Illinois Railway Museum Blog

A glorious day at the Illinois Railway Museum. It was beautiful all day - a bit warm but we'll take it.

Mitch O'Brien, Ray Mormann, and Kevin Kriebs each had a screwdiver and removed most of the hardware from two doors purchased to use in the Birmingham diner. Once most of the hardware was removed, Kevin started stripping paint from one of the doors.

Kevin setup for stripping a door - Photo by Michael McCraren

Kevin stripping paint from a door to be used in the Birmingham - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Kevin had to strip many layers of paint from one door - Photo by Jon Habegger

There is much work required to repair the rust damage at the bottom of this door - Photo by Jon Habegger

While Kevin was stripping paint from one door, Michael Baksic, Ray Mormann, and Mark Gellman worked on positioning a second interior door on the kitchen end. Because the kitchen wall is at an angle, installing a door there, mounting it to the car, will be a challenge.

Michael Baksic and Ray Mormann work on the kitchen end door - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Mark G. and Michael B. kneeling down to work on the kitchen end door - Photo by Michael McCraren

Michael Baksic looks through the Birmingham kitchen door as it is being installed - Photo by Michael McCraren

Because of the wall angle, installing a door at the kitchen end will be challenging - Photo by Jon Habegger

From Michael McCraren: All sleeping car and coaches of a long distance passenger train had a number assigned to them in the consist. For example, on "The City of Los Angeles" the first sleeping car would be assigned the number 1031 meaning train #103 (westbound COLA), first sleeping car. This way the passenger would know which car they were in. On the Union Pacific "Peak" series, the number board was located below the porter's room window on one side and below the bathroom window on the other. During the Pacific Peak's time with Amtrak, the number boards were plated over. On Saturday, Mark Gellman, Jon Habegger, and myself removed the plating and exposed the original number boards. They were cleaned, primed and painted black. Glass will be placed over the number boards to complete the work.

Mark Gellman drilling out pop rivets - Photo by Michael McCraren

Mark prying off the plate - Photo by Michael McCraren

Pacific Peak original number board uncovered after some 40 years - Photo by Michael McCraren

After some clean up and priming the board is painted black - Photo by Jon Habegger

The number board taken from the inside the Pacific Peak - Photo by Jon Habegger

Shelly was working with John McKelvey in the wood shop all day stripping RI 2612 Henrietta seats down to the frame. Broken metal clips on the springs were replaced, then Shelly epoxied the bottom of the seat frame where the tack strips are located. Meanwhile, John put tarp material over the repaired springs, tacked it down, then applied horsehair padding. A layer of padding was applied over top of the horsehair, then another layer of horsehair was added, then another layer of tarp was applied to cover the layers of padding. Next, the actual upholstery material can be applied. There is a great deal of work involved in reupholstering these old coach seats and this is why we ask passengers to treat them with care.

John McKelvey sewing upholstery padding pieces together - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

John working on layers of seat material for a Henrietta coach seat - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Lunch was in the Birmingham as usual with a small celebration of Michael Baksic's birthday. Elegant Farmer apple pie and whipped cream were enjoyed by the crew. Everyone returned to their respective work for the day after this all too brief intermission.

Kevin Kriebs and Mitch OBrien at lunch - Photo by Michael McCraren

Shelly Vanderschaegen and Michael Baksic with birthday apple pie - Photo by Michael McCraren

Michael B., Buzz Morisette, and Ray Mormann finishing up lunch - Photo by Michael McCraren