Passenger Car Department

A beautiful warm opening day! Michael Baksic and Shelly Vanderschaegen plugged in car lights in Barn 3 for anticipated visitors.

Kevin Kriebs and Shelly then started changing light bulbs in cars as needed while Mark Gellman, Michael McCraren, Ray Mormann, and Michael Baksic ran air brake tests on an RPO and a Rock Island coach.

Mark Gellman and Ray Mormann hook up air to the RPO

Mark checking the air pressure

The first train of 2014 coming into station track 1

Mark making an adjustment to the RPO

Lunch was in the Birmingham as usual. Bob Hunter came to visit again and talked about linoleum and the later carpeting needed for the Dover Strait. Jim Windmeier and Buzz Morisette also came to visit for lunch. Michael McCraren was in charge of taking pictures.

Jim Windmeier and Buzz Morisette at lunch in the Birmingham

Barn 3 Curator Michael Baksic with Shelly Vanderschaegen at lunch in the Birmingham diner

Michael Baksic and Ray worked on electrical issues in the Birmingham after lunch while Kevin and Shelly were with Buzz in the caboose in front of the Exhibit Cars removing Pullman mattresses. The mattresses were then put into storage. After that, the three went to the Ely where Shelly took pictures, Buzz was paintiing and talking about the ceiling. Kevin was standing by while Buzz explained options about what to do with the lower part of the Ely ceiling.

Ely dining room ceiling painted

Buzz Morisette painting the lower part of the Ely dining room ceiling

Gold leaf showing through where paint was scraped off

Later Kevin and Shelly finished cleaning the Streamliner cars.

On Friday, March 28th, Shelly Vanderschaegen worked with Wayne Baksic at his home to apply hardware to a seat back for a Rock Island coach which Shelly has reupholstered in her home workshop.

On Sunday, March 30th, Shelly and Kevin Kriebs began the day by cleaning the Pacific Peak and got half way through the car by the end of the day.

Kevin Kriebs vacuuming in a coach

Shelly vacuuming in the Pacific Peak

Ray Mormann and Coach Department Curator Michael Baksic were tracing elelctrical wiring in the Birmingham kitchen to understand which switches work with which lights and outlets.

Ray Mormann and Michael Baksic working in the Birmingham kitchen

Mark Gellman and Michael McCraren worked on the overhead panel in the vestibule of the RDC and then they put tools away from the Pacific Peak so that Shelly and Kevin could clean in there. Michael M. left after lunch.

Mark Gellman scraping a panel in the RDC

Bob Hunter stopped by to chat with Michael Baksic and joined the crew for lunch in the Birmingham diner and discussed carpeting for the Dover Strait.

Michael Baksic with Bob Hunter at lunch in the Birmingham

Jon Habegger and Mark Gellman at lunch in the Birmingham

Shelly Vanderschaegen and Kevin Kriebs at lunch

Jon Habegger brougnt in pictures that will go in the Birmingham and worked out where to put them. Jim Windmeier provided assistance to Jon in the Exhibit Car. The Chicago depot article from NRHS was rehung. Jim and Jon talked at length about potential displays that can be created during 2014 and installed before the 2015 season.

Mark Hoffman spent Sunday priming the ceiling in the John McLoughlin where he had previously done needle chipping.

John McLoughlin ladies room ceiling after needle chipping

John McLoughlin ladies room ceiling in primer

In the Ely, Buzz Morisette has put all three ceiling panels up and applied joint compound. Once sanded and smoothed, then primier will be applied and then everything will be painted. Shelly Vanderschaegen captured an image of nearly the entire ceiling while laying on the floor.

All three panels are up in the Ely dining room