Illinois Railway Museum Blog

Entries from May 2014

Thursday, May 15. 2014

Wed, May 7 prep work Posted by Roger Kramer in Rock Island 2612 at 10:01

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Five volunteers came out to continue the progress. Ray Erickson, Brian Paterson, Dave Cook, Gary Sherman and yours truly. We continued sanding, needle chipping, sandblasting, masking and prepping for future painting, and removing of more corroded wall panels. Every little bit helps to reach our goal.

Ray using our new needle chipper

This view shows Ray and the painted section around door frame

Ray is a real fine chipper

Gary removing the last rusty side panel I hope we are done with this part

Dave Cook does a great job of sanding the surface Thanks

Area ready for next paint application

Another view of area masked off for painting

I have solicited for funds before on this blog site and I hope you again can help defray some of the upcoming costs of this restoration. Send your donations to the Restricted Fund RI 2612. Thank you Roger

Wednesday, May 14. 2014

Steam Department Update 05-12-2014 Posted by Nigel Bennett in Steam Department at 07:18

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Steam Department Update 05-12-2014

A brief update this week as I was away in Cleveland at the weekend. The update is based upon input from Phil and Jim.

Unfortunately the key conclusion from the week is that we will not be able to run next weekend, which was the first that we had scheduled for operation this year. We are pretty much “day to day”. #1630 is complete and ready to steam aside from refitting the smoke box front and the bell / lamp fittings mounted on it.

The key activities have been repairing the cracks recently detected in the smoke box front casting. This is approaching completion but has been a much slower job than anticipated as the casting proves to be iron rather than steel. It must therefore be brazed rather than welded (a much slower process). Aside from other issues, brazing requires working from both sides so the huge casting had to be turned over part way thru the process.

While Dennis was working on this:

The steel and mesh work of the spark arrestor was largely completed. There seems to be some discussion over whether a handle will need to be bent to provide sufficient clearance from the petticoat casting.

Eric and Jim worked on putting lagging on the steam dome.

Jerry brought in the Frisco stencils he had made that will be used to letter the cab side..

Tom lead a team of guys on rebuilding the steam pipe from the governor to the air compressor. This pipe was seriously wasted and a new one has been fabricated by an outside contractor to the intricate series on bends required. A new union has been fabricated to replace one of unique pattern at one end that was very eroded. The current activity is the final step of threading the ends of the new pipe, fitting the unions refitting the new pipe to the locomotive,

Brian worked on painting the windows of the cab.

Mike over the last couple of weeks has been working on the brake valves of the milk car to get it ready for service.

A large group of guys worked on cleaning up the rods of 1630. Although they will be covered in oil when in service, they look a whole lot better if the oil film is on clean polished steel!.

Track department finished fixing the switch off the car line to the steam leads. The track is now back in service.

So, work continues during the week and we will be in service as soon as the smokebox door can be refitted.

Nigel

Tuesday, May 13. 2014

May 10th Passenger Car Department Update Posted by Pauline Trabert in Passenger Car Department at 11:18

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May 10th Passenger Car Department Update

Finally the warmth of spring has erupted! So we went from being too cold to being too hot!

Jon Habegger, Michael McCraren and Mark Gellman (welcome back Mark!) worked on the CBQ1923 RPO diaphragm curtain. After lunch they discovered the RPO door was sticking and needed some persuasion.

Hes back!!! The return of Mark Gellman - Photo by Michael McCraren

Jon and Mark talking about the repair of the RPO diaphragm - Photo by Michael McCraren

Mark making repairs to the CBQ 1923 diaphragm - Photo by Michael McCraren

After the harsh winter, the RPO door started to bind as it was opened and then stuck in place. Mark opened up the area to find the spot where the door was binding. Once opened up, wood from the floor that apparently was causing the door to bind was removed. With some spray lubricant, the door is now able to open and close. There will be more work done on the doors of the CBQ 1923 to allow them all to move freely (both RPO and baggage). One can't be too hard on this car as it is 100 years old this year.

