Illinois Railway Museum Blog

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Saturday started out as a foggy day in old Union town.

Looking west down Central towards Olson Rd. - Photo by Michael McCraren

Mark Gellman and Michael McCraren started working on the Union Pacific portion of the china exhibit. Seven different patterns will be displayed covering the history of the Union Pacific passenger trains in the 20th century. In addition to china, this exhibit will also include silverware, flatware, glassware and menus from the railroads.

Here is some of the china and glassware that will be on display - Photo by Michael McCraren

One exhibit that ended this year was Gwyn Stupar's "Brilliance: An Exhibit Honoring the Lives of Women on the North Shore Line". Thanks to Gwyn and others who helped with that fine exhibit. Those pictures came down today and in it's place will be the china exhibit and an exhibit on the station restaurants of Chicago.

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Shelly Vanderschaegen and Michael Baksic arrived in the morning. Shelly cleaned the Birmingham for the Christmas party to follow. Michael spent time with Paul Cronin.

On Sunday Mark Gellman, Kevin Krebs, Jim Windmeier, Michael McCraren and Jon Habegger all turned out to work in the 1st Exhibit Car on the railroad china display. They finished up the north side of the car (or left side as you walk in).

Union Pacific patterns - Photo by Michael McCraren

More of the Union Pacific section - Photo by Michael McCraren

The Chicago &

Planning started on the south side of the car (or right side). This side will continue the railroad china story to Amtrak. We will also have an interurban section and a section of Chicago railway station restaurants. We are also looking into a section that would change during the year so the exhibit would not be entirely static. It gives visitors a reason to keep coming back! The costs of materials (plate hangers, sticky tape, ect.) has been donated by the volunteers putting this exhibit together. If you would like to help with expenses, please send a check to the RARTRA fund. Thank you in advance.

Lunch was at 1:00 o'clock in the Birmingham as usual but today it was the Christmas party. Guests included Susan and David (birthday boy) Stepek, Buzz Morisette, Jim West, Nick Kallas, Sam Polonetzky, Kevin Brown (thanks for the soda pop!), Mark Hoffman, Jon Habegger, Michael McCraren, Mark Gellman, Jim Windmeier, Kevin Kriebs, Brian LaKemper, and the crew from the Happy Holidays Railway. Thanks to all who brought a dish to pass. There was plenty of food, soda, water, coffee, and desserts.

The Christmas Party made a pretty full house in the Birmingham - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Happy Holidays Railway crew members Jerry Saunders and Jim West joined in the fun - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Sam Polonetzky and Brian LaKemper visit from the center aisle - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Paul Cronin and Buzz Morisette - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Jon Habegger and Nick Kallas - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

David Stepek blows out his birthday candles - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Susan and David Stepek sit with Michael Baksic and Shelly Vanderschaegen - Photo courtesy of Shelly Vanderschaegen

Michael McCraren made some railroad specialities for the party. The potato salad was from an Atlantic Coast Line recipe. The cole slaw was from the Missouri Pacific. The salad dressings were Frisco French and Illinois Central dressing (1000 Islands type) and the cocktail sauce was from the Louisville & Nashville railroad. Shelly brought ham and cupcakes. Jim Windmeier brought shrimp. Brian LaKemper brought cookies. Kevin Krebs brought cheese and crackers along with cookies. Jon Habegger and Michael Baksic also contributed to the party food.

Everyone sang Happy Birthday to David Stepek and Shelly made his favorite cupcakes for him. David, Susan, Nick, and Shelly went to visit Mr. and Mrs. Claus who happened to be at the Museum for the Happy Holiday Railway event, but they were too early so they went to the 1st Exhibit Car and visited Kevin, Mark, Michael M., Jim, and Jon and admired the railroad china display under construction.

After lunch Brian helped Paul put the straightened tension bar back on the Galt House buffer. Paul will adjust the buffer to bring it to level on Wednesday. One step closer to having Galt House roll down the Museum's tracks once again.

The re-installed buffer rod, small black arrow points to the re-installed rod - freshly missing paint shows where it was straightened - Photo by Brian LaKemper

Mark G., Jon, Mike M., Jim W., Paul, and others continued work in the 1st Exhibit Car. Mike B. and Buzz did some work in Ely. Mark H. was working in the John McGloughlin and Lackawana 556.

Mark G. and Jon removing a board to install the top of the display cabinet being added to the exhibit car - Photo by Brian LaKemper

Mark G. marking the location for a bracket to hold the top of the new display cabinet while Jon is holding the top of the cabinet - Photo by Brian LaKemper

Elsewhere on the property, Happy Holidays Railway was making it's last trips of the year, and Jerry Saunders, Sam Polonetzky, and Jim West carried loads of happy families in our 2200 series "L" cars decorated for the holidays. One of our trolley buses was running as a shuttle service for patrons.

The 2200s leaving East Union Depot with another load of kids for Happy Holidays Railway - Photo by Brian LaKemper

This Trolley bus was acting as a shuttle for visitors - Photo by Brian LaKemper

David Stepek had a nice visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus and ran into another friend before heading home with his mom.

David visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus as Susan Stepek looks on - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

David with Dorothy from the Gift Shop give the thumbs up - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen