Illinois Railway Museum Blog

New Telegraph Station

Volunteer Frank Carraro has been working to update the bay window desk in our depot to accurately portray a Train Order Station.  Here, he has just re-installed several telegraph 'instruments' and the resonator.  They are beautifully restored and are in working condition.  If anyone out there wants to donate a pad of old train order forms, they would indeed be useful in this new display.  We have a supply of the once common double sided carbon paper that was used for copying train orders.

Trolley Base

Eric Lorenz is working with new volunteers Stan and Tom Bernacki on dismantling the old trolley base from the roof boards.  This is the equipment that was on the Cleveland 4223 when it arrived from Toronto.  We also have some of that area that was salvaged from a Boston PCC.  Neither of them appear to be 100% accurate for this car as it was in service in Cleveland.

Stuff

On to the quiz and prize portion of the program.  What are we looking at here?  OK, I give up.  This is some of the electrical equipment that must be restored and then roof mounted adjacent to the trolley pole spring base (seen above) and before the hot lead goes down into the car body.  There is a large capacitor which serves as a lightning arrestor, a coiled length of wire which serves to provide the inductance, a fuse box in serious disrepair, and two deteriorated wood planks which served as trolley boards on the roof.

Paint

Victor Humphreys is applying primer to areas of the side of the B&O wagon top boxcar.  Most of this area was wire brushed and cleaned by the famous TWO BERNACKIS.  Actually, those new volunteers asked to help on this work.  Welcome and thanks, fellas.

FACES IN THE NEWS - - - -

Conductor

Our reliable shop worker, Rich Witt, looks pretty spiffy as he dons the apparel and volunteers in train service on our operating railroad.

Time Warp

Saturday was Scout Day at IRM and several docent led tours and events were being held.  I happened to see this elegant lady from another time and place.  Actually, Nancy Ring greeting visitors before they went on tours inside our private Pullman cars.