Passenger Car Department

                                                   Restoration  has continued on the women's lavatory in the John Mcloughlin Pullman sleeper.     Mark Hoffman and I have been working on the bathroom as time permits.  In the last two years I  have installed two missing sinks and  the fittings that are attached to them. I have also  installed the brass water pipe below the sinks.  Just as important, I have purchased the five correct brass shelves and the 2 lite fixtures.   Monies for purchasing  these items have come from donations to the John McLoughlin restricted fund.                                             Last Summer, we decided to paint and restore a test section in the women bathroom.  The results were quite stunning!  I hope you agree with me.  Here are pictures of the before and after!!    The test section sure turned out quite well!!  Mark and I were very pleased.  There will be more improvements in the future!                                  This is the view from the exterior if you would be on the walkway in Barn 3.   No longer is this window frame clear glass as it was for many years.  Now, with correct pressglass installed one gets the correct "look" when the sleeper was in operation .     Mark and I have decided to tackle the repaint of the entire  bathroom.     We started in early summer of 2012.   The next blog will update you on our progress....    BUT... In-the-meantime,we need some assistence with one problem.   Part of the wall in missing, removed out by the previous owner.                     Donations would be very welcome to assist in the rebuilding of the wall.  Since this is a volunteer project not supported by the general fund please consider a donation  to the Resticted Fund.... John Mcloughlin.    While you're at it.... Please also consider sending  a donation to the BARN 14 building Fund.    Thank You       Roger     

                   Saturday was a wet and dreary day BUT, the small Saturday coach group kept plugging away.                                The projects continued.                 One, my favorite, as of late, was the R I 2612 and the other was the Ely.                          Noteworthy on the Ely, was the installation by Buzz and Victor in the afternoon, of the second ceiling panel.      Before I could arrive and take a picture Victor had gone home.  Instead, here is Buzz along w/ Mark smiling for the camera.                                                                                                                         Last week, Mike and Ray pulled new wires for the future installation of the two ceiling lite fixture.      Look closely at the picture and you will see the new wires protruding from the panels, ready for the "hookup."                                                                                                                                     Not pictured, but equally important, is what the Sunday coach dept crew is working on.  Mark, Mike, Shelly and Ray are continueing the painting and upgrading of the second Display Car-Railroad Experience for future Grand opening.   On your Spring trip to Irm this year do not forget to visit the display car in yard five.  Its quite impressive and beautiful!!                                                                                                                                                                                           My excitement for the day,was the continuation of stripping the 2612 for use in the "Thomas" train this August!   I begin by throwing a few boxes left from last week.    After lunch,our new member, Brian Patterson, walked in and began the  ongoing task of scraping  the old paint off the walls.  I, in the meantime, unscrewed all of the misc screws on one wall.   They were used for xmas displays by the Crandic.       I also removed plywood from the nickelseats and placed in positon the nickelseat cushions.  By then Mark showed up and assisted Brian in scraping more paint off the walls.                                                                                   The last chore of the day was the transferring of a few of the cushions to my truck  in preparation for the removal of the old green upholstery.        At that point it was 5 pm and the door were closed for the day!     What we need now is help to strip the old green upholstery off of these cushions!!          Any assistence would be welcomed!!                       The coach dept is also appealing for donations to help pay for track storage for the 2612.              Please send a donation to the  Ristricted  Fund, 2612, and when doing so Please consider another to the..................BARN  14  Building Fund.    Thank You    Roger   Kramer