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Friday, May 11. 2012B&O Boxcar Update - May 9, 2012Spring is here and that means on good weather days, the Freight Department crew is at work in our outdoor 'shop'. Here is a sort of photo essay (not much text) on work this week, lots of participants and onlookers encouraged to learn and get a 'feel' for this sort of blacksmith work and tools involved.  Rust Out Gerry Dettloff is getting ready with an acetylene torch with Dick Cubbage and Simon Harrison looking on.  Cutting Some sections of the side at the bottom were badly rusted out. The first step here is to use an acetylene torch to burn off the old rivet heads. Gerry is using the torch and Victor Humphreys ready to help as needed.  Peeling The metal is being peeled back by Victor, Gerry, and Dick.  Next After cutting the rivet heads form the outside, shards of old metal siding and layers of rust are removed. Some additional grinding of the torched off rivet stubs might need to be done. Then out with the small sledge hammer and a punch pin to poke the rivet out the back.  The Stubs Not much left after the torching, but some medallions of remaining metal sides need to be peeled away, pried away, or otherwise coaxed to leave.  Punching Then on to the satisfying part of punching out what remains of the rivets. Sort of like an 'aggression therapy' session. Jim Leonard takes a turn. That entire section is complete. The next step is to fit and cut a new metal patch, drill it for placing new rivets, weld it in, grind, fill, paint - you get the idea. Friday, May 11. 2012TMS Project Update - May 9, 2012STOP THE PRESSES!  Wheelsets THE WHEELSETS HAVE RETURNED TO IRM! Recall that the goal of this project is to restore two operating streetcars to service at IRM. As they say on TV, do it big or go home. The wheelsets are back at IRM with new steel tires applied, and they look spectacular. Here is a short summary of the project to date. New steel tires were ordered and custom made, enough to apply to both streetcars. The trucks were removed from the TM 972 and extensively rebuilt. One truck has had essentially a total rebuild as we found badly worn pins and bushings in the linkage, rods, levers and brake systems. This was not something anticipated and was discovered after the trucks were being dismantled. What is one to do, stop everything? In the true IRM spirit we had to repair these items while the truck was out and disassembled. Such is the life of a restorationist. We could have had the needed parts custom made and waited until September for delivery and another six weeks to install them. Instead we made these ourselves in the machine shop, and heat treated and hardened them on site. This saved us months on the timeline and saved us about $4000 in costs. See where this is going? It also added up to about $8000 in unanticipated expenses, so money in the fund is running very low, about non existent. We have spent money ahead on common parts for the CNS&M 354 to get the same treatment but need your support now to see the TM 972 running this season. We are ready to begin final re-assembly of the trucks NOW and will keep you updated of any 'new' discoveries. Please keep this major project on track and moving ahead with a donation to fund RTMS. We really need this and the money is not squandered. |
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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 [...]