Entries by Pauline Trabert

Brian LaKemper and Warren Newhauser created an additional post about the Milwaukee Road Dynamometer Car which was part of the coach train during the recent Diesel Days event. Thanks to Brian and Warren for their work on the car and the additional notes.

Friday afternoon, July 18th, Warren Newhauser came out to get the X-5000 car ready for Saturday with help from IRM volunteer Fred Van Dorpe. There was a lot of Diesel Department activity until about 11:30pm.

On Saturday, July 19th, several gallons of cold lemonade and pretzel sticks served to Dynamometer guests on the car were a hit with the warm temperatures. One of the younger guests (in the photo below) perhaps 8 years old, made a recommendation to Warren Buffet that he put the same very comfortable chairs [Milwaukee Road parlor car seats] in his trains!

One of the younger guests focuses on the monitoring lights - Photo by Warren Newhauser

UP 8148 with its 4,000 hp easily brought the coach train up to speed, barely reaching notch 3, whereas BN-1 and BN-2 (not running) took more effort.

On Sunday, X-5000 volunteer Brian LaKemper had the Dyno open for riders as part of the coach train. Many people got to look inside the car and ride. The car's on-board testing equipment was active, including monitoring throttle position, wheel slip, and air compressor use via 27 pin MU jumper; and drawbar pull and buff (push), monitored by the hydraulic drawbar spliced to the car's centerline. The car's timers for recording throttle position and event monitoring (such as wheel slip) were also functioning.

X-5000 volunteer Brian LaKemper - Photo by Chuck Trabert

The drawbar's operation was determined Saturday evening by Brian L. and Warren N. and Brian put the knowledge to work Sunday; registering up to 50,000 lbs of drawbar pull behind UP 1848 and BN 5383. The drawbar functioned flawlessly all day, usually registering about 20,000 lbs of pull or buff depending on direction of travel. A peak of 40,000 lbs of buff shock also observed at one point.

History note: this is the kind of activity the Dynamometer car observed while in service, though with a lot more trailing tonnage. A buff or pull shock could easily cause a derailment under the right conditions, ie., starting/stopping long trains on mountain grades.

The Dynamometer Car tested a total of 5 different locomotives during the day: UP 1848, BN 5383, C&NW 411, BN 9908, and MILW 37A.

The Dyno’s next schedule operations are IRM Museum Showcase Weekend Sept 20-21, 2014.

Volunteers are always welcome to help with restoration of the Milwaukee Road Dynamometer Car. Please comment on this blog post and we will get back with you.

It was a warm, beautiful day on Saturday, July 19th; the start of the Diesel Days event. There were many photographers on the grounds of IRM to capture the impressive Diesel Days action.

Action packed Diesel Days event had photographers looking every direction - Photo by Chuck Trabert

Shelly Vanderschaegen and John McKelvey spent the entire day in preparation for restoration of six more bench seats for the Henrietta, RI 2612. Shelly removed upholstery tacks and installed metal bandings on seat springs as needed to secure them in position. John connected bands made of tarp from the top of the springs to the edge of the seat frame top to hold the springs in place and then applied epoxy to tack holes and areas of missing wood.

Mark Gellman, Ray Mormann, and Michael Baksic drilled holes in the refitted door which is now installed in the Birmingham giving access to the vestibule which abuts the Pacific Peak. After installing the hinges, the door was installed then spray painted silver as it hung inside the Birmingham. The exterior side of the door may need further work. Kevin Kriebs painted the door handles prior to installation.

Jon Habegger was at his post in the 1st Exhibit Car talking to visitor. Mike McCraren was conductor on the coach train which included the CMStP&P Milwaukee Road Dynamometer X-5000 car, the Chicago & North Western 7700 lightweight coach/baggage car, and three passenger coaches, all pulled by Burlington Northern BN-1 and BN-2 diesel electric locomotives. BN-3 pulled the C&NW bi-level Gallery cars on a second coach train.

BN-2 couples with the Dynamometer for one of the coach trains - Photo by Chuck Trabert

Diesel Days coach train pulled by BN-1 and BN-2 with the X-5000 and 7700 - photo by Chuck Trabert

Prior to the Diesel Days events, visitors were able to go inside the Dynamometer while it was waiting for the train to fully form. Passengers were carried inside the Dynamometer during the daily coach train rides. Warren Newhauser and Brian LaKemper were on hand to answer questions. Chuck Trabert rode on the first trip of the day then took photos.

Prior to coach train operation, visitors were able to take a look inside the X-5000 - Photo by Chuck Trabert

Saturday, July 5th: Ray Mormann and Mark Gellman made progress on the Birmingham dining car. They installed the vestibule door on the kitchen end and while there is more work to be done, the door at that end will now work.

