|
|
Saturday, June 22. 2019Steam Department June Update
Sorry for the extended radio silence: things have been busy in the real world and in the steam shop.
As I’d imagine everyone knows by now, for the first time in many years IRM has two operable steam engines! Shay 5 entered service over Memorial Day weekend.  A beautiful sight to see.  Some machines just look fast. Looks can be deceiving. But there is more good news. It is not enough to preserve the machines; we also have to preserve and teach the skills needed to run them. To that end, I am excited to report that already this year we have qualified two new steam locomotive firemen and one new steam locomotive engineer. Congratulations to Ken, Don, and Eric.  Ken, newly qualified as an engineer.  Don, newly qualified as a Fireman.  and Eric, newly qualified as a Fireman. Congrats all! But today, I am not here to talk to you about locomotives, I am here to talk to you about holes. Pits, to be specific. The IRM steam department has long been hampered by the lack of an inspection pit, which makes a lot of work underneath the locomotive very inconvenient to perform (especially for those of us who are not as skinny as we once were). Last year plans for an inspection pit were drawn up, and work began this summer almost as soon as the Shay and 1630 were out of the shop.  Volunteers began breaking up the asphalt pad inside the shop almost as soon as 1630’s steam test was complete.  The next day’s spoils.  The next Monday, volunteers from the steam and track department began unbolting the rails.  Which were then removed from the building, courtesy of mechanical assistance from the track department.  A bolt can’t be stubborn when its a liquid.  This was the state of the shop as of Memorial Day. This is a once in a lifetime view—you will never see our shop this clean again.  During the week our friends in B and G came through and removed the remaining concrete and pavement. All that is left now is to start digging. Stay tuned! Wednesday, June 5. 2019Repainting the Section Walls on the Mt HarvardAfter the bathroom was repainted my energies turned to repainting the walls between the sections. Here is the photo essay on the project.  Tim Fennel, our newest volunteer, is sanding the dividers in preparation for priming.  He along with Dale Steichen, Bob Olsen, Jessie Felt and Sandi Harreld made this repaint possible.  Sandi here is priming.  More Sanding  Then I decided to strip and small area where the lower berth lights are installed. Now there is more continuity with all areas repainted.  Early May finds Sandi again doing what she does best, painting with primer.  We also removed more old paint on the wall adjoining the womens bathroom. Thanks Roger Tuesday, June 4. 2019Bathroom Ceiling Painted on Mt HarvardWe finally finished the major painting project in the women's bathroom. The ceiling, of course, was the most difficult. Working over head is very time consuming and a bit taxing on one's upper body muscles.  Here I am working away.  Early April and Sandi is touching up a few spots on the wall.  Priming the ceiling.  Two panels are now primed.  The middle panel is scraped and sanded ready for primer.  Primed.  Painted with the top coat. As of this date I have now installed all the lamp shades and all but one of the sinks. Still to be made is the dressing table below the mirrors. I hope to get at that in the middle of July but before we exercise the sleeper on the main for the Septembers railfan weekend. Thanks Roger |
Blog AdministrationCalendarQuicksearchSyndicate This Blog |
Comments
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]