|
|
Friday, November 14. 2014Fall restoration efforts: RI 2612 and friendsOur restoration crew took a short break between Thomas and the middle of September when our restoration resumed on 2612 after the coach was switched back into yard three. I also requested, during that time, to moved the 2555[which is bad order] and the 2602 back into yard 3. Now we had three cars to work on and finish some more projects.  The team of Lorane and Chase painting the floor in the 2612  Dan Bixler working on the sandblaster. It sure works good!  Loraine Bixler sanding the brass window frame for the reinstallation of the painted and glazed brass window  Austin Harvey also sanding the frame  Loraine painting the standee grabs in the 2602  Dan Boguse installing metal ticket stubs holders back into the wall of the 2602  Dan Bixler cleaning out the metal for future car card installation  Buzz Morisette repainting the faded lettering of the 2582 Thursday, November 13. 2014Mid-November Update for the Coach DepartmentHere's a sneak peek at next year's railroad china display! On Sunday, November 2, 2014, Jim Windmeier sorted and photographed all the china we have so far collected.  Milwaukee Road patterns - Photo by Jim Windmeier  Chicago and Northwestern patterns - Photo by Jim Windmeier  Burlington Route patterns - Photo by Jim Windmeier  Union Pacific patterns - Photo by Jim Windmeier  Illinois Central patterns - Photo by Jim Windmeier On the morning of Sunday, November 2nd, Shelly Vanderschaegen, Michael Baksic, and Michael McCraren 'winterized' the Birmingham. They moved the stairs to the preferred winter door and distributed electric heaters. There was a small turnout on Sunday for lunch but good company.  Nick Kallas, Shelly Vanderschaegen and Michael Baksic at lunch - Photo by Michael McCraren  Jim Windmeier at lunch in the Birmingham - Photo by Michael McCraren  John McKelvey at lunch in the Birmingham - Photo by Michael McCraren After lunch, Michael McCraren and Mark Gellman went to work inside the 1st Exhibit Car. John McKelvey and Shelly worked together on Santa Fe Lounge Car berth seats. They removed five seats from one section of the 1534 and took them to their work area inside the Barn 4 shop for reupholstery. Fabric purchased recently is nearly identical to the original upholstery.  Shelly Vanderschaegen and John McKelvey with a Santa Fe Lounge Car seat - Photo by Michael McCraren  The underside of a Santa Fe Lounge Car bench seat - Photo by Michael McCraren Saturday, November 8, 2014: Ray Mormann and Mark Gellman removed bad steps from the 2nd Exhibit Car and began planning how to secure the trap as they worked.  Ray Mormann standing where the step used to be on the 2nd Exhibit Car - Photo by Michael McCraren  The steps on the pavement in Yard 5 - Photo by Michael McCraren  Ray standing with Mark Gellman on the vestibule platform - Photo by Michael McCraren Michael McCraren stained three boards that would become the lower shelf of the china display in the 1st Exhibit Car.  These stained boards are to be used in the new railroad china display currently under construction - Photo by Michael McCraren Inside the 1st Exhibit Car on Sunday, November 9th, Jon Habegger, Jim Windmeier, Mike McCraren and Mark Gellman installed the bottom shelves for the railroad china display. The LaSalle Street Staion display was restyled. Work began in the Pacific Peak to lay carpet protection for winter removal of more wall carpet leftover from Amtrak service. Brian LaKemper also spent part of his afternoon in the 1st Exhibit Car working on the new railroad china display.  Mark and Jim Windmeier discuss ideas for the china display - Photo by Michael McCraren  Mark installed the lower shelf inside the display case - Photo by Michael McCraren  Michael McCraren and Mark Gellman work on the china display - Photo by Brian LaKemper  The china is laid out in position of where it will be displayed - Photo by Michael McCraren  Starting to recreate the gate board from Union Station in the late 1960s - Photo by Michael McCraren  The display for LaSalle Street - Photo by Michael McCraren John McKelvey continued working on the Santa Fe Lounge Car seats inside the Barn 4 shop.  John McKelvey pinned new material to a previously stripped Santa Fe Lounge Car seat - Photo by Michael McCraren Outside Barn 3 on Sunday, Brian LaKemper and Chuck Trabert worked together on the Milwaukee Road Dynamometer, finishing up winterization, packing away tools, and removing the jammed safety bars for the side doors. The bars had slid up on their hinges, shearing off the tapered pins that hold them which prevented lowering the safety bars. The bars were freed from the hinges and the hinges removed from the carbody. No photos were taken of this process. The Steam Department kindly straightened the safety bar that had been bent at some point, and punched out the broken pins that were supposed to hold the safety bars in place on the hinge. Next time out, Brian's plans include sandblasting the hinges to remove accumulated build-up, and then to prime and remount them to the carbody. Once they are remounted, the latch mechanism for the bars can be removed, as one is damaged and requires repair. A Call For Volunteers: Need something to do this winter and you're itching to work on railroad coaches? The Passenger Car Department at IRM is in need of more volunteers to work in the Silver Cars removing old paint and carpets. Come on out and get involved! Tuesday, November 4. 2014The dream, Believe It!
The future barn construction reality is finally setting in and Randy Hicks and I are keeping you up to date on the progress of the future barn sites. As we have said the work continues at a quick pace.
 The finished product. Here the track is tamped and aligned ready for the next step. Next, maybe a building?  The ballast regulator at work sweeping excess rock from the ties. Quite dusty to say the least  A close look at the tamper at work  The production tamper in the distance showing track work and ballast |
Blog AdministrationCalendar
QuicksearchSyndicate This Blog |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Comments
Mon, 09-08-2025 08:22
Good job on the Burlington Nortern 9976. OK.
Tue, 08-12-2025 12:56
No new news that I have heard of thus far.
Tue, 08-12-2025 12:53
I'll also be doing another update on it soon. Keep en eye out for that.
Tue, 08-12-2025 12:47
A little work was done to it for Diesel Days this year. You'll see photos floating around for the temporary short term job that was done to make it [...]
Wed, 08-06-2025 13:01
Is steam car CN 15444 going to be coming to museum several times it was to be moved to muesum
Sat, 07-19-2025 18:56
Yeah, sadly it's still there as of 7/19/2025
Thu, 06-12-2025 19:14
Its been 14 years guys, where is the unit? Like really? Did you guys misplace it? Or are repairs taking that long? At this point be might we will have [...]
Wed, 04-09-2025 17:40
Jamie Thanks for the update. She's gonna shine like every thing else you guys do! Smeds
Thu, 03-06-2025 16:28
Yes, there is a wye. Those two have been MU'ed on diesel days a year or two ago.
Wed, 03-05-2025 14:04
7009 number boards look good. Is there a way to turn a locomotive around at IRM? In case you ever had a mind to connect 7009 and 6847?
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...