This was certainly an odd weather day. The forecasters were unified in the prediction it would rain all day, until mid afternoon when it it be REALLY BAD weather. Some volunteers may have been scared off and some events in Chicago were postponed. Two of the volunteers had concerned wives who called the shop to tell them to clear out before 2 PM to beat the predicted storms. We figured we could get an hour or two of work in on the plow, so began with that right away in the morning. And worked along for almost six hours without rain! We got a lot done.
Shop work was the first task for Buzz Morisette as he worked to fabricate another new window sill for the cab cupola. This one is destined for the rear window area, if I am not mistaken.
Why, it is Dave Rogan of course. Here he is leaning out the cupola window area, and wire brushing the metalwork. Earlier he and I had two needle chippers going at once scaling layers of old paint. You see what those areas look like to your right of Dave, in this picture. Then Dave was using a power wire wheel to clean down to bare metal, seen in the posts to your left left. And below the roof line a hint of the old yellow paint is visible.
Always with an eye to the sky, Victor Humphreys came topside and applied primer to all those areas that had been prepped.
We had also started on the very long job of restoring the roof. Only a small area to be sure and a bit scary perching way up on the left front corner, knowing there is only the gaping maw of the plow below you. But here is the first primer going on the roof.
We were very grateful to have some new and unexpected help from Joe Luciani - here cleaning the truck frame on the left side - and Lee Regione. They were sweating in the sun on the ground while we were sweating up on the roof.
Victor had completed the painting up on the roof while the ground work continued. Just in time. Victor attacked those cleaned areas with fresh primer. Here he is doing a triangular flanger support, and then he moved on the prime the truck frame.
Inside the cupola Buzz toiled away fitting new wood and also fitting the slider window for the left side. The fixed window looks good installed and the surrounding area painted in the deep maroon.
Using the needle chipper is a funny task. It is loud and some vibration is involved. But it can be very satisfying to see the years of use and abuse peel away. You just do not want to put it down. As the painting was going on on the opposite corner, Dave started cleaning layers of paint from the left front corner and roof.
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 [...]