Illinois Railway Museum Blog

Hosing Around

Jim Leonard and Dave Rogan worked at making up all the remaining replacement hoses for the wings on the plow, with help from Rod Turner.  The heat wave continues and we better get used to it - forecast between 92 F and 97 F the next seven days.  Anyone want to go up on the steel roof and start needle chipping?

What is a NORBITT

NORBITT is marked on the porcelain base of the ceiling fixtures inside the plow and we need one more.  Also on this is lettering showing it to be a product of Crouse Hinds.  Can anyone help here?

Headlight

The existing dual headlight is fairly modern for this plow, but the plan is to use it as a stand in until the possibility of acquiring a Pyle National headlight materializes (with appropriate funding).  As can be seen, several parts are missing or damaged, although we do have the two special sealed beam lamps. 

Badge

This is nameplate badge for the headlight and amazingly, TRANS-LITE is still in business and may be able to furnish the needed parts!  But of course the price could run toward $300.  Anybody know of any such parts for sale or trade from another museum or even salvaged from a junkyard or railroad?

North Door

This does not exactly fit the title here, but just to fool you, and to avoid a new post with only one pic, Victor Humphreys completed  the first coat of finish paint on the north door of the B&O wagon top boxcar.

Windows

Every report needs to talk about WINDOWS.  Buzz Morisette is painting new sash for the AT&SF 1400 caboose.  Yes folks, he made all those in the wood shop.  And earlier in the day, completed installing the last three temporary plywood window blanks for the X 38.

Russell Wreck

Walter Parks has generously shared this dramatic photo of a wreck for a Russell plow that happened in Ruso, North Dakota.  It must have been quite a ride, and a tribute to the design and construction of the plow that there was not more damage apparent.  As we have said before, the operator of a Russell Plow had to have a strong backbone and steel himself for any mishap.  And work often in an environment of sub zero temperatures.  Gee, that is a lot of snow!

Which is of course the reason for posting this now with our area in another heat wave, could be 100 F plus tomorrow.