DONORS?) an update.
Engineering and design work has been proceeding. Right now we think the best and most cost effective long range solution is to put tires on the existing wheels. Tires you say? Well, that is a long proven solution to preserving the existing wheel centers, axles, and in this case bull gears, without damaging or disturbing that system or structure.
Passenger cars often had wheels designed to have tires shrunk on with heating, as a wear surface. And many of you fans will recognize the process as more or less standard on steam locomotive drivers, and well into the modern era on some diesel locomotives.
We have found a manufacturer that will roll new tires according to the above drawing. And have his price and delivery time in hand.
The next steps in the process involve sending the existing wheelsets to a shop to have the existing wheels turned down on a lathe to remove the flanges and yield cylindrical wheels about two and one half inches smaller in diameter. These become the new wheel hubs and the work on them this far is a one time only expense. (If the tires need to be replaced decades into the future, the wheel centers remain ready for a new tire).
The final step is to have the new tires heated to several hundred degrees F to expand them and allow them to fit over the wheel hubs,. As they cool they shrink and grip the hubs TIGHTLY. We have one set of pricing quoted for this work, so far.
Members and friends have shown great interest and support for the project to get these two cars operational again. A long list of donors exist, but we need your continued support. We are nearing the HALFWAY point to a goal of having the project funded for BOTH CARS. Matching funds are still available so every dollar you donate goes twice as far. The restricted fund is RTMS at Illinois Railway Museum, Box 427, Union IL 60180.
We started out thinking we could make this happen, and all of you are proving that correct. We appreciate and need your continued support. We will keep you informed of progress.
Comments
Fri, 03-29-2024 21:26
We're slackers and spend more time working on the equipment in the shop than keeping all you readers updated. We'll work on it, but I'm sure updates [...]
Thu, 03-14-2024 08:02
What happened to the Department Blog? It's been over 2 years and I still regularly check for updates, but nothing comes...
Mon, 12-27-2021 16:28
Happy New Year to all the Departments at the Illinois railway Museum! Thanks for all the good work you do in railroad preservation. Ted Miles, [...]
Wed, 10-13-2021 13:33
Was the CB&Q 1309 every transported to IRM?I’ve been reading old issues of Rail&Wire and the car was mentioned several times.
Mon, 06-07-2021 22:40
I was wondering if in the model layout display what scale would you guys be using and would you be displaying model train history as well? Just [...]
Wed, 06-02-2021 17:27
Nice to see 428's cab back on. Looking forward to when it is operable!
Tue, 06-01-2021 16:47
I hope the work will continue on the UP #428. Now that they are the museum's connection to the national railroad network; she would be very [...]
Sat, 04-17-2021 23:07
What is the status of 126, the Milwaukee Buffet car that is in S. Dakota? Any guess on when or if it will get to IRM?
Wed, 04-14-2021 21:09
Perhaps it is time to scrap the remains of the c, B & Q 7128 to make room for the Villa Real. Ted miles, IRM member
Wed, 04-14-2021 15:26
Hi IRM my name is Jason and I was wonder If you guys would be willing to save a CN Dash8-40cm they are currently being retired by CN and being [...]
Fri, 04-09-2021 19:56
Bear in mind that the Nebraska Zephyr is an articulated train set, so cars cannot be inserted at will. Although cars and/or a second engine could be [...]
Wed, 03-31-2021 11:37
I believe Silver Pony is currently on the back burner, and has been put into storage in one of the barns. The car needs a lot of work done to it's [...]