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Monday, March 30. 2015E L 556 activities.This is a follow up to a post by Brian La Kemper a couple of weeks ago. We have been focusing on this coach the entire winter. Its finally showing results. "Busy" is the word of the month while talking about our Erie Lackawanna coach 556. It will be that way until we get her interior painting complete and placed back in service. Already the two Brian's have reinstalled the repaired brake beam, located missing pins and bushings, installed the brake valve and related piping. Next on their work sheet is to complete an air test to make sure everything is working correctly. Both Brian La Kemper and Brain Paterson were concentrating on the ceiling of the 556, March 11th. AND it was still kold!! Notice the heaters in the forground! Yes, with the heaters working full blast Brain L was working up a sweat! Mark has been steady in his efforts in restoring the 556. This is the results of Mark priming the entire area where the baggage racks once were located. Do not fret... once they are stripped of the old paint and rust, then primed and top coated they will be, once again, installed. Not to be out done... Rick Serenda and Bob Olsen have also been sanding and priming in the 556. This is a huge project to complete and maybe this year we might get "er" done. Please, we sure can use your assistance with this and many other projects in the coach dept. Remember, Spring is finally here. Time to dust off the work clothes and come down and join us. Thanks Roger
Friday, March 27. 2015
March 21st and 22nd Passenger Car Update Posted by Pauline Trabert
in Passenger Car Department at
13:11
Comments (0) March 21st and 22nd Passenger Car UpdateMichael McCraren Reporting: On Saturday, Michael McCraren, Paul Machette, Mark Gellman, Mark Hoffman and Brian LaKemper attended a train show in Davenport, IA. On the way back, Michael, Paul and Mark did some "research" on current passenger trains by taking some action shots of the California Zephyr and Southwest Chief passing through Mendota, IL. After all, someday these cars will be at IRM. They also visited the depot museum there. On Sunday, more graphics and a few pictures were added to the china exhibit. The big news is that we have added 2 rare service plates to the display for opening and a third that will arrive in the summer. The two new plates that will be there at the opening are an Illinois Central service plate used on the Panama Limited and the Daylight Limited (the fore runner of the City of New Orleans) in the 1920's, and another service plate from the Golden Rocket. After World War 2, the Southern Pacific and Rock Island were planning a replacement for the Golden State called the Golden Rocket. The Rock Island had ordered the china and cars but before the train could be started the Southern Pacific backed out. The china and cars were using on the Golden State. We have obtained a service plate from that still born train. A third service plate will be coming this summer. A hint is that the plate is from a well known, upscale, private dining room that was best ever on the rails. Other work inside the 1st Exhibit car includes the picture history of Union Station Chicago where progress continues with the hand built sign going up along with the pictures and the cabinet for the upcoming lantern display was completed. Buzz M. and Kevin K. did a nice job building the cabinet. Brian LaKemper reporting: On March 22nd, Mark Hoffman, Brian Patterson, and Brian LaKemper worked on the 556 again. Mark did more interior sanding, followed by priming some of the ceiling panels. The two Brians worked to replace the last missing components of the brake system; however, a minor setback meant that we had to fabricate two pipes instead of just one, as during the process of pulling off a fitting to use as a guide, an adjacent pipe was found to have severe corrosion issues. Many thanks to the steam shop for help, encouragement, and use of tools to make both replacements. One of the replacement pipes was installed under the car, the other will be installed once we acquire the remaining fitting to attach it. Slow but steady progress overall. Elsewhere on the property, Joy #2 was over the electric car pit for removal of the torque converter and clutch assembly. By the end of work, the torque converter was out of the pit and on a cart; but the clutch was stubborn and could not be removed. Work was being done on Michigan Electric 28, UP 428 was having an axlebox set up for machining, and other projects were ongoing. Wednesday, March 18. 2015
Railroad China Display Update from ... Posted by Pauline Trabert
in Passenger Car Department at
17:52
Comments (0) Railroad China Display Update from Sunday, March 15, 2015This update from the Passenger Car Department was provided by Michael McCraren... Mark Gellman and Michael McCraren have taken over the task of preparing the graphics for the railroad china display in the 1st Exhibit Car. On Sunday, March 15th, Michael's niece, Patrice Connelly, joined them to help with the mounting of the graphics. The finished pattern labels up for the Milwaukee Road Traveler artifacts - Photo by Michael McCraren Work continued on a photo history of Union Station and Kevin Kriebs painted the north wall in the front of the 1st Exhibit Car. He also worked with Buzz Morrisette on the lantern display which will also go up in the 1st Exhibit Car. In other news, Ray Mormann and Michael Baksic have been working on the Birmingham diner. Shelly Vanderschaegen and Michael B. are refinishing a window for the Ely. |
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Comments
Thu, 03-06-2025 16:28
Yes, there is a wye. Those two have been MU'ed on diesel days a year or two ago.
Wed, 03-05-2025 14:04
7009 number boards look good. Is there a way to turn a locomotive around at IRM? In case you ever had a mind to connect 7009 and 6847?
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 [...]