A door has been modified to fit the Birmingham vestibule on the kitchen end - Photo by Jon Habegger

The new door opening into the Birmingham - Photo by Jon Habegger

The closed door seen from inside the vestibule - Photo by Jon Habegger

The new door as seen from inside the Birmingham - Photo by Jon Habegger

Sunday, July 6th: Kevin Kriebs continued the process of removing the adhesive from the former decals on the 1st Exhibit Car. John McKelvey worked on seats for the Henrietta. Shelly Vanderschaegen cleaned, waxed and buffed walls in the Ely dining room area. Mark Hoffmann worked in the RI 2602 needle chipping and grinding.

Mark Hoffmann has been needle chipping and grinding in the RI 2602 - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Mark demonstrates grinding - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Closer shot of Mark grinding the surface smooth - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Saturday, July 12th: Mark Gellman and Michael McCraren installed glass on the south side number board of the "Pacific Peak". This weekend the north side will be finished.

Numbers were added to the Pacific Peak south side number board - Photo by Michael McCraren

A layer of sealant was applied - Photo by Michael McCraren

A glass plate was inserted - Photo by Michael McCraren

More sealant was applied and smoothed - Photo by Michael McCraren

South side number board on the Pacific Peak completed - Photo by Michael McCraren

Sunday, July 13th: A little cutting, a piece of steel, some paint and some screws. The door for the west end of the Birmingham is ready to be installed after Mark Gellman, Mike Baksic. and Ray Moorman completed repairs and adjustments.

Mark Gellman removes rusted bottom of door - Photo by Michael McCraren

Mike Baksic cleans up to area to be patched - Photo by Michael McCraren

Ray Mormann and Mike Baksic work on the door bottom - Photo by Michael McCraren

The bottom of the door is ready for the patch - Photo by Michael McCraren

Stainless steel is drilled - Photo by Michael McCraren

The stainless steel patch is in place - Photo by Michael McCraren

Foam sealant was applied to seal the edges of the patch- Photo by Pauline Trabert

Kevin Kriebs continued adhesive removal on the 1st Exhibit car.

Kevin Kriebs removing adhesive on the 1st Exhibit Car - Photo by Michael McCraren

Jim Windmeier, Kevin Brown, and Nick Kallas were in the Birmingham for lunch. Shelly continued the mahogany waxing process in the Ely dining room throughout the day.

Shelly isnt afraid to get a little dirty when working on IRM Passenger Cars - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Shelly Vanderschaegen buffing wax she applied in the Ely dining room area - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Chuck Trabert spent the day replacing the face on the bottom half of one of the side doors on the Milwaukee Road Dynamometer car and also replaced all three air brake hoses and fittings. Pauline Trabert took pictures and helped Chuck as much as possible.

Chuck Trabert vacs loose rust from Dynamometer door frame - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Pauline Trabert applies rust converter to Dyno door - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Chuck uses the old door face as a template for the replacement cover - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Chuck uses a straight edge to cut the metal replacement - Photo by Pauline Trabert

The straight edge is turned to make the vertical cut - Photo by Pauline Trabert

The old door cover is used to mark the new holes to be drilled - Photo by Pauline Trabert

While Chuck was working on the Dynamometer door rebuild, Pauline captured a few photos of passing trains on the mainline, visitors lining up to check out the 1630, and movement of diesel locomotives near Barn 2.

Steam and electric trains running on the mainline - Photo by Pauline Trabert

A good crowd of visitors were waiting for the 1630 boarding call - Photo by Pauline Trabert

A lot of activity was happening at the diesel barn in preparation for Diesel Days - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Chuck drilling and tapping holes for the new door face - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Next a Skill saw was used to cut out the key hole and door knob holes - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Countersinking the screw holes - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Deburring the screw holes - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Wire wheel polish of external surface - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Test assembly of door cover to frame - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Drilling holes that didnt line up properly - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Chuck took a break from the door restoration project to install three new air brake hoses and six new fittings. The Dynamometer car is to run on the coach train during Diesel Days and will be brake tested prior to the event.

New air brake hose applied - Photo by Pauline Trabert

New air brake hose fittings secured - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Hose and fittings tightened and marked - Photo by Pauline Trabert

A quarter turn past the mark and the air brake hoses are ready - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Original insulation material replaced inside the door frame - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Sealant bead applied to entire edge of door frame - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Door fully reassembled and reinstalled to be painted later - Photo by Pauline Trabert

The last 1630 revenue run of the day - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Restoration projects happen daily at IRM. Big or small, interior or exterior, they all take a huge amount of time. We are fortunate to have many skilled volunteers who donate time, tools, materials, equipment, and money to get each job done as quickly as possible with as much quality workmanship as they are able to provide. Your donations help make it possible to get more work done in a timely manner. Thanks for your interest in our Museum!