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Friday, August 29. 2014We did It! RI 2612 in the Thomas Train!
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.  Dan Bixler working on car card installation  Daniel Boguse working on the newly installed stairs  Our welder, John, working on the floor repair  Steel subflooring installed  I am watching while Brian and John pour the floor with epoxy cement  Half of the job is done August 13  Four manufactured brand new buffer bars delivered Tuesday, August 12  Here I am holding one bar  Another shot of the bar Notice that the interior lights are on  One bar shown with a large nut to hold it place Hey, they are heavy. Each bar weights about 35lbs apiece  How it might look when installed  This side is all primed . Thanks Howard  Buffer rods being installed Next comes the buffer plate, August 15 2014  Everyones hard work is shown is this one picture. Thomas hauling our coach in the train Saturday, August 16, 2014 Friday, August 29. 2014Second Thomas Weekend Coach Department UpdateAnother big thank you to John McKelvey who continues to work on the Henrietta seats even after Thomas is done. John, you are awesome and we really appreciate your patience and skill! On both Saturday and Sunday, Michael Baksic, Ray Mormann, and Mark Gellman repaired seats in the RDC and will continue this work for the coming weekend. Jon Habegger was greeting visitors and answering questions in the 1st Exhibit Car all weekend.  Jon Habegger in the 1st Exhibit Car - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen Shelly was greeting visitors in the Santa Fe Lounge Car both Saturday and Sunday with some assistance from Andy Townsend. On both Saturday and Sunday, Kevin Kriebs and Michael McCraren took up positions in the Birmingham to talk to people about the Birmingham and dining cars in general. A temporary display of railroad china used in dining cars was setup on one table. This china came from the collections of Mark Gellman, Kevin Kriebs and Michael McCraren. The china will make up the core of an exhibit scheduled to open next year in the Exhibit Cars featuring railroad dining cars. During Saturday afternoon a strong thunderstorm hit IRM and guests took shelter in the Birmingham and Pacific Peak. Kevin and Michael M. gave soda and water to anyone who needed refreshment while Mark handed out cook hats to the kids.
 Kevin Kriebs greeting visitors in the Birmingham - Photo by Michael McCraren  During a thunderstorm Mark Gellman handed out cook hats to kids - Photo by Michael McCraren  Temporary railroad china display in the Birmingham - Photo by Michael McCraren  Close-up State Capitals service plate from the Missouri Pacific. The Capital building of every state the Missouri Pacific pass though is shown, Illinois is in the 5 oclock position - Photo by Michael McCraren Tuesday, August 19. 2014First Thomas Weekend Coach Department UpdateThanks 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!! |
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Comments
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 [...]
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...
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, [...]
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.
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 [...]
Wed, 06-02-2021 17:27
Nice to see 428's cab back on. Looking forward to when it is operable!
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 [...]
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?
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
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]