Illinois Railway Museum Blog

This will be another shorter report.  It seems my hands were full and no opportunity to take more pics.  The benefit is that I can get this posted sooner.

Another Window

We started the day working on one of the last two windows that has yet to see any attention for the Sand Springs 68.  Victor Humphreys is test fitting the pieces for this long narrow sash for the clerestory.

ROCKY

I moved on to giving some lettering attention to our recently painted hopper, Great Northern 70104.  The railroad herald is fairly elaborate, at least for me to paint by hand.  We applied the black circle last Wednesday for the center of the logo.  Here, I am positioning a mylar pattern for the artwork, while comparing it to an official GN company drawing of the herald. "ROCKY" is the accepted name for the goat which became in effect a mascot for the GN.

Half a Goat

I took a break to climb back down from the scaffold, and snapped this image of the goat in progress.  It is all on now, but will need another coat of white.

By the Numbers

Tim Peters was creating new numbered glass sash for Chicago Rapid Transit 1797.  The glass has been etched by sandblasting on the interior surface and placed into the new sash.  Then, computer generated artwork masks are placed on the inside.  Here, Tim is applying several coats of black paint to the inside.  When complete, the numeral masks are peeled off to reveal whitish numbers from the frosted glass in a black field, when viewed form the exterior of the car.

The Hole Job

Lorne Tweed was clearing the old threaded holes to mount more interior panels and trim on Cleveland Transit System 4223, and running a tap through them as needed.  Eric Lorenz was installing sets of window tracks on the north side of the car and he has exhumed four pedestals from storage.  These will be restored, then mounted to the roof inside the cowl area to hold the trolley pole base.

And, as usual, a whole lot of other work.  Victor Humphreys cut some wood lining to be reinstalled in our B&O boxcar, and several of the 'boys' participated in safety and rule review meetings for the operators.

Work Plans

We had a very good turnout today and the crew for Cleveland Transit System 4223 gathered around some MORE window tracks to be restored.  Welcome back to Simon Harrison after a short leave for personal business, joined by Al Reinschmidt, Lorne Tweed and Jim Leonard.  Jim is a new volunteer and we would like to welcome him to the crew.

Rustbuster

Dave Rogan was on hand and has earned the nickname RUSTBUSTER as he went to work cleaning old paint and rust from interior sheet metal trim pieces for this PCC - CTS 4223.  Lorne Tweed continued prep work in the back seat bench area in the interior, and some more cleaned window frames had clear finish applied.

Art

Also a hearty welcome to Don Ingwersen, a Great Dane who Dave Rogan coaxed along to join us today.  Don has jumped right in, preparing artwork for lettering on Boston & Maine 1094, one of our passenger cars being restored.

The End

Not the end of the project, just a lot more progress by Tim Peters on the west end of Chicago Rapid Transit 1797.  New steel panels are in, hardware and fittings hung, and touch up painting pictured here.

Not a lot more pictures were taken by me, but Buzz Morisette and Victor Humphreys worked on passenger window repair, I resumed lettering work on our GN 70104 hopper, Frank Sirinek and Mike Alterio worked on Chicago & West Towns 141, I did a little more polishing of brass fittings for the interior of Sand Springs 68, a crew was working on body work for the NYCTA R-28 cars (outdoors on a VERY windy day), and the TM D 13 was out in the sun, no doubt getting attention from Gerry Dettloff and John Faulhaber.

Here is an exciting report submitted by member and volunteer Ray Bellock -

You may have noticed the removal of sod and soil and deposit of a first installment of a sub-base on a large area on the north side of Barn 3. This is the site being prepared for a children’s play area using playscapes with a train theme on the largest piece that will be installed.

Right Side

Left Side

This project is moving along with uncommon speed for us and will definitely be open for the majority of our summer schedule. Three separate pieces are being installed in this project.  It is moving speedily as a major funding was made by one of our members, supplemented with funds and labor from Dave Diamond’s B & G Department, to get these three pieces. What is common for this project with others around the campus is the need for more funding to add one missing piece to a small child train set ($2900) and about $1000 for landscaping to create an attractive but effective barrier between the play area and the east leg of the wye. If you believe in this as a needed addition to our museum and would like to see it finished or replicated elsewhere on the grounds, your donations of any amount will be gratefully accepted.  A separate restricted account has been established “Playground Project” and be assured that your donation will be used promptly towards these identified needs. Please note that the price of the missing piece will rise if we don’t commit to get it as part of the current order being shipped, so  please consider helping soon.