Illinois Railway Museum Blog

          As the winter continues with it's first big snowstorm looming the shop forces are again working on the museum's favorite steamer, the 1630.   Here are just a few of the many maintenance projects begun on the engine.                               The removal and subsequent hydro and hammer of the air tanks is a FRA requirement.  It takes a out of time just to meet the yearly regulations.  Then on top of that, during the down time, repair of any problems that might have been observed thru the daily operational inspections.  Inspecting any operating piece of equipment at Irm takes a lot of time but is the most important of tasks at the museum.         Part of the teams attention has now been shifted towards the Union Pacific engine .   The  installation of rivets into the cab frame of the UP 428 has finally begun.  Once all rivets are installed  the next task will be the installing of the wood interior framing.   Then, when finally painted the cab can be lifted and installed back onto the frame of the engine.          The boiler backhead for the UP428 is receiving more attention. Here is a picture of the results of one months work reinstalling the pipes and accessories.      The need for donations is alway great but especially during the winter months when supplies, parts, etc are needed.  Please consider a donation to the following projects: UP 428, Shay, RI 938, Tuskegee 101,  and of course, our 1630.   Thanks  Roger

            Last Saturday, the 40 degree weather brought out four volunteers to continue the paint upgrade in our Lackawanna coach.   January 17th, the crew of Mark Hoffmann, Rick Serenda, Derick Nipper, and myself  sanded  then primed the area  where the baggage racks once occupied.

     This area now is primed grey and awaiting the further work on the ceiling before applying the finish coat.       The prepping of the ceiling will be the most difficult because of all the overhead work.            When the  weather warms I will then take all these racks in my truck  to a company called Ready Strip.   All paint and rust will be removed and brought back to Irm where they will then be primed and finished coated ready for installation.              Also, on Wednesday the 21th, while Bob Olsen was grinding away in the warmth of the 556, Paul Cronin and myself walked thru the snow/ice and complied an inventory of steam heat appliances that were on 11 possible candidates for our winter train.   We wrote down what was missing and what appliances were still on each.         If you would like to help place this coach back is service please visit us in barn 3.  The project sure can use the help.   When finished this coach will be a candidate for winter steam heat operation.    Thanks  Roger