Illinois Railway Museum Blog

Entries from January 2015

Monday, January 19. 2015

Diesel Shop update from January 17, 2015 Posted by James Kolanowski in Diesel Department at 18:33

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Diesel Shop update from January 17, 2015

This weekend was spent mostly cleaning up the shop while we had the opportunity. Over the past few months, and quite often during the last several weeks, the electric car guys have been using the track 22 bay to prep, prime and paint the 2000 series rapid transit cars. That has severely limited the times we can do other work with their priming and painting and the requirement for respirators while they're doing that sort of work. Anyway, we were able to move about a dozen pallets of stored material from the isles of the shop. The 20 EMD 645 power assemblies from the Dresden Nuclear plant, several pallets of electrical contactors and parts, the original air compressor from 803, and a couple pallets for miscellaneous parts were moved into one of the two storage units assigned to the diesel department in the new storage building. Jim West began sorting parts on three other pallets, stacking many cummins engine parts into a crate.

Many pallets moved to the new storage unit.

We'll continue with this sort of work over the next weekend or two, as well as move a few locomotives around after the 2000's are moved out. The 9908 will be coming into the shop to continue the rotted steel replacement around the cab sides and get the nose door changed out for the one we traded at Spencer last year. The 411 will come in to have its cab restoration and painting completed. We're always looking for new volunteers, please contact Me, Roger B, or Eric Z if you want to help out in the diesel shop.

An old magnet drill that Laddie found locally for a great price.

The electric car guys doing a great job on the 2000s.

Jim West sorting engine parts.

Sunday, January 18. 2015

Paul Cronin is the Passenger Car ... Posted by Pauline Trabert in Passenger Car Department at 12:46

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Paul Cronin is the Passenger Car Department Curator

We want to welcome Paul Cronin to the Passenger Car Department. He officially took over as curator on January 1, 2015 when Michael Baksic retired.

Paul Cronin - New Passenger Car Department Curator - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Paul has been a volunteer at IRM for seven years and has moved here from the east coast where he had a career in railroading from 1966 to 2011.

Michael Baksic joined IRM in 1995. He was appointed Passenger Car Department Curator in 1998 by Nick Kallas. Mike plans to continue to volunteer at the Museum but will not be here as much and plans to have more fun.

In other news, in December, Michael Baksic, Ray Mormann, and Michael McCraren began working on the wiring in the Birmingham diner parked in Yard 5. The railroad china disply in the 1st Exhibit Car is still going coming together but slowed a bit with the colder weather in December.

Tuesday, January 6. 2015

New Acquisation: What is CN 15444? Posted by Roger Kramer in Passenger Car Department at 14:53

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New Acquisation: What is CN 15444?

The Illinois Railway Museum has signed a letter of intent for the purchase of a Steam generator unit, the former CN 15444. Through the generous donations of two members, Nick Kallas and Roger Kramer, this car will be arriving at Irm sometime this year.

Picture taken last fall

The unit was purchased from a tourist line operation in Northern Georgia. It is the coach department intent to repair and restore it to operation. We now will have the opportunity to run late fall and early winter passenger consists using steam heat and the electrical capability that it offers. However, this capability will not come quickly . The entire system must be restored to operation by inspecting and then testing the two Vapor-Clarkson steam generator units. This will be expensive. If you would like to see this unit under steam and in operation please consider a donation to the newly establish fund; CN 15444. Also included in this unit is a small diesel generator set capable of producing 12KW of64/76 V.D.C. and a small 25 cfm air compressor. Fuel for the operation is provided by 2 tanks each carrying 250 gals, for a total of 500. Water capacity is 2000 gals having four tanks per unit with each tank holding 500 gals..

Picture showing the B End of the unit

Another picture of the B End

Inside showing one of two Vapor Clarkson Steam Generators

Here are some more of the mechanical data supplied to us courtesy of Kent McClure, Chief Mechanical Officer, Monticello Railroad Museum. The museum in Monticello, Illinois has the exact same car, their number is 15421. If you would like to view their car it has been repainted to the original CN colors. Very impressive! I was down there visiting January of this early new year. The next time it will be in operation will be for their Santa train in late November of this year.

Date built:1958 Builder: Canadian Car Company Lot Number: 2188 Total length over end platforms: 43'10" Weight of car, light: 97,000lbs Weight of car in working order: 132,000 lbs Type of Truck: Commonwealth BX- Double Equalizers, 4 wheels 5 1/2 X 10 Roller Bearings: Fahuir Wheels: AAR 33" Brake Equipment: 14"X 12" Type 'Q' Passenger brakes D-22-AF Control Valve

A distance photo showing the B End

Here is the AAR Type F interlocking coupler

Commonwealth BX Double Equalizer truck

All the above pictures of the CN 15444 are courtesy of Ozark Mountain Railcar. YOU CAN HELP Irm by sending in your donation to the CN 15444. Nick and I have donated the money for the purchase but we still need to solicit funds for the transportation, track storage charges and the restoration. That's where you can help your museum! Please send your donations so that we can begin the process. If you are interested in helping with the restoration please contact Paul Cronin or myself for more information. This piece will expand the museum's capabilities and make it even more exciting to experience late fall and early winter passenger train operations along our main line. Thanks Roger

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Comments

James Kolanowski about Milwaukee Road 33C update
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 [...]

AJ about Milwaukee Road 33C update
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...

Ted Miles about Progress update of the Multi Purpose Building
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, [...]

J Blustein about The Old Bag and the Silver Beaver
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.

Jason E about Progress update of the Multi Purpose Building
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 [...]

Thomas about It Happened One Saturday at IRM
Wed, 06-02-2021 17:27
Nice to see 428's cab back on. Looking forward to when it is operable!

Ted Miles about It Happened One Saturday at IRM
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 [...]

bob miller about Dover Strait Progress Part Three
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?

Ted Miles about John McLoughlin Progress - Part Two
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

Jason Erkenswick about Diesel Shop update 1/29/2021
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 [...]

Alex Schneider about Dover Strait Progress Part Three
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 [...]

Matthew Maloy about Dover Strait Progress Part Three
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 [...]