Passenger Car Department

As  the curator of Barn 3, Mike Baksic was directing the passenger car department crew late July and into August in preparation for Thomas. This work included applying air for brake testing of coaches, making sure there were enough seats to have spares should any break during the event. The team also made sure that window latches and chains were functional in each of the cars. The Ely, lounge car, dining car and other cars in the barn were vacuumed for visitors. Jon Habeggar spruced up the Exhibit Car.

After every thing was ready to go and Thomas came to IRM, then Jon took his position in the Exhibit Car, Mike, Ray Mormann, and Mark Gellman rode on the Thomas cars sporadically to make sure that everything was fine. When they weren't riding on the Thomas cars they were starting preparation on the streamline cars for the next big event.

David Stepek came down twice to help Miss Shelly Vanderschaegen with crushing cans and emptying garbage. 

David Stepek crushing cans in the Birmingham galley

Wayne Baksic, father of department head Mike, was the greeter in the Galt House dining car while Miss Shelly was greeting the pubic and taking pictures of families in the Santa Fe lounge car. Andy Townsend was substituting for Shelly when needed.

Ken Kosan was in the RDC and Kevin Kriebs was in the Pacific Peak. Both were telling folks about the car they were in as they passed through the streamline cars. Meanwhile, Lee Evans Sr. was in the Birmingham with snacks for the public. 

While all this was going on during August, John McKelvey was reupholstering chairs for the Lake City. 

John McKelvey reupholstering a chair for the Lake City