Illinois Railway Museum Blog

Lest We Forget

It is tradition that we remember the sacrifices of our servicemen and women this weekend, but it also marks the 30th anniversary of a very significant milestone in the growth and development of IRM.  The button on the hat above was issued May 31, 1982 marking the opening of a mainline extension project that added over a mile of operations to IRM.  Note to self:  Do not try to take a picture of a white button on a black hat.

One Done

Part of the reason this report is late this week is that I have spent the last three days at IRM striving to get the lettering completed on our hopper, Great Northern 70104.  That, and very balky computer this AM.  But the first herald is done and this completes all lettering on the right side of the car.

Onward

The transfer pattern we created is in place on the second or left side and ready to move onward.  The pattern was traced and the inner black circle has been painted.

Side Patch

Victor Humphreys is at the drill press fabricating the second side patch for our B&O wagon top boxcar.

Dust Shields

The set of eight new dust shields has been finished, and ready to have a coating applied.  These slide into place over the axles behind the journal boxes on the car being restored on our TMS project, Milwaukee Electric 972.

Windows

The crew was in high gear this weekend doing work on Cleveland Transit System 4223.  Here, Lorne Tweed is using the torch to apply heat and to remove bound up screws in a window frame.  This will allow replacement of damaged glass and weatherstripping.

Window Tracks

Out in the barn, Eric Lorenz was busy drilling and tapping many holes in the window posts, ready to install the tracks for these windsows.  I forget - was it 34 holes done, 382 to go?

And Painting

Never a minute wasted!  Lorne moved on to prime painting many of the parts that have been cleaned over the last few work days.  These are pedestals, sort of a truncated pyramid in shape, that fasten to the roof of the car for ultimately holding the many next layers of parts and finally, the trolley base and pole.

Sanding

Ray Schmid was out inside Barn 4 on a scaffold where he was sanding and doing finish work on the roof of Michigan Electric 28.  What great weather for this work - 90 degrees at ground level and probably 105 up close under the metal roof.

Bending

Jeff Brady resumed the fussy work of bending and installing thin basswood slats for the rounded roof at the back end of the 28.  Here he is engineering the curvature and bends for each custom fitted slat.