Illinois Railway Museum Blog

       The weather has warmed and so has the interest on the RI 2612.   Last week, Brian Paterson and Brian La Kemper preformed a single car air test on the coach and found a pair of leaks that must be repaired  before the coach can be placed back in service.  This weekend found the both of them repairing those leaks.    This involved replacing a leaking angle cock and an air line "T" fitting.  In this case, like most of the older equipment, the replacement of the pipe became more involved.  Helping the two Brian's was young Phil from the steam shop.   Together they had to remove twenty feet of air line pipe in order to repair the damaged "T" fitting.  Nothing is easy!    Hopefully, with the help of Tom Schneider and other steam shop members a new pipe will be bent and installed next weekend.   My thanks for all those helping to make this repair!   

     And on the exterior...... Last Wednesday, Austin Harvey, began needle chipping the second vestibule.     Saturday, Howard and Mary Gierer continued the chipping and removed almost 2/3 of the old yellow paint from below the belt rail.   Thanks to all three of you for your continued efforts.      We hope to continue prepping this side for the eventual painting of the  Pullman green color this year.  Would you like to join us?  It seems as if Wednesdays are the perfect time for midweek activities at Irm.   If you can't make on a Wednesday I am also at the barn 3 most Tuesday's and Thursday's.      As always,  I enjoy helping you, the volunteer, get started on a project.    Please stop by Barn 3 for a visit and view our progress!                   Roger   

         The news of the week regarding the Great Northern sleeper was the long anticipated arrival of newly manufactured parts for the women's wash room.    They consist of one thin steel wall panel about 82' high and 24' wide,  4 interior 82" long supporting brackets and  one modesty wall panel.   These items will be installed before any painting of the area begins.  Its taken a long time but we are are finally seeing some movement  towards our goal of restoring the women's washroom.       Also last Wednesay Bob Olsen continued his work on the roof.  Hopefully, this coming Wed should see the last of the painting on the roof for the season.  

               The weather in February, March, and early April have been frightful but we are still working on scraping  paint and tar off the John Mcloughlin roof and priming the interior hallway.  

            Bob Olsen has been working the winter season  on his project of scraping tar and rust off of the roof and then priming and painting the entire area.    Many thanks to you , Bob, for your efforts.   This is not an easy job especially when it was 20 to 30 degrees in the barn.   But, Winter is the best time to remove the old tar.  Why?   Because it is very brittle and comes off rather easy in cold weather!   Nasty, cold work, but he gets the job done!           We have almost completed the prepping and painting of the John  McLoughlin's roof for this year.   A few more days of painting and the project will be put on hold until next fall.   The warm weather projects are beginning to take precedence.  So the change over to other projects will begin.   Look for more progress updates from various reporters in the upcoming months.                    Kare to join in the Fun!                         Please stop by the eastern end of barn three or visit the new displays in yard five.  While your at it stop and talk to one of our many friendly volunteers for more information on volunteering and viewing of your favorite  passenger coach.                              Now that income tax season is in its last days, many of you already have received that refund!      Please consider donating some[$] to your favorite passenger car or let our new curator, Paul Cronin, decide which project, by sending in a check and marking it to the Passenger Coach Dept.           BTW, please read the article in latest Rail and Wire regarding the change in leadership in the coach department.           Thank You      Roger