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Wednesday, October 12. 2011GN 70104 Update - October 11, 2011We have been working to restore this open hopper from the GN, actively, for over three years. Many volunteers have helped on this and we were to the point of being ready to paint the car. It is a big job, beyond our resources to expect to get it done in a season or more of work. So we decided to hire a contractor to help out. This topic could easily take three long BLOG ENTRIES. I have many pictures, and could present them in a sort of photo essay, as the captions are pretty self explanatory, pics in infinite detail step by step. How do you all want to see this? Probably condensed down to just a few pics? The first step was to remove all rust and old paint remaining on the car. This was a grueling four day process running from October 3 through October 7. Each night the car was put away inside Barn 4 thanks to the efforts and co-operation of Rod Turner.  Beginning on Left Side  Left Side  Left Side  Left Side There were equipment failures aplenty, but an unprecedented stretch of good weather made this possible. The left side is about 2/3 done in this view.  Left Side  B End  Right Side  B End and Right Side The B end is now blasted. Remember, the B end of any freight car is the end with the 'B'rake equipment.  Blasted Finally, the entire car was clean and ready to start priming. Chapter two in this adventure to follow.
Wednesday, October 12. 2011Track 31 Update - October 11, 2012Here are some views of work being done yesterday on the Track 31 replacement project.  Disappearing Stone A backhoe end loader was being used to scoop up stone a bucket at a time, and drive inside the barn to dump it. Mark Osiki is driving.  Two Machines Are Better Than One At the same time, Nick Kallas was in our bobcat scooping up and shuttling stone from the large piles to a spot closer to the barn doors. By day's end about 2/3 of the stone had been moved, and I think the track is ready for the first lift this weekend, according to comment posted by Frank Devries Tuesday, October 11. 2011News and Views - October 4-8, 2011Here are some pics I got while doing work on another MAJOR restoration project. I am holding that story until the end is in sight.  The Old Saw Tim Peters was on our large band saw running stock for roof parts for CRT 1797. Each of these panels has to be custom cut to fit the sags and droops in the carbody roof. Tim explained that this car was originally built as a trailer, and when converted to a motor car, the weight of the current collection equipment on the roof probably led to some 'settling' of the structure.  Fancy Work And he followed cutting those new panels for the outside of the clerestory area, on to the bench for painting. I should note that these were being cut last week, and by today, they were primed, painted, and being installed on the car. Maybe we should set up a time lapse camera in the barn, and shoot the record of his fine work.  Stoned No, not an early winter snowdrift, but about 100 TONS of new stone ballast piled at the east end of Barn 3. We have previously reported progress on the project to replace virtually all of Track 31, and the track guys are doing a great job. Next on the list - to place all this stone on the new track inside Barn 3; then jack, level, and tamp it. Anyone got a shovel?? |
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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 [...]