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Tuesday, April 22. 2014Steam Department Update 04-19-2014
Another short blog this week and some nervousness!.
Despite significant progress this weekend, the key activity of spraying #1630 was not undertaken. This means that the timetable for planned first steaming on the 17th May is now tight.
The painter identified a number of areas where the preparation was not sufficient and there was furious activity on Saturday to ensure that all the additional rubbing down, screwing down of sheet metal and masking made us ready to paint next weekend. This was done and we now wait with great anticipation for next Saturday!.
Aside from the preparation for spray painting, good progress was made in other areas:
The steel work for the spark arrestor was fitted into the smokebox. It now fits and the welding to the smokebox sides can now be carried out. The sheet metal may need to come out one more time for final adjustment but we are on the final leg. There was much muttering and cursing about the weight of the new steel that has to be hauled around and carefully positioned in the enclosed space of the smokebox. It is a LOT heavier than the old steel work …….. which was 50% corroded away in many places!!.
Christian and Jason did most of the steel fitting. Christian is actually taking a break in this shot. The main work requires crawling up behind the new sheet metal to fit bolts into the assembly from high up and behind the platework.
Stu, Ed and a team successfully recommissioned the water supply. This is critical as we must move forward to hydro test as quickly as we can once the paint is applied.
Jim rubbed down the bell mount and headlight on Saturday then painted them on Sunday.
The connectors were successfully removed from the ends of the old (and seriously corroded) steam supply pipe to the air pump. This was a job with considerable concerns as the connector at one end is a very old and unusual type. Separating it, so that it can be repaired and reused on the new pipe that has been professionally formed to the correct series of bends, is essential. There was a significant exposure had this connector been damaged during removal. However, Tom and Dennis, with careful use of the “blue wrench”, separated it without damage. This will actually allow it to be considerably improved as long standing damage can now be corrected by building up and turning the connector in the lathe.
So. Good progress in several key areas. However, the road to operation will not be open until the spraying is complete. Then one helluva lot of jobs will need to be carried out quickly. My fingers are crossed!.
On a different note – Time to start making plans for this year’s Steam Department Benefit at Sanfilippo. This year's benefit event will take place on Sunday, June 29. There will be door prizes, as well as a 50/50 raffle during the benefit event. Time to tour the magnificent Sanfilippo collection, a concert on the Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ, and a silent film accompanied live will once again be a part of the benefit event. New this year will be a special raffle for a CAB RIDE ON 1630! This will be the only chances to ride in the cab of the restored steam engine!
Tickets (same price as last year, $69.99 per person) are now on sale and can be obtained by going to www.irm.org or by calling the Illinois Railway Museum at (815) 923-4391.
We thank you for your past support in attending a previous benefit event at the Sanfilippo Estate, and look forward to seeing you again this year!
Nigel
Tuesday, April 22. 2014RI 2602 needs HELP! Were putting out the call...
Is this coach out of service for Thomas? It might be!! Just look at the interior. How would you like to enjoy DOWT while sitting in this coach? Therefore...... We need more volunteers!! Please consider helping on this emergency project. Having the coach stored out on the main in this harsh winter proved fatal for the old paint surface.  RI 2602 needed an interior paint job but...  we didnt think it would happen this way. It's up to you, the volunteers, to put in the time and prepare this car for this year's THOMAS.
 One side looks terrible. The ceiling also needs a paint job. All the operating coaches should have inside storage space. The old paint needs to be scraped off, then the surface sanded, then primed, and finally repainted.
 Now its easy to remove the old paint ! The museum needs YOU to help get this money maker back into service. If you haven't been out for a while, or have been bored at home, why not consider helping! It doesn't matter where your interest's lie come around in back of barn 3 and Myself or Mike or Mark or Gary can get you going. Someone from the coach dept is here Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. The more the volunteers the quicker the job gets done and you might even make some new friends along the way. I'll keep you updated! Thanks for reading Roger Kramer Tuesday, April 22. 2014April 19th - Passenger Car Department UpdateBeautiful day! The day started with Shelly Vanderschaegen and Jon Habegger in the Ely with Buzz Morisette where they discussed what Buzz is going to do to finish up the Ely dining room. Shelly needs to scrap the remaining white paint off the area which had been duct taped in last week's report. While that was going on, Jon was taking pictures in the Ely. They discussed the mahogany to be put in the Ely and discussed the clearstory windows. Buzz will strip the clearstory windows and sand them down then make sure they are refinished in the mahogany which is the correct wood for the car, and he will put in the glass.  Buzz Morisette working on the clerestory windows in the Ely dining room  Ely clerestory detail with screen  Ely clerestory detail with wood insert  Ely dining room ceiling - white panel in the back left will eventually be replaced with mahogany  Buzz carefully removes the quarter round molding from one clerestory window  Some white paint remains on the underside of the clerestory windows which Shelly will remove  Clerestory windows removed in Ely dining room refurbishment project Ray Mormann, Michael Baksic and Michael McCraren were doing air brake tests on passenger cars. We also want to send a big Thank You to Jamie Kolanowski for helping get compressed air to the testing area.  Ray Mormann and Mike Baksic checking the wheels on Lackawanna 561  Mike Baksic in his *office* between a Rock Island coach and Lackawanna 561 during air brake testing  CRIP 2602 test date updated Jon Habegger and Shelly put the seats back into the Chicago Rock Island & Pacific 2582 coach. Jon also captured an image of the interior of the Chicago Rock Island & Pacific 2602 coach to demonstrate what happens inside our passenger cars when they are stored outside with the weather extremes seen in northern Illinois. Building enough barns to get all the rolling stock inside is a high priority in fundraising efforts. Donate Now to help preserve the collection!  CRIP 2582 before seats installed  CRIP 2582 with seats installed  CRIP 2602 interior winter damage After lunch in the Birmingham, Kevin Kriebs used a chemical called GoofOff, a scrubber, and a rag on the outside of the 1st Exhibit Car to take off adhesive remaining after the removal of the former exterior decals which had been applied to the car long ago by Artrain, Inc.  1st Exhibit Car exterior with Kevin Kriebs removing adhesive  The adhesive covers both sides of the 1st Exhibit Car  Close-up of Kevin working to remove adhesive on the 1st Exhibit Car exterior Jon and Shelly put up pictures in the Birmingham dining room which Jon had reframed. Mirrors will eventually be displayed on these door surround areas of the dining room as originally configured once funds are in place to purchase the mirrors.  Birmingham information frames  Birmingham menu scans Michael B. and Ray went back to work on the air brake tests after lunch which was an all-day job. Later, Jon tacked up a display in the 1st Exhibit Car next to the arrival/departure board in looking at how to expand the station display. The sheets hanging on the wall are of the departures and arrivals of intercity trains at the six Chicago stations at the end of October 1955 which is the date the arrival/departure board has been determined to be in service.  1st Exhibit Car display of the departures and arrivals of intercity trains at the six Chicago stations at the end of October 1955 A big shout out to the Track Department for their diligent efforts in repairing and replacing track and ties and all other efforts going on to improve the main line. Thanks for all your hard work! Your struggles are appreciated. |
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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 [...]