Two Milwaukee Streetcars

This is an active and ongoing project with the goal of restoring two cars to operation - TM 972 and CNS&M 354.

Assembly

Jeff Brady is assembling the many components of the truck.  This is a complex and intricate process involving many pieces and requires a level of expertise I do not share.

There are and have been many players in this project.  The recent focus has been to rebuild this truck from the 972.  As might be expected in a car which left service in 1958, and then may have been near the end of its useful life, we have uncovered many areas needing attention.  These are never known for sure until the disassembly and inspection is well along the way.

For example, the pedestal liners were missing in one case, or cracked and worn in bad repair.  We managed to get new liners fabricated - cost $2000.

Then we were on to the the pins and bushings used to connect the many moving parts in this truck, primarily but not exclusively associated with the braking system.  I have reported extensively on that process and progress. Over one hundred specialty bushings were manufactured in our shop and heat treated.  In the past we ordered these parts from outside vendors, but in today's world that would have been very costly to meet needed dimensions - none are 'standard' - and a delay of 3-4 months for delivery.  By making them ourselves we were able to complete them in about nine weeks at a savings of several thousand dollars.

Hardened pins are used in these bushings, and none of these were simple.  All of those involved a lot of machining, heat treating, and were made in our shop.  Again, savings in time and money.

The bottom line is that over $8000 in unanticipated costs were added to make these upgrades and the rebuild.  We will have a mechanically reliable and safe car to operate.  So, we again thank you all for your support but must again ask for help to continue the work and move forward.  The restricted fund is designated RTMS and donations can continue to be sent to

Illinois Railway Museum

Box 427

Union, IL 60180

We hope you can help on this and we all look forward to seeing this car roll down our line this year.