Entries by Phil Stepek

hello folks and Happy New Year!

As I spent the holidays with "not enough hours", this report is long overdue, but at least I want to share the last dept report to the board with you.

GENERAL DEPARTMENT PROGRESS

As winter approaches, the passenger dept begins to get involved in some of the projects that have been left idle during operating season. Winterizing is a big step during this time of year, deploying heating devices, and weather proofing outdoor areas.

We are spending some time performing bench repairs on some spare parts for the collection, and further organizing our parts inventory for the future.

The wheel switch on the CRIP coach remains on hold for funding approval.

CBQ 993, a Havelock built baggage car is on property, and in the hands of the Wed Special Projects group for cosmetics and interior

CBQ 1309, a baggage car owned by IRM at least since 2001, remains an intended project. There has been no significant progress during the past month, but we hope the Executive Director is establishing his contacts and preparing to move forward at the first opportunity.

INDIVIDUAL EQUIPMENT REPORTS

DLW coaches (3)

           Two cars are service.

The third car is still undergoing required structural welding. The repairs are now progressing, with deck plates being installed. Entry door is being rebuilt.

Glen Springs

          This car remains outside until Barn 11 is completed, and therefore has not received a lot of work this month.

ATSF 2544

One side of the coach area has now been installed, and the second side of “modern” seats is being removed, to allow for completion of the area for spring. As a repeat of last winter, the first project is to clean and refinish the wall surfaces behind the seats, and this has begun.

John McGloughlin

          Interior restoration continues, as well as metal and paint work on one vestibule

Dover Strait

          Most interior painting is complete, with some ceiling to be completed in spring. Light fixtures and window treatments continue to be reinstalled.

 B&M 3288/1094

          No significant changes, beyond the continued progress. Jack continues on the coach area of the car. Windows are reinstalled. Seat frames have located  We await the assistance to use the forklift and retrieve the steps from the material yard. Once they are located behind the barn, prep work can begin.

DMIR 84

          More window frames are planned for repair over the winter, as some of them showed serious deterioration during the Thomas event

Yard 5 display

As noted earlier, holiday lights have been installed for the Christmas season.

As always, we have ambitious expectations for the winter to make the display better for 2010.

RDC 9933

While the major restoration work remains "on the list", we currently have been working on the units electrical system in an effort to make the car more self contained for the coming season.

The other projects are in progress:

disassemble more seating for repairs.

restore the proper doorway to one bathroom.

repair and rewiring of more of the baggage rack circuitry

further repairs to baggage rack lighting circuits, as well as a planned spring effort to repair the secondary air circuit to provide interior brake control as well as a horn.

CBQ Silver Ridge

This car is planned for some interior work during the offseason.

Several sliding roomette doors are off their tracks for various reasons.

The wall damaged during the Terror event in 2008 is not yet repaired due to time constraints, but we hope that it will be repaired during the 2009-10 offseason.

In addition we have begun some of the interior wall restoration, "De-Amtrak" ing the walls.

We received a donation of several pieces of hardware from Gateway Rail, and we plan to install them as well.

ACL Birmingham

Off season work for this car will include a reworking of the ventilation system to eliminate some of the weaknesses. The kitchen has some backdating to be done, but it will take a secondary role as we focus on Silver Ridge and the ventilation system.

As we go into winter mode, I have decided to at least log on the majority of the report I send to the board every month. This way, even if I run out of time to write updates, our remote friends and visitors will have a bit of information.

In adfor a dition, we hope to have the Yard 5 set open for volunteers during the Holiday train event. While it is not planned as a public area, our friends will have a place to go for a cup of coffee or tea or cocoa, and a place to "set a spell".

GENERAL DEPARTMENT PROGRESS

The month of October was spent mostly supporting Terror on the Railroad.

The screamliner set was successful, and we encountered no significant mechanical issues throughout. 

The wheel switch on the CRIP coach is delayed until spring, and expenses estimate is included in the 2010 budget.

We hope to complete several projects this winter, as well as awaiting the completion of Barn 11.

CBQ 993, a Havelock built baggage car is now en route, having left St Louis 11-8 via UP through Pekin and Proviso.

CBQ 1309, a baggage car owned by IRM at least since 2001, has been located recently and we have begun to inquire about the method of movement to finally get it home. Info coming from the Executive Director includes availability of a flat car in the area. A crane service has been identified by the Colorado Railroad Museum as someone they know. We project making progress on this car over the winter and hope to move it in early 2010.

INDIVIDUAL EQUIPMENT REPORTS

DLW coaches (3)

           Two cars are service.

The third car is still undergoing required structural welding. The repairs are now progressing, with deck plates being installed.

Glen Springs

          Roger Kramer has made significant progress on the car. Batteries have been reinstalled, and basic electrical function of the car has been reactivated. Exterior cabinet doors have been reattached, and latch mechanisms have been restored.

ATSF 2544

One side of the coach area has now been installed, and the second side of “modern” seats is being removed, to allow for completion of the area for spring. All seat frames are now located, and the prep work on the second set will be conducted over winter.

http://www.irm.org/gallery/ATSF2544 

John McGloughlin

          Interior restoration continues, as well as metal and paint work on one vestibule

Dover Strait

          Most interior painting is complete, with some ceiling to be completed in spring. Light fixtures were removed and refinished, now being reinstalled.

 B&M 3288/1094

          No significant changes, beyond the continued progress. Jack continues on the coach area of the car. Windows are reinstalled. Seat frames are being located and installed. We await the assistance to use the forklift and retrieve the steps from the material yard. Once they are located behind the barn, prep work can begin.

RDC 9933

We have begun to disassemble more seating for repairs.

We have also disassembled one bathroom wall, to restore the proper doorway.

Our off season restoration plans include further repairs to baggage rack lighting circuits, as well as a planned spring effort to repair the secondary air circuit to provide interior brake control as well as a horn.

http://www.irm.org/gallery/CNW9933

CBQ Silver Ridge

          Electrical conversion of low voltage DC fixtures has been completed

We are proceeding to backdate some of the bedrooms to original salmon 

In addition the hope is to continue to backdate more bedrooms and bathrooms to original CBQ colors.

ACL Birmingham

      The kitchen has some backdating to be done, but it will take a secondary role as we focus on Silver Ridge and the ventilation system.

I know it has been a long time for the passenger dept reports, and i apologize.
It will be just a bit longer, I am afraid, mostly because the latter parts of the season found us with a lot of work and only a few hands.

The one item i wanted to announce however, is that for the first time since its arrival in (?) 1991(?), CNW RDC 9933 has entered revenue service on the Halloween train.

http://www.irm.org/gallery/CNW9933

We have been successful in getting the electrical system to function, including number boards, markers and headlights.

Under the current circumstances, as many of you know, I have converted the car from its original 64vdc to 120vac to allow for station wiring, as well as generator power feeds.

Everything is working as expected, and I hope to bring you more information on this and other projects with more frequency after Nov 1 when we will begin to go into "winter repair mode".

Many things have actually been happening on several pieces, its mostly my fault for not having enough time to post info here. Thanks to Bob Kutella and others for sometimes inserting updates in my absence.