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Friday, December 19. 2014December 13th and 14th in the Coach DepartmentSaturday, December 13, 2014 Saturday started out as a foggy day in old Union town.  Looking west down Central towards Olson Rd. - Photo by Michael McCraren Mark Gellman and Michael McCraren started working on the Union Pacific portion of the china exhibit. Seven different patterns will be displayed covering the history of the Union Pacific passenger trains in the 20th century. In addition to china, this exhibit will also include silverware, flatware, glassware and menus from the railroads.  Here is some of the china and glassware that will be on display - Photo by Michael McCraren One exhibit that ended this year was Gwyn Stupar's "Brilliance: An Exhibit Honoring the Lives of Women on the North Shore Line". Thanks to Gwyn and others who helped with that fine exhibit. Those pictures came down today and in it's place will be the china exhibit and an exhibit on the station restaurants of Chicago. Sunday, December 14, 2014 Shelly Vanderschaegen and Michael Baksic arrived in the morning. Shelly cleaned the Birmingham for the Christmas party to follow. Michael spent time with Paul Cronin. On Sunday Mark Gellman, Kevin Krebs, Jim Windmeier, Michael McCraren and Jon Habegger all turned out to work in the 1st Exhibit Car on the railroad china display. They finished up the north side of the car (or left side as you walk in).  Union Pacific patterns - Photo by Michael McCraren  More of the Union Pacific section - Photo by Michael McCraren  The Chicago & Planning started on the south side of the car (or right side). This side will continue the railroad china story to Amtrak. We will also have an interurban section and a section of Chicago railway station restaurants. We are also looking into a section that would change during the year so the exhibit would not be entirely static. It gives visitors a reason to keep coming back! The costs of materials (plate hangers, sticky tape, ect.) has been donated by the volunteers putting this exhibit together. If you would like to help with expenses, please send a check to the RARTRA fund. Thank you in advance. Lunch was at 1:00 o'clock in the Birmingham as usual but today it was the Christmas party. Guests included Susan and David (birthday boy) Stepek, Buzz Morisette, Jim West, Nick Kallas, Sam Polonetzky, Kevin Brown (thanks for the soda pop!), Mark Hoffman, Jon Habegger, Michael McCraren, Mark Gellman, Jim Windmeier, Kevin Kriebs, Brian LaKemper, and the crew from the Happy Holidays Railway. Thanks to all who brought a dish to pass. There was plenty of food, soda, water, coffee, and desserts.  The Christmas Party made a pretty full house in the Birmingham - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen  Happy Holidays Railway crew members Jerry Saunders and Jim West joined in the fun - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen  Sam Polonetzky and Brian LaKemper visit from the center aisle - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen  Paul Cronin and Buzz Morisette - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen  Jon Habegger and Nick Kallas - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen  David Stepek blows out his birthday candles - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen  Susan and David Stepek sit with Michael Baksic and Shelly Vanderschaegen - Photo courtesy of Shelly Vanderschaegen Michael McCraren made some railroad specialities for the party. The potato salad was from an Atlantic Coast Line recipe. The cole slaw was from the Missouri Pacific. The salad dressings were Frisco French and Illinois Central dressing (1000 Islands type) and the cocktail sauce was from the Louisville & Nashville railroad. Shelly brought ham and cupcakes. Jim Windmeier brought shrimp. Brian LaKemper brought cookies. Kevin Krebs brought cheese and crackers along with cookies. Jon Habegger and Michael Baksic also contributed to the party food. Everyone sang Happy Birthday to David Stepek and Shelly made his favorite cupcakes for him. David, Susan, Nick, and Shelly went to visit Mr. and Mrs. Claus who happened to be at the Museum for the Happy Holiday Railway event, but they were too early so they went to the 1st Exhibit Car and visited Kevin, Mark, Michael M., Jim, and Jon and admired the railroad china display under construction. After lunch Brian helped Paul put the straightened tension bar back on the Galt House buffer. Paul will adjust the buffer to bring it to level on Wednesday. One step closer to having Galt House roll down the Museum's tracks once again.  The re-installed buffer rod, small black arrow points to the re-installed rod - freshly missing paint shows where it was straightened - Photo by Brian LaKemper Mark G., Jon, Mike M., Jim W., Paul, and others continued work in the 1st Exhibit Car. Mike B. and Buzz did some work in Ely. Mark H. was working in the John McGloughlin and Lackawana 556.
