Illinois Railway Museum Blog

                    I am sure  some  of you visited Irm during DOWT.  You probably viewed  the RI 2602 as well as he RI 2612 in the Thomas Train.

              With our expanded team of volunteers, including help from the students from Hampshire high school, we finally completed the paint upgrade in the 2602 interior.  It definitely looks much better and presents a better impression to our visitors. If you will remember just a month and 1/2 prior to the event I put out the call for volunteers.              Not knowing whether we  would  complete the painting, I, at least thought it was worth the extra effort to try. And try we all did!    I am very proud how the Rock Island crew pitched in and got  the job done.    For myself,  I spent 13 of the first 15 days of August working and managing these two projects.  The last week and 1/2 was a torrid pace of needle chipping the walls, sanding and abrading them to a smooth finish, then using masking paper and tape to cover windows etc and then finally applying primer and three coats of color. Once that was completed; most previous peeling areas were turned into a beautiful color green.        The paint was hardy when set we immediately started installing the 42 seat backs, cushions and 8 nickel seats.   The  paint  should have  been left  to "dry" for at least a week, but we couldn't afford the time. The painting was completed August 13th and the coach was back in service the 16th!   As I said to a couple of new volunteers "the museum pulls together when its really needed".     If you would like to join our Restoration Team we meet any  Wednesday in back of Barn 3.  Please stop by for a visit and see the projects for the fall.  Thanks to everyone who helped with these two restorations.  

        You, the reader of these blogs, now can help us by sending a donation the Indoor Storage  RI 2612 fund.   We would like to place this coach in  one of two new storage buildings  being built this upcoming Spring.    Thanks   Roger Kramer