Illinois Railway Museum Blog

Here's a sneak peek at next year's railroad china display! On Sunday, November 2, 2014, Jim Windmeier sorted and photographed all the china we have so far collected.

Milwaukee Road patterns - Photo by Jim Windmeier

Chicago and Northwestern patterns - Photo by Jim Windmeier

Burlington Route patterns - Photo by Jim Windmeier

Union Pacific patterns - Photo by Jim Windmeier

Illinois Central patterns - Photo by Jim Windmeier

On the morning of Sunday, November 2nd, Shelly Vanderschaegen, Michael Baksic, and Michael McCraren 'winterized' the Birmingham. They moved the stairs to the preferred winter door and distributed electric heaters. There was a small turnout on Sunday for lunch but good company.

Nick Kallas, Shelly Vanderschaegen and Michael Baksic at lunch - Photo by Michael McCraren

Jim Windmeier at lunch in the Birmingham - Photo by Michael McCraren

John McKelvey at lunch in the Birmingham - Photo by Michael McCraren

After lunch, Michael McCraren and Mark Gellman went to work inside the 1st Exhibit Car. John McKelvey and Shelly worked together on Santa Fe Lounge Car berth seats. They removed five seats from one section of the 1534 and took them to their work area inside the Barn 4 shop for reupholstery. Fabric purchased recently is nearly identical to the original upholstery.

Shelly Vanderschaegen and John McKelvey with a Santa Fe Lounge Car seat - Photo by Michael McCraren

The underside of a Santa Fe Lounge Car bench seat - Photo by Michael McCraren

Saturday, November 8, 2014: Ray Mormann and Mark Gellman removed bad steps from the 2nd Exhibit Car and began planning how to secure the trap as they worked.

Ray Mormann standing where the step used to be on the 2nd Exhibit Car - Photo by Michael McCraren

The steps on the pavement in Yard 5 - Photo by Michael McCraren

Ray standing with Mark Gellman on the vestibule platform - Photo by Michael McCraren

Michael McCraren stained three boards that would become the lower shelf of the china display in the 1st Exhibit Car.

These stained boards are to be used in the new railroad china display currently under construction - Photo by Michael McCraren

Inside the 1st Exhibit Car on Sunday, November 9th, Jon Habegger, Jim Windmeier, Mike McCraren and Mark Gellman installed the bottom shelves for the railroad china display. The LaSalle Street Staion display was restyled. Work began in the Pacific Peak to lay carpet protection for winter removal of more wall carpet leftover from Amtrak service. Brian LaKemper also spent part of his afternoon in the 1st Exhibit Car working on the new railroad china display.

Mark and Jim Windmeier discuss ideas for the china display - Photo by Michael McCraren

Mark installed the lower shelf inside the display case - Photo by Michael McCraren

Michael McCraren and Mark Gellman work on the china display - Photo by Brian LaKemper

The china is laid out in position of where it will be displayed - Photo by Michael McCraren

Starting to recreate the gate board from Union Station in the late 1960s - Photo by Michael McCraren

The display for LaSalle Street - Photo by Michael McCraren

John McKelvey continued working on the Santa Fe Lounge Car seats inside the Barn 4 shop.

John McKelvey pinned new material to a previously stripped Santa Fe Lounge Car seat - Photo by Michael McCraren

Outside Barn 3 on Sunday, Brian LaKemper and Chuck Trabert worked together on the Milwaukee Road Dynamometer, finishing up winterization, packing away tools, and removing the jammed safety bars for the side doors. The bars had slid up on their hinges, shearing off the tapered pins that hold them which prevented lowering the safety bars. The bars were freed from the hinges and the hinges removed from the carbody. No photos were taken of this process.

The Steam Department kindly straightened the safety bar that had been bent at some point, and punched out the broken pins that were supposed to hold the safety bars in place on the hinge. Next time out, Brian's plans include sandblasting the hinges to remove accumulated build-up, and then to prime and remount them to the carbody. Once they are remounted, the latch mechanism for the bars can be removed, as one is damaged and requires repair.

A Call For Volunteers: Need something to do this winter and you're itching to work on railroad coaches? The Passenger Car Department at IRM is in need of more volunteers to work in the Silver Cars removing old paint and carpets. Come on out and get involved!