Mark working to open the CBQ 1923 door - Photo by Jon Habegger

Mark Gellman using more persuasion on the RPO door - Photo by Jon Habegger

CBQ 1923 RPO door opened and stuck in place - Photo by Jon Habegger

Mark, Jon, and Michael M. finally got the RPO door working again - Photo by Michael McCraren

Ray Mormann and Michael Baksic were finishing up putting parts and pieces back into the Loch Sloy. By the end of the day the Loch Sloy prep was finished except for vacuuming and making the beds for viewing.

Shelly Vandreschaegen was in the Ely with Buzz Morisette. Buzz took down some of the plastic and painter's tape. Then Shelly watched Buzz put one of the clerestory windows in.

Buzz Morisette removing plastic and painters tape in the Ely dining room - Photo by Michael McCraren

Buzz takes great care to put a clerestory window back in place - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Every step of the process is essential for success - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

The final task after refinishing the clerestory windows is to put them back - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Skill, patience, and dedication are all a part of the work - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

The Ely dining room now looks as classy as it ever did - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Then Buzz demonstrated how to wipe off and then wax the Ely mahogany walls and carved trim. After Buzz left, Shelly took down the plastic and painters tape as needed before begining the work of wiping off and waxing. This is a long work in progress.

Buzz Morisette demonstrates how to apply wax to Ely mahogany - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Buzz demonstrates how to buff the waxed wall - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Buzz explained to Shelly that he uses two different brushes to work on the carved wood pieces; one brush for dusting and a second brush for applying wax.

One brush is used to apply wax to the Ely carved wood - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

A demonstration of how to buff the waxed carved wood - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Shelly Vanderschaegen buffing the wax as directed - Photo by Buzz Morisette

Buzz showed Shelly how he removed the majority of paint from the clerestory windows using a heat gun. After that step, any remaining paint was removed with a paint stripper.

Buzz uses a heat gun to remove paint on an Ely clerestory window - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

When you compare how the clerestory windows looked before Buzz refinished the windows to how they look now you can see a very big difference!

Ely clerestory window before - Photo by Buzz Morisette

Ely clerestory window after - Photo by Buzz Morisette

Lunch in the Birmingham as usual. Buzz joined the regulars and Bob Hunter stopped by for a brief visit.

Birmingham lunch with Buzz, Jon and Mark - Photo by Michael McCraren

Happy faces of Shelly and Michael B. at lunch - Photo by Michael McCraren

Ray Mormann smiles at lunch humor - Photo by Michael McCraren

In the afternoon Jon spent the entire afternoon at his post in the 1st Exhibit Car talking to visitors. The exhibit car opened for the first time this year to visitors. The people Jon had the opportunity to speak with appeared to find the exhibits of interest.

Jon Habegger captured an image of the UP Turbine and the prep work Buzz is doing on the nose. Spots where he is priming the engine make it look as if the turbine has acne.

Buzz has done prep work on the nose of the UP Turbine - Photo by Jon Habegger

Big thanks to Shelly Vanderschaegen, Mark Gellman, Jon Habegger, Michael McCraren and Buzz Morisette for supplying information and images for this blog post. What a great team effort!

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Comments

James Kolanowski about Milwaukee Road 33C update
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 [...]

AJ about Milwaukee Road 33C update
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...

Ted Miles about Progress update of the Multi Purpose Building
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, [...]

J Blustein about The Old Bag and the Silver Beaver
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.

Jason E about Progress update of the Multi Purpose Building
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 [...]

Thomas about It Happened One Saturday at IRM
Wed, 06-02-2021 17:27
Nice to see 428's cab back on. Looking forward to when it is operable!

Ted Miles about It Happened One Saturday at IRM
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 [...]

bob miller about Dover Strait Progress Part Three
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?

Ted Miles about John McLoughlin Progress - Part Two
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

Jason Erkenswick about Diesel Shop update 1/29/2021
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 [...]

Alex Schneider about Dover Strait Progress Part Three
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 [...]

Matthew Maloy about Dover Strait Progress Part Three
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 [...]