 Mark G. and Jon removing a board to install the top of the display cabinet being added to the exhibit car - Photo by Brian LaKemper  Mark G. marking the location for a bracket to hold the top of the new display cabinet while Jon is holding the top of the cabinet - Photo by Brian LaKemper Elsewhere on the property, Happy Holidays Railway was making it's last trips of the year, and Jerry Saunders, Sam Polonetzky, and Jim West carried loads of happy families in our 2200 series "L" cars decorated for the holidays. One of our trolley buses was running as a shuttle service for patrons.  The 2200s leaving East Union Depot with another load of kids for Happy Holidays Railway - Photo by Brian LaKemper  This Trolley bus was acting as a shuttle for visitors - Photo by Brian LaKemper David Stepek had a nice visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus and ran into another friend before heading home with his mom.  David visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus as Susan Stepek looks on - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen  David with Dorothy from the Gift Shop give the thumbs up - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen Saturday, December 13. 2014Remembering the Rock Island Part 2 and a IdeaHere is the second installment of pictures taken by Robert Banke. They were taken in and around the Chicago area in the late seventies. Please notice the condition of the yards, facilities and the equipment.  Pictured is RI 2610. Just two numbered coaches away from our 2612. Please credit all these pictures to Robert Banke. This one taken May of 1978.  A six coach commuter train, its now June 2, 1978.  With #649 in the lead this commuter train rounds the curve. Its June 2, 1978  Up close picture of the consist. Taken, 11-1977  Unit 643 waiting for its assignment, November 1977.  Unit 642 rounding a curve June 1978. Anyone know where this picture was taken?  E unit 630 sitting on the ready track. July 1977  Engineer climbing into the cab of the 630. The unit next door is #4804. What RR is that from? July 1977  Rock Island 938 4-6-2 Pacific taken Nov 2012 at IRM
Wednesday, December 10. 2014The Railroad China Display is Getting More PolishedSaturday, December 6, 2014: Michael McCraren reports that he was the 'lone ranger' in the 1st Exhibit Car on Saturday, December 6th. He set the Milwaukee Road portion of the display this day.  Michael McCraren continued setup on the Milwaukee Road china - Photo by Michael McCraren  Another view of the Milwaukee Road display on Saturday - Photo by Michael McCraren Paul Cronin worked on the Galt House Diner buffer. Back in Winter 2008, Phil Stepek reported on the Louisville & Nashville 2726 Diner Galt House: "The diner returned from Horicon but suffered buffer damage in transit. Repairs will require the removal of the diaphragm and buffer plates to reshape the metal. This will probably be deferred until the 2008-2009 off-season. The car will be on display in Barn 3 during the 2008 season." The Coach Department is working to get this car back in service. Sunday, December 7, 2014: There was a light crew on Sunday with only Michael McCraren. Mark Gellman and Jim Windmeier working in the 1st Exhibit Car. More china was put up and some details were added. The Burlington Route section features the "Violet and Daisies" pattern. This pattern was on all major CBQ trains and the California Zephyr.  On Sunday the Milwaukee Road china display was even more polished - Photo by Michael McCraren  Jim Windmeier took pictures of the china for later use - Photo by Michael McCraren  NYC china - the menu in the middle is a dinner menu from the 20th Century Limited - Photo by Michael McCraren  This is the Pennsylvania Railroad china. We have every pattern from the 1900s to the close of operation - Photo by Michael McCraren  Jim Windmeier and guest Kevin Brown at lunch on Sunday - Photo by Michael McCraren |
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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 [...]