Illinois Railway Museum Blog

They say that time flies when you are having fun.  I did not have so much fun yesterday at home, and yet the time flew by.  So another day turns on the calendar and I need to post this foreshortened report.  Today THOMAS debuts for 2013, so plan to come out and see the spectacle if you never have done so.  Or to come out and volunteer to help support the event.  And of course to tell all your friends and neighbors to buy tickets and bring their families.

Up in the Air

We have made much progress with the use of the Buildings and Grounds bucket truck this summer.  Here however, Jim Leonard is stuck up in the air when the truck mysteriously stopped running and we could not get him back on the ground without some climbing.

Changing Gears

So we went to PLAN B.  Jim Leonard and Victor Humphreys are up on the front end of the plow roof applying the first coat of finish black paint.

The Cutting Edge

Jim Leonard worked with a brush to cut in the separations and detail around rivets, etc.  But Look!  You will see a new headlight installed on the front of the cab/cupola thanks to Dave Rogan's work earlier in the day.

By a Nose

We continue to chip away at restoration work on the front nose of the plow.  Lots of hard to reach areas around the anchor casting and coupler.  Remember, the entire coupler and train line air pipe were to be removed when plowing snow.  Jim Leonard is down off the roof and adding primer.

In the Shop

John Mc Kelvey is making good progress in the shop as he reupholsters the second chair for use in the cupola.  The frame has seen repairs, steel surfaces primed and painted, and the aluminum brushed and clear coated to protect it.