Illinois Railway Museum Blog

Much of the steam departments attention has been focused on the 1630 and the first fire up of the Shay.   But there still is a lot of enthusiasm and work being done on the Union Pacific engine.    Rich Thomas has been leading the volunteers and has been working on getting the cab ready to be reinstalled on the engine body.  Two projects have received his attention.  But first a little background history about the engine.   When we started this project, many many moons ago the old rusty cab was removed from the engine and made ready for a rebuild.    That involved replacing the old rusty pieces of steel with new ones.   Among items that needed attention was the cab flooring.  New pieces were cut from the old pattern but  never installed.    In order to install the rebuilt cab the steel flooring first had to fitted and new pieces riveted in place.   That will be done this month!   The second project involves the interior of the cab.   Rich has been working on the installation of the interior wood paneling for the ceiling and the walls.  He has completed that part.  These pictures will show the reader his progress.   Once the  steel flooring is installed he will lift the cab with its newly installed wood paneling and secure the cab to the frame.   THEN we can start to install the interior cab piping and make it an operational steam locomotive once again.        Many years ago the museum acquired 3000 board feet of specialized tongue and groove paneling.    Rich crawled into the boxcar and retrieved about 90 lengths of this paneling to be used on the reconstructing of the cab ceiling.    Before it could be installed it first had to cut to the correct lengths using our wood shop tools located in the barn 4 annex.   After the boards were thoroughly dry Rich began the installation of the boards to the ceiling of the 428's cab.     I will show you the next newly completed step in a future blog.  The purpose of this entire subproject is for the eventual reinstallation of the cab onto the frame of the 428 so that we can begin to install the cab fittings and piping in the cab.  Next comes the insulation covering the backhead of the boiler and then a  sheet metal covering that insulation.   Obviously, there is still quite a  of work to accomplish regarding the 428 but this new progress is very exciting to witness.   Keep watching for updates and please continue to send in your donations for the Union Pacific 428 Campaign.  With all the new excitement being generated concerning the 428 the new estimated time of completion is around three [3] years from now!  Just think of that statistic for a while!           Thanks    Roger       

The steam department accomplished a major milestone July 3 when the J. Neils Lumber Co was fired up for the first time since 1999!  The FRA inspector was out watching the first fire up checking on any repair issues that that show up.     There were a couple of minor problems but they will be addressed and repaired before the next fire-up.   Here are some pictures of the event. 

The next few pictures are the movement under steam.  The engine moved under its own power for the first time since 1999.   Its been a very successful first fire up.   Now to a couple of personal observations.    For one thing the whistle sound is quite amazing.    Loud, which you would expect but also quite ear piercing.    The engine definitely makes a different sound when moving.    Not like a rod engine which makes a chuff chuff chuff. More like a fine tuned machine.  You must see and hear it for yourself.   That's a invitation.  

I don't know when both engines will be operating together for the first time!  BUT....  Make sure your schedule is open for Antique Transportation day, Labor Day and or Railfan weekend in September!      During these many blogs  I have always asked for donations to various projects here at Irm.   Well, This is the reason.  Your separate donations DO make a difference.   Here is the proof.    Although, it took a long time, the results are worth the wait!   Now to the next operating steam locomotive.   Union Pacific 428 needs more money to complete that project!  My next blog will be about the progress on the 428.    Please help with this project !       Thanks  Roger  

Now to Part 3. This year the big project for Howard Gierer is the painting of one of our two new Milwaukee Road coaches acquired last year.  We hope to use both of them this year on our Happy Holiday Train in late November and early December of this year!  Next time Howard was out to the museum he turned his attention to the other side of the coach. So far Howards team has painted both sides below the windows of the 649.   The more difficult job remains.  Working on a scaffold prepping above the widows.    Want to help?  Please come out on any Wednesday or Thursday.   We be happy to show you around barn 10.                     Thanks  Roger