It was another hot cloudless day at IRM, 92 F, and a very busy day with perhaps 2500 visitors with IRM hosting UP FAMILY DAY for UP Chicago Service Unit employees and families. Some very unusual operations were featured at IRM with the Union Pacific Passenger EXTRAS, the LEVIATHAN steam train, a special RPO train with mail grabs, CA&E wood interurban main line runs, the CNW Bilevel train, CSL 3142 and CTA 4391 Green Hornet streetcar service, and our Vera Cruz 19 open car trolley.
The Freight Department had four restored cabooses on display and open as we had personnel to act as docents. In the background you will see two of the modern UP specially painted locomotives that UP brought to the party.
The Union Pacific also brought a passenger train to IRM and it left throughout the day from our station platforms and ran passenger EXTRA trips on their Belvidere Sub. It operated push pull with locomotives on both ends, the one on the west [EDIT] was the CNW 8701, one of only two remaining locomotives delivered new to the CNW, now on the UP roster.
Our completed restoration project for this hopper was also spotted east of Barn 6 for all to see.
Volunteer Frank Carraro continued his fine work on the vintage telegraph and telephone system in our depot office and bay window area.
Lorne Tweed was up on the roof of our Cleveland PCC working on the installation of the many parts needed to restore a working trolley pole to the car.
Tim Peters was doing some of the next stage restoration work - the electrical systems for Chicago Rapid Transit 1797.
Work continued on the CGW Russel Snow Plow in spite of very warm temperatures. Perhaps half of the north side has been needlechipped and more of the many layers of old paint removed. Victor Humphreys closed out a very long day by applying primer to more of the areas cleaned down to bare metal.
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 [...]