Illinois Railway Museum Blog

                                    Yes, indeed, the 2612 Team pulled off one of the more memorable restorations in the museum history.      Many Thanks  to all who help in this effort!         It wasn't that it was a special restoration  no, but it was rather the speed in which the restoration took place.   19 months from a Christmas car to a functional Rock Island coach. That is a very short time line. 19  months, is probably a new record for IRM.   Now don't get me wrong in your assumption that everything is complete, painted and functioning.   Far from it.    But it is now a usable piece of equipment that Irm can use on its the demonstration railroad.                                  Here, then, is a partial list of our teams accomplishments.  The interior is almost complete.    Most seat frames have repainted parts.  25 seat cushions and seven seat backs have been reupholstered. Two nickel seat frames are of brand new manufacture.   Two nickel seat cushions, bottoms and backs have been reupholstered        Many of the walkover seat handles are now a polished brass.      The ceiling has yet to be painted but all walls are now painted.  40 of the 42 seat frames are installed, 38 of the 50 window frames are installed, and the floor has been painted and repaired.   Steam lines are one step closer to being  pressurized.   Interior lighting was made operational.  42 advertising  car cards have been installed.     38 brass window frames have been repaired, painted, glazed w/ new safety glass, and installed.  Lastly,  12  window shades have been reinstalled.   Did I forget something?    Maybe, anyway that is a heck of a list.        

The exterior of the coach was not neglected.     One side was completely chipped and made free of the old paint.   A coat of primer was sprayed on to protect the surface before we can spray a first top coat.    Two new stair assemblies were made and installed.    Repairs were made by a Hampshire, Ill welder to the lower vestibule  frame to except the stairs.   Old deck plate was removed and new plate installed.   One entire vestibule has also been chipped and spray primed.  Two pin lifters have been reinstalled and painted along w/ two passenger gates.   The emergency conductors valve was made operational by repainting the airline pipe.    Both hand brakes were repair and made operational.   Four new buffer rods were manufactured so that two could be installed  using a spare used buffer plate.   AND we did all this work on time; and in time to be used on the DOWT train.     Quite an accomplishment for any group of people!!                        Now you can help us!!    We would like to store this coach inside the next barn that is being built.   BUT to do that we need your $help.  Please  send a donation marked " INSIDE STORAGE RI 2612"     This will insure that our hard work will be protected from nature's extreme weather changes.     Thanks for reading these blogs and more will be coming.    Roger Kramer                This last picture says a whole lot.    We literally installed the buffer and got it working 30 minutes before the switch crew tied onto the 2612 and moved it to the Thomas Train.    We sure cut the timing close.    The main thing is that we made the time frame!