Illinois Railway Museum Blog

Saturday, July 5th: Ray Mormann and Mark Gellman made progress on the Birmingham dining car. They installed the vestibule door on the kitchen end and while there is more work to be done, the door at that end will now work.

A door has been modified to fit the Birmingham vestibule on the kitchen end - Photo by Jon Habegger

The new door opening into the Birmingham - Photo by Jon Habegger

The closed door seen from inside the vestibule - Photo by Jon Habegger

The new door as seen from inside the Birmingham - Photo by Jon Habegger

Sunday, July 6th: Kevin Kriebs continued the process of removing the adhesive from the former decals on the 1st Exhibit Car. John McKelvey worked on seats for the Henrietta. Shelly Vanderschaegen cleaned, waxed and buffed walls in the Ely dining room area. Mark Hoffmann worked in the RI 2602 needle chipping and grinding.

Mark Hoffmann has been needle chipping and grinding in the RI 2602 - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Mark demonstrates grinding - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Closer shot of Mark grinding the surface smooth - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Saturday, July 12th: Mark Gellman and Michael McCraren installed glass on the south side number board of the "Pacific Peak". This weekend the north side will be finished.

Numbers were added to the Pacific Peak south side number board - Photo by Michael McCraren

A layer of sealant was applied - Photo by Michael McCraren

A glass plate was inserted - Photo by Michael McCraren

More sealant was applied and smoothed - Photo by Michael McCraren

South side number board on the Pacific Peak completed - Photo by Michael McCraren

Sunday, July 13th: A little cutting, a piece of steel, some paint and some screws. The door for the west end of the Birmingham is ready to be installed after Mark Gellman, Mike Baksic. and Ray Moorman completed repairs and adjustments.

Mark Gellman removes rusted bottom of door - Photo by Michael McCraren

Mike Baksic cleans up to area to be patched - Photo by Michael McCraren

Ray Mormann and Mike Baksic work on the door bottom - Photo by Michael McCraren

The bottom of the door is ready for the patch - Photo by Michael McCraren

Stainless steel is drilled - Photo by Michael McCraren

The stainless steel patch is in place - Photo by Michael McCraren

Foam sealant was applied to seal the edges of the patch- Photo by Pauline Trabert

Kevin Kriebs continued adhesive removal on the 1st Exhibit car.

Kevin Kriebs removing adhesive on the 1st Exhibit Car - Photo by Michael McCraren

Jim Windmeier, Kevin Brown, and Nick Kallas were in the Birmingham for lunch. Shelly continued the mahogany waxing process in the Ely dining room throughout the day.

Shelly isnt afraid to get a little dirty when working on IRM Passenger Cars - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Shelly Vanderschaegen buffing wax she applied in the Ely dining room area - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Chuck Trabert spent the day replacing the face on the bottom half of one of the side doors on the Milwaukee Road Dynamometer car and also replaced all three air brake hoses and fittings. Pauline Trabert took pictures and helped Chuck as much as possible.

Chuck Trabert vacs loose rust from Dynamometer door frame - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Pauline Trabert applies rust converter to Dyno door - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Chuck uses the old door face as a template for the replacement cover - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Chuck uses a straight edge to cut the metal replacement - Photo by Pauline Trabert

The straight edge is turned to make the vertical cut - Photo by Pauline Trabert

The old door cover is used to mark the new holes to be drilled - Photo by Pauline Trabert

While Chuck was working on the Dynamometer door rebuild, Pauline captured a few photos of passing trains on the mainline, visitors lining up to check out the 1630, and movement of diesel locomotives near Barn 2.

Steam and electric trains running on the mainline - Photo by Pauline Trabert

A good crowd of visitors were waiting for the 1630 boarding call - Photo by Pauline Trabert

A lot of activity was happening at the diesel barn in preparation for Diesel Days - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Chuck drilling and tapping holes for the new door face - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Next a Skill saw was used to cut out the key hole and door knob holes - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Countersinking the screw holes - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Deburring the screw holes - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Wire wheel polish of external surface - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Test assembly of door cover to frame - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Drilling holes that didnt line up properly - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Chuck took a break from the door restoration project to install three new air brake hoses and six new fittings. The Dynamometer car is to run on the coach train during Diesel Days and will be brake tested prior to the event.

New air brake hose applied - Photo by Pauline Trabert

New air brake hose fittings secured - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Hose and fittings tightened and marked - Photo by Pauline Trabert

A quarter turn past the mark and the air brake hoses are ready - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Original insulation material replaced inside the door frame - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Sealant bead applied to entire edge of door frame - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Door fully reassembled and reinstalled to be painted later - Photo by Pauline Trabert

The last 1630 revenue run of the day - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Restoration projects happen daily at IRM. Big or small, interior or exterior, they all take a huge amount of time. We are fortunate to have many skilled volunteers who donate time, tools, materials, equipment, and money to get each job done as quickly as possible with as much quality workmanship as they are able to provide. Your donations help make it possible to get more work done in a timely manner. Thanks for your interest in our Museum!