Illinois Railway Museum Blog

                                 Here, are a few more "shots" of the unloading of The Lake City!    Nick and the truckers began moving the car into postion about 3:30 pm and didn't stop until the job was done.... at 9:45pm at night.    O,  I almost forgot to tell the reader that the night work lights were provided from members cars shinning their high beams on the work area.    This sounds real fimiliar to many of us e old-timers. That's the way we did much our work at night.   Remember guys!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The problem that was encounted was due to the position of the load on a piece of curve rail east of barn 10.  The first wheel set lined up fine but when Nick began to lower the obs car on the second wheel set it was fouled by part of the underbody.  We needed a straighter piece of track.  Thus, the trucker with his 100 foot plus rig, had to repositon the load on the unloading rail.   This moving back and forth happened about 3 or 4 times.                     Half the car was already on its wheel set while the other half  was still swinging in the air suspended by the crane.  It was jockeyed back and forth before the right postion was obtained.     Finally, about 8pm and after a quick pizza  delivery break, thanks Nick for the dinner, the car was finally lowered onto the second wheel set.   Also, a BIG  Thank You goes out to Rod, curator of the Electric Car Dept, for sitting in the cab  of the 45 tonner for 3hrs while this effort was  taking place.  He then moved the Lake City to yard 3.    Gerry and I went home about 9pm and had a great story to tell the next weekend.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Today, the Lake City is now housed in Barn 3 for your viewing.   When visiting Irm this year don't forget to stop by and view this splended example of 1910's railroad transportation.  Wouldn't it be grand to sit in this car while traveling down our right-of-way?   This can be a reality but the coach dept needs a "Few" funds to accomplish this.   Many items still need to be purchased before this can happen .   We need to purchase and install period carpeting, reupholster 10 sitting chairs, purchase light fixtures and globes and then complete the two washrooms.   Please consider a donation to the Lake City restricted fund.  Your generosity will help us meet this goal.     Also, please remember the museum's ongoing  Barn 14 building fund raiser program.       Thanks      Roger Kramer