Illinois Railway Museum Blog

WELCOME

The first order of business today is to extend a welcome to new volunteer Steve Muchow (on the right).  Dave Diaz and Steve fabricated the last four new ceiling lighting panels for Cleveland Transit System 4223.

BIG Difference

Dave also applied the first coat of finish paint to eight previously fabricated and primed ceiling panels for the 4223.  This is a BIG step forward and they look really good, and took up a lot of the space on the west end of the shop.  The large center panels are behind Dave, several of the smaller lighting panels can be seen on the left.

Out in the Carbody

While the other fellows labored inside the shops (it rained heavily in the morning hours), Lorne Tweed and Ray Pollice are drilling many holes and installing the screws.  With a lot of planning and prep work, well over 100 of the interior panels and trim pieces were aligned and fit into place, and are now being permanently fastened.

At the Saw

Tim Peters is at the table saw and most of us watch his progress eagerly on the Chicago Rapid Transit 1024 project.  What can he be making now, what is he thinking, does he have a plan?

Southwest Car Corner

The answers to the above questions posed by all the inquiring minds are shown here.  Above, Tim fabricated a new sub sill from some old growth nearly century old southern yellow pine.  Here, you can see the deteriorated pieces removed and now the new timber framing being fitted.

Platform Knee

In recent weeks we have been following along the steps needed to repair the platform knees on the west end of the car.  The final results are in.  Both sides have new steel, new wood, and are ready for final touchup and painting.

Chair Shop

John McKelvey is at it again with a new lounge section armchair for the Passenger Car Department.  You recently saw the stunning finished work on a similar chair, here is the starting point showing how poor the condition is, and the fact that nearly every facet of the piece will receive attention.

The Roof

Norm Krentel is fastening down one of the last roof board slats on the north side of the Michigan Electric 28.  I would hazard a guess that over 90% of the roof now has the new surfaces installed.  Not that any of that was simple but what is remaining is the very tricky bonnet and end roof at the front of the car.

Windows

The Passenger Car Department has requested that we make several new windows for one of their cars.  The sample is leaning against the drafting desk while Rich Witt makes the necessary measurements and transfers those to paper for a good working drawing.

And of course there was lots of other wok happening in the shop and the barns.  The CGW Russel Plow continued with Buzz Morisette working on the new windows and cab cupola repairs, Victor Humphreys adding more interior lining and trim pieces, and of course we always try to make up the next needed pieces for priming so the work can continue, whatever the weather gods bring us.