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Friday, October 31. 2014Last Weekend of October 2014 - Coach Department UpdateAnother thank you to Jim Windmeier for painting the entrance to the 1st Exhibit Car - it is looking great! Friday was Terror on the Railroad as usual. Michael McCraren, Mark Gellman, Paul Matchette, and Brian LaKemper were there from the Coach Department. Mike Blackwell was conductor, Randy Allegrezza was a trainman, and Joel Ahrendt was the engineer.  RDC 9933 ready to go on the final weekend of Terror - Photo by Michael McCraren  Part of the last Friday night Terror Train crew. From L to R Jim West, Brian LaKemper, Paul Matchett and Mike Blackwell - Photo by Michael McCraren  Paul getting into the spirit of the night - Photo by Michael McCraren  Some of the Terror Train actors in the Birmingham - Photo by Michael McCraren On Saturday, Paul M. and Brian L. did some organizing in the uniform closet. Paul also fueled all the generators under the Birmingham in preparation for the last night of Terror on the Railroad.  Brian LaKemper working on the Terror Train - Photo by Warren Newhauser On Saturday night the usual crew was working the last night of the Terror Train, along with help from Warren Newhauser and Fred, and Jeff Calendine from the Steam Department was also on hand. There was a generator failure but Mark G. came through with a solution to keep the affected car lit.  Mark Gellman, Warren Newhauser and his helper Fred lift a faulty generator from the vestibule for repair - Photo by Pauline Trabert  Stationary Terror Train cars await dark hauntings - Photo by Pauline Trabert  The Screamliner was still on the mainline during the day on Sunday - Photo by Pauline Trabert On Sunday, Warren N., Chuck Trabert and Brian L. gathered to work on the Milwaukee Road Dynamometer, X-5000. Brian retrieved an air hose that had been jammed behind the X-5000's heating boiler for an unknown length of time. Later he poured anti-freeze into the car's hot-water heating system. Mark G. provided the crew with a possible replacement for one of the car's missing door latches. Chuck hung the rebuilt boiler motor as Warren wants to check the heating system. Later Chuck hung exterior drip caps on the two side doors of the Dynamometer.  Chuck Trabert fitting a drip cap manufactured by Buzz Morisette for the X-5000 - Photo by Pauline Trabert  Brian LaKemper pouring antifreeze into the Dyno hot-water heating system - Photo by Pauline Trabert The Birmingham and Silver Cars were still sitting on the station track but coach volunteers in attendance gathered there for lunch. Guests included Kevin Brown and Nick Kallas.  Kevin Brown enjoys a laugh at Sunday lunch in the Birmingham - Photo by Michael McCraren  Pauline Trabert joined the crew for Sunday lunch - Photo by Michael McCraren  Mark Gellman taking a short break - Photo by Michael McCraren  Nick Kallas joined Jon Habegger for Sunday lunch in the Birmingham - Photo by Micahel McCraren At 5:50 PM on the way out, a hot air balloon was seen heading toward the Steam Barn. You never know what you are going to see at IRM and this was pretty interesting.  Near sundown a hot air balloon passed overhead - Photo by Pauline Trabert  The baloon was going to land in the IRM parking area - Photo by Pauline Trabert  The chase crew was already there - Photo by Pauline Trabert  Nearly 6PM as the balloon deflates - Photo by Pauline Trabert Sunday night found Jim West and Brian L. returning the Silver Cars train back to Yard 5 in a four-hour switch move. Many thanks to Jim West for staying late to help get the cars put away. Thursday, October 23. 2014October Activities in the Passenger Car DepartmentThis is the eighth year of the Terror on the Railroad event at IRM and the Passenger Car Department was prepared for action. Team members Mark Gellman, Michael McCraren, Paul Matchett, and Brian LaKemper have been active on the Terror Train all month and will continue for the last two nights coming up fast. The last weekend for Terror on the Railroad in 2014 is upon us folks, don't miss out! On Sunday, October 11th, Jon Habegger, Jim Windmeier, and Mark Gellman met to discuss upcoming exhibit changes in the 1st Exhibit car. There are some exciting new displays on the horizon we can all look forward to viewing in 2015. Michael McCraren took sevearl photos over the last two weekends. He said, "Who would think that in 2014 you would find an F9 engine coupled to classic lightweight passenger cars running at night? On this night (October 11th) Jim West was the engineer and Bob Opal was the conductor."  