Passenger Car Department

Beautiful 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.

Cold with hail changing to warm! All images for this post were provided by Shelly Vanderschaegen.

The day started with Kevin Kriebs, Shelly Vanderschaegen, and Buzz Morisette in the Ely. Last week Buzz took off the painters tape and suggested that Shelly and Kevin apply duct tape to the underside of the rounded part of the ceiling while Buzz was painting the other end of the dining room.

Buzz Morisette painting the rounded ceiling in the Ely dining room

Kevin Kriebs applying duct tape to the Ely dining room ceiling

Buzz painting on the other end of the Ely dining room

Michael Baksic and Ray Mormann started out checking electrical outlets and cords in Barn 3.

After the storm passed, Kevin started working on the outside of the 1st Exhibit Car taking the adhesive off and Shelly finished sweeping out the RDC.

Susan and David Stepek came for lunch in the Birmingham. David crushed cans and had a great visit. Buzz was also there and Jon Habegger was in the Birmingham for lunch and later worked in the 1st Exhibit Car with pictures he had reframed.

Lunch in the Birmingham with Kevin Kriebs, Michael Baksic, Buzz Morisette and Susan Stepek

Ray Mormann at lunch in the Birmingham

David Stepek brought along some of his Thomas collectibles to lunch

After lunch Kevin went back to work removing adhesive and Michael B. and Ray checked out what they needed to do to hook up the lights in the Ely dining room.

While normally closed, Museum visitors in the area were invited into the 1st Exhibit Car for a brief tour and were asked to give their unbiased opinions about the displays.

Rules testing was going on at IRM and a lot of people were involved with that including Mike McCraren and Jim Windmeier. Mark Gellman was with his mother and Mark Hoffman was also missed.