Illinois Railway Museum Blog

I am going to lump all the projects together under the Wood Shop entry today, to recognize the diversity of our efforts, but mainly because the computer has been stubborn and I do not want to risk more operations than the minimum.

Fitting Up

Victor Humphreys is helping fit together the first four of the complicated parts for the new station door. This door will be heavy and hopefully stand the test of time.

Bottom Rail

Victor and John Faulhaber are getting ready to try placing the bottom rail in the door.  That will allow exact measurements for the two mid panel stiles, as the door will represent a four panel door suitable for the period restoration.

Upholstery Shop

John McKelvey is back north from his 'winter quarters' and has turned to re-upholstering the many seats in Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee 757.

A Lofty Task

Henry Vincent is constructing an opening and doorway to access the loft area above the existing wood shop ceiling.  Did he just bend that last nail?

CRT 1797

Tim Peters has now installed the large end timbers on the CRT 1797, added the anticlimber, and is installing some steel end plates.

In Control

John Nelligan is buried in wiring inside the cab of Charles City Western 300.  This is not a great photo, but the best I could do in cramped conditions, shooting through the doorway.  The controller fingers have a set of 18 wires going to a terminal board, and this is only on the No.1 end!

Mr Socks

To end on a lighter note, I went out the shop door to find our unofficial mascot and mousetrap for Barn 4, curled up nicely on the hood of a handy vehicle.  Before I could get too close, he roused himself and was preparing to make a run for it!