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Thursday, October 31. 2013Dynamometer Car Runs Sept 14-15th, 2013 – First Time Since 2007!Thanks to MANY volunteers, we were able to run the Dyno on Sept. 14-15 and 22nd, 2013. We began plans to ready the car for service after Laddie Vitek from the IRM Diesel Dept. inquired in mid-July if we could run the car for folks visiting IRM post-MRHA convention in Rockford on Sept. 22. We agreed it would be a great idea and then also chose to run it Museum Showcase Weekend as well (Sept 14-15). From July-Sept we would spent several weekends removing no longer needed items aboard the car clearing out space on the car for riders and getting the necessary repairs made and the necessary systems working. Getting the car ready to be run will be a separate blog post in and by itself that encompassed many weekends. The car performed flawlessly Members Showcase Weekend and Sun 9/22/13. The following people at IRM helped make this happen: Chuck Trabert, Pauline Trabert, Laddie Vitek, Adam Farance, Jeron Glander, Paul Sawicki, Bob Olson, Jamie Kolanowski, myself, Warren Newhauser, and a few others.  Welding the cut lever bracket back on in Yard 11. The Diesel Dept guys straightened it out for us. 9/14/13.  X-5000 was pulled out to the mainline 9/14/13  Looking forward into the night. 9/14/13  Looking back from the instrument room towards the kitchen. 9/14/13  Warren Newhauser at the instrument panel 9/14/13  Instrument Panel showing loco throttle position, gen field, and other on/off events. 9/14/13  Buzz Morisette making coffee with the old percolator coffee pot on the propane stove. 9/14/13  X-5000 volunteer Brian LaKemper (left) and Jeron Glander (right) work on the hydraulic dynamometer unit. 9/14/13 We offered to replace some of the 120V bulbs with 32V to provide more light, but when we did the passengers adamantly insisted they preferred the soft glow of 120V bulbs better.  Dyno’s 32VDC trainline powering the 3 coaches equipped with 120V bulbs makes for a nice ambiance! 9/14/13  Red Mars light mounted on back protects the car. 9/14/13.  Red Mars light beacon protecting the back of the Dyno (frame from a video). 9/14/13 Most images and text provided by Warren Newhauser. Wednesday, October 30. 2013John Mcloughlin updateWe have some progress to finally report on the ongoing restoration of the 8-1-2 sleeper. Mark Hofmann has been wire wheeling and needle chipping the women's bathroom and connecting hallway for the past two months. He was at it again this last Sunday, Oct 27. He worked on grinding off the excess paint on the ceiling where he had previously chipped. This is a very difficult job. First, working overhead with an electric grinding is very painfully. Very quickly your muscles fatigue from the overhead work. Second, the temperature near the ceiling is always hotter at the top. Don't try this in warm weather! It's another reason for fatigue. The heat can be unbearable. That's the reason we accomplish these tasks in either early Fall or Spring. He also finished priming the hallway where months ago he had needle chipped and sanded the area. If you don't prime the area it will soon start rusting. Here are the results of his efforts.  Here is the reason you dont try this in the Summer. Heat rises.  Before the primer is applied  Mark is concentrating priming the hallway No runs Mark! He does good work! We are also getting some estimates for making a missing wall panel from R&B Welding of Woodstock, Ill. Please consider a donation to help defray the costs of manufacturing. Thank you. Roger and Mark  Mission accomplished. Mark is admiring his work. Nice job, Mark EXTRA!!!! EXTRA EXTRA EXTRA EXTRA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Steam Locomotive, Frisco 1630, our 2-10-0 was test fired for the first time today! It also moved under its own power!! Thanks to the men and women of the steam dept! A job well done! A special Thank You to Tom Schneider. Tuesday, October 29. 2013RI 2612 10-19-13 update I was out numbered
This was a first in the coach dept. Saturday, October 19th saw 4 volunteers working on the 2612 but I was the only male volunteer in the group. Yes, I was happily outnumbered by three ladies working in the coach. Jane Blackburn, Nancy Ring and a new volunteer, Sarah Meuller all worked on 2612 project. Sarah's friend, Dave, volunteers in the Steam Shop.
 Heres Sarah holding a De Walt sander. Yes, she enjoyed her day of sanding in the 2612.  Jane sandblasting window latch parts in our sandblaster. Nice job Jane  Nancy vacuuming the floor.Its important to have a clean work area.  One of 32 brass window frames that must be reconditioned and painted before installation. |
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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 [...]