Illinois Railway Museum Blog

Here are a few project updates now that the shop is open and work is starting up again.

On Milwaukee Road 33C, we're almost caught up on priming and painting the loose parts, panels, screens, etc.

Lee wire wheeling an aux gen screen.

Covers and screens getting a final coat of gray.

Some of those covers being bolted back into place on 33C.

The Metra 7658 bilevel coach is also in the shop. It is receiving some attention with the HVAC system and door control.

Jeron put the blower motor mounts back together and bolted up one of the motors.

Fittings were ordered to hook up the air back up to the door motors. One of the missing control arms was reinstalled as well.

Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific 4506 was completed. Some of those inspection items included going through all the electric gear and rotating equipment. We also replaced some piping on the air system that was rusted through where it goes through the floor.

The full view of the load regulator which has two brushes on a commutator and two on a slip ring.

A common issue is the pigtails not being pushed in to clear the tight clearances when the whole assembly turns and it comes in contact and shorts with other metal parts within the case, as you see here from some point in its life.

Here we see the main generator where the brushes are checked to make sure they are free, insulators and risers wiped clean, among other things. The alternator slip ring brushes on the end of the generator are also critical to check as they typically have aluminum holders and seize up easily when in storage.

This companion alternator wiring was cleaned up and the floor cleaned in this area before the cover places were bolted back into place.

One of the schedule 80 air pipes to show how badly they rust where they go through any floors.

The highest priority project at the moment is still United States Army 8537, our museum's 45 ton switcher. Body prep has continued along with prep work on the trucks after some additional oil cleanup. Ground lights are being installed and we'll have to figure out the best option for permanently mounting the radio antenna before any priming can be started.

While performing the body prep, Jim found a few previous logos, the blue with white star from when it was USAF and the red and yellow USA logo prior to that.

Ben finishing the needlechipping to remove the stripes on the side.

Jake beginning the wire wheeling on the rear pilot.

Sean and Lee finishing prep work on the front pilot.

Bob begins needlechipping the paint off from the FM side of the rear truck.

8537 needs maybe 2 to 3 more days of work and itll be ready for primer and paint.

While moving some parts and supplies into storage to continue our shop cleanup, we dug out the portable wheel lathe that was in storage. The Electric Car Department is planning to use it on some interurban wheels.

The portable wheel lathe bought from Independent Machine Company some 20 years ago.

Some followers were asking about the Armco B71 visibility cab locomotive that is in the shop. It is there for a cosmetic restoration, but is not a priority to work on. When there are extra personnel around, it will be used as a fill in project.

Armco B71

If you would like to support any of these restoration projects, you can donate to the Diesel Department Equipment Restoration Fund and, if you would like, follow up with an email to support a specific piece of equipment. Thank you for your support!