Illinois Railway Museum Blog

Thanks again to John McKelvey for his continued work on the Heniretta seats! He and his team got them done in time for Thomas!

Michael Baksic, Shelly Vanderschaegen, Ray Mormann, Mark Gellman and Kevin Kriebs started early Saturday morning and opened windows on all Thomas cars. Then Saturday night, after the last Thomas train, the same crew collected garbage, blew dust and grass out the cars with leaf blowers then Swiffered the seats and windows. A big thank you to the volunteer kids that came in and cleaned the windows afterwards on Saturday and Sunday!

Thomas the Tank Engine leads the Henrietta and other passenger cars - Photo by Michael McCraren

Shelly was in the Santa Fe lounge car telling people about the car, taking pictures for families, and directing traffic through the line of display cars.

On Saturday, Lee Evans Sr. and Kevin Kriebs took turns manning the Birmingham diner with Michael McCraren and Mark Gellman. They talked to visitors about a railroad china display set up on a table in the Birmingham and answered questions about IRM. On Sunday, Michael McCraren was conductor on the coach train. Kevin Kriebs and Lee Evans Sr. manned the Birmingham all day.

Kevin Kriebs talks with visitors in the Birmingham - Photo by Michael McCraren

Over both days, Ray Mormann, Mike Baksic. and Mark Gellman completed air brake tests on all the silver cars and they are now ready for Halloween. Jon Habegger greeted visitors in the 1st Exhibit Car Saturday and Sunday.

Michael Baksic and Mark Gellman conducting air brake tests - Photo by Michael McCraren

Coach Department Curator Michael Baksic takes a break - Photo by Michael McCraren

Big thanks to Nick Kallas for giving the Coach Department a sandblaster which helped to get the Henrietta ready in time for Thomas.

Also big thanks to David Stepek for making a special effort to come out and crush cans for the Coach Department. That was a really big help.

And a lot of thanks to our many visitors who came to see Thomas and ride on our fleet of passenger cars! We appreciate you!!