BN-1 is coupled up to the train followed by a RI coach and the Loch Sloy - Photo by Michael McCraren  The back half the the train - Birmingham, Pacific Peak, Silver Ridge and 9933 - Photo by Michael McCraren  Two of the Halloween actors getting ready in the Birmingham - Photo by Michael McCraren  Brian LaKemper getting ready to work on the terror train - Photo by Michael McCraren  Welcome to the Birmingham Terror Train Diner - Photo by Michael McCraren Michael Mcraren: "Since we are doing night operations, reflective vests, jackets and even pants are the fashion of the day. We found three lost cell phones last night. All were found this time. Please put your cell phone away in the safe place when on the train.  Electric Mark Gellman at the end of a long night - Photo by Michael McCraren On the weekend of October 17th and 18th, in addition to the Terror Train crew as mentioned above, Jeff Caldine helped on Terror Saturday night. In other work, Brian LaKemper checked the underfloor water tanks on the X-5000 to make sure they were drained with the assistance of Austin Harvey. Brian also spent some time looking at the Silver Pony's underfloor equipment to figure out exactly what we have and what we need to make the car's systems functional on their own. Mark G. and Brian took a brief look at the open car project (ex-CB&Q 7128). On Sunday, 10/19/14, Kevin Kriebs, Mark Gellman, Michael McCraren, and Jim Windmeier discussed how to display china; the working name for this project is "Movable Feast". Around mid-day Buzz Morrisette and Kevin discussed building a display cabinet for the 1st Exhibit Car. Shelly Vanderschaegen spackled holes in the 1st Exhibit Car while Michael Baksic and Ray Mormann cut open a wall by the vestibule steps on the 2nd Exhibit Car to repair corrosion. John McKelvey repaired a berth seat in the Santa Fe Lounge Car and later he and Shelly discussed seat repairs and material to be purchased for reupholstering the lounge car.  Mark Gellman in the kitchen of the Birmingham last weekend - Photo by Michael McCraren  Birmingham actors getting ready for the Terror Train - Photo by Michael McCraren  Pizza made by Michael McCraren for the entire crew on Saturday night - 10/18/14 - Photo by Michael McCraren Lunch visitors on Sunday, October 19th included Sam Polonetzky, Kevin Brown, and Nick Kallas.
 Shelly Vanderschaegen and Michael Baksic at lunch in the Birmingham on 10/19/14 - Photo by Michael McCraren  Nick Kallas with Ray Mormann at Sunday lunch in the Birmingham - Photo by Michael McCraren  John McKelvey sitting in the sunshine - Photo by Michael McCraren  A favorite visitor, Kevin Brown came for lunch on 10/19/14 - Photo by Michael McCraren  Mark Gellman in highly visible gear is sitting near Nick - Photo by Michael McCraren Friday, October 3. 2014Activity in the John McloughlinBecause the Rock Island coach fleet has been in active use since late August, the passenger coach restoration crew has concentrated some of its efforts in the interior of our heavyweight pullman sleeper, John McLoughlin. This project now has taken center stage to prep the walls and ceiling for future painting. The 24 foot long hallway and ceiling have been completely "chipped" down to bare metal. From this needle chipping phase we have now begun the sanding and wire wheeling phase. Here are a few pictures to show our progress.  Matt Voss in the background along with a McHenry county community service worker chipping away  Inside the hallway  Chipping away the old paint film, Chase Renwick, one of our college student volunteers  Bob Olsen from Waukegan Ill, preparing the roof for primer |
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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 [...]