Passenger Car Department

Michael McCraren arrived before 9:00 AM and captured an image of the first snowfall at IRM.

First snowfall of the year covers IRM - Photo by Michael McCraren

Michael Baksic and Shelly Vanderschaegne arrived about 9:30 AM. They spent the morning gathering display items to put into storage for the winter.

A crew was at work in the 1st Exhibit Car including Michael McCraren, Mark Gellman, Jon Habegger, Jim Windmeier and guest Patrice Connelly. Patrice has a major in museum studies and design and was asked to come and lend a hand with design elements in the current railroad china display preparation. Mark Gellman and Jon Habegger worked on installing a shelf.

Mark Gellman installing a shelf - Photo by Michael McCraren

Jon Habegger measuring the gap - Photo by Michael McCraren

Jim Windmeier talks over the china exhibit with guest Patrice Connelly - Photo by Michael McCraren

The LaSalle Street Station display had to be moved for the china display - Photo by Michael McCraren

Patrice brought paper plates and cups to make a mock up of the china exhibit - Photo by Michael McCraren

John McKelvey came out and Shelly took pictures with him in the Santa Fe Lounge Car. In the photo below, John sits on a completed seat juxtaposed with the obviously soiled appearance of the current seats. The new upholstery material is a close match to the fabric used in the last upholstery work done in the 1534, which was possibly in 1938 when the lounge cars were further remodeled by Santa Fe. At that time, all interior furnishings were removed. Seven Pullman sections complete with upper and lower berths with tables, berth curtains, hangers and etc., were installed. The Pullman berths were used for Dining Car overflow seating, passenger lounging, games, and etc. At night the upper and lower berths were made up and used by the Dining Car crew as a dormitory area to sleep.

John McKelvey sits on a seat he has recently reupholstered - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Shelly cleaned up the kitchen and eating area in the Birmingham just before the crew came in for lunch. Visitors included Jim West, Buzz Morisette, and Patrice Connelly.

Jim West joined the crew in the Birmingham for lunch - Photo by Michael McCraren

Jim Windmeier, Shelly Vanderschaegen, and Michael Baksic at lunch - Photo by Michael McCraren

Jon Habegger at lunch - Photo by Michael McCraren

Patrice Connelly was a lunch guest - Photo by Michael McCraren

Buzz Morisette and Mark Gellman at Sunday lunch - Photo by Michael McCraren

After lunch, items to be used in upcoming displays in the 1st Exhibit Car were collected. And the creation of the paper plate "china" continued. A big Thank You to Patrice Connelly for lending her expertise to the display project underway!