Illinois Railway Museum Blog

The Steam Department reached a major milestone yesterday by installing the smokebox cover to the front of the boiler barrel on our Shay #5 steam engine.   This is the culmination of years of work and many numerous people working towards this goal.   I can't remember when the group first started working on this project but it certainly has been at least nine or ten years.  Please notice at least one thing as you view these pictures.    The  many volunteers are relatively  young.   These young people are the future of the Steam Department and it bodes well for the museum in general.   As I have said previously, on any given Saturday, you can come down to the Steam Shop and see at least 20 people working on various projects.  Here now is what happened yesterday and last week in the shop. Yes, this is a new smoke box cover.  Completely remade and manufactured by the steam shop forces.   You can keep the progress flowing by funding the Steam Department with your donations!                Thanks        Roger

I happened to stop by the diesel barn 2 last week and saw the latest painting project.   Rock Island High Nose GP 7 is receiving a beautiful paint job preformed by Jamie  Kolowanski  and his team of diesel volunteers.   This color scheme  nicknamed  "bankruptcy blue" was linked to the end of the Rock Island era when the railroad was in financial  distress.   The  painting of the diesel should be completed and in limited service by the time of Diesel Days 2018.   Painting these units gets very expensive and time consuming.   Please consider funding the Diesel Dept continuing painting projects by sending a donation to the Diesel Dept fund.         Thanks Roger  

Here is some of the hottest steam shop news from February!  But before I go into to much detail I would like to invite everyone to the annual Steam Department Benefit taking place this June 24th.   It is a tour of the magnificent collect of antiques  and culminating with a concert using the  beautiful Wurlitzer Theater  organ  of the famous Sanfilippo Estate located in Barrington Illinois.   For the nominal price of $69.99 you will tour this amazing museum and culture center.  Tickets must be purchased before the event.  For more information please visit the front page of this web site.   Now, most of the volunteer work has been focused on the Shay and some minor repairs on the 1630.  The above picture shows the newly manufacture petticoat pipe made for the interior of the smokebox.   The old one is in the foreground.  This piece was made by a local steel contractor called Harmony Steel.  The cost, incidentally,  was $1,500.  Repairing these old timers is not cheap!Now to the other engine being worked on the winter, the 1630.Jason, with assistance from Carnia, is heating the ash pan cover in order to replace the old worn out steel.    These missing pieces should be welded into place in a couple of weeks.  Just in time for service this year.  If you ever wonder where your donations are used just view this blog to get your answer.   Now your up to date and hope you keep your interest and donations coming into the museum and specifically the steam dept.    Thanks    Roger