Entries by Pauline Trabert

This is the eighth year of the Terror on the Railroad event at IRM and the Passenger Car Department was prepared for action. Team members Mark Gellman, Michael McCraren, Paul Matchett, and Brian LaKemper have been active on the Terror Train all month and will continue for the last two nights coming up fast. The last weekend for Terror on the Railroad in 2014 is upon us folks, don't miss out!

On Sunday, October 11th, Jon Habegger, Jim Windmeier, and Mark Gellman met to discuss upcoming exhibit changes in the 1st Exhibit car. There are some exciting new displays on the horizon we can all look forward to viewing in 2015.

Michael McCraren took sevearl photos over the last two weekends. He said, "Who would think that in 2014 you would find an F9 engine coupled to classic lightweight passenger cars running at night? On this night (October 11th) Jim West was the engineer and Bob Opal was the conductor."

BN-1 is coupled up to the train followed by a RI coach and the Loch Sloy - Photo by Michael McCraren

The back half the the train - Birmingham, Pacific Peak, Silver Ridge and 9933 - Photo by Michael McCraren

Two of the Halloween actors getting ready in the Birmingham - Photo by Michael McCraren

Brian LaKemper getting ready to work on the terror train - Photo by Michael McCraren

Welcome to the Birmingham Terror Train Diner - Photo by Michael McCraren

Michael Mcraren: "Since we are doing night operations, reflective vests, jackets and even pants are the fashion of the day. We found three lost cell phones last night. All were found this time. Please put your cell phone away in the safe place when on the train.

Electric Mark Gellman at the end of a long night - Photo by Michael McCraren

On the weekend of October 17th and 18th, in addition to the Terror Train crew as mentioned above, Jeff Caldine helped on Terror Saturday night. In other work, Brian LaKemper checked the underfloor water tanks on the X-5000 to make sure they were drained with the assistance of Austin Harvey. Brian also spent some time looking at the Silver Pony's underfloor equipment to figure out exactly what we have and what we need to make the car's systems functional on their own. Mark G. and Brian took a brief look at the open car project (ex-CB&Q 7128).

On Sunday, 10/19/14, Kevin Kriebs, Mark Gellman, Michael McCraren, and Jim Windmeier discussed how to display china; the working name for this project is "Movable Feast". Around mid-day Buzz Morrisette and Kevin discussed building a display cabinet for the 1st Exhibit Car. Shelly Vanderschaegen spackled holes in the 1st Exhibit Car while Michael Baksic and Ray Mormann cut open a wall by the vestibule steps on the 2nd Exhibit Car to repair corrosion. John McKelvey repaired a berth seat in the Santa Fe Lounge Car and later he and Shelly discussed seat repairs and material to be purchased for reupholstering the lounge car.

Mark Gellman in the kitchen of the Birmingham last weekend - Photo by Michael McCraren

Birmingham actors getting ready for the Terror Train - Photo by Michael McCraren

Pizza made by Michael McCraren for the entire crew on Saturday night - 10/18/14 - Photo by Michael McCraren

Lunch visitors on Sunday, October 19th included Sam Polonetzky, Kevin Brown, and Nick Kallas.

Shelly Vanderschaegen and Michael Baksic at lunch in the Birmingham on 10/19/14 - Photo by Michael McCraren

Nick Kallas with Ray Mormann at Sunday lunch in the Birmingham - Photo by Michael McCraren

John McKelvey sitting in the sunshine - Photo by Michael McCraren

A favorite visitor, Kevin Brown came for lunch on 10/19/14 - Photo by Michael McCraren

Mark Gellman in highly visible gear is sitting near Nick - Photo by Michael McCraren

Saturday, 9/27/14: Michael McCraren had Brian LaKemper line-training; basically training him to be a conductor. Jim West and Jamie Kolanowski got the streamliner cars out on Saturday,

Sunday 9/28/14: It was a beautiful day. The annual Woodworkers Convention guests were greeted in the Ely by Kevin Kriebs, in the Lake City by Ken Kosen, in the Santa Fe Lounge Car by Lee Evans, Jr., and in the L&N diner "Galt House" by Shelly Vanderschaegen. Thanks to the visitors for attending.

Special thanks to Kevin Brown for bringing nice treats and soda.

Brian LaKemper continued his conductor training on board the "Denver Zephyr", named by Michael McCraren for the day as the car ID numbers for the Silver Ridge and Loch Sloy are both currently marked for the Denver Zephyr, and they had a BN locomotive so it seemed to fit.

Lunch on the rails: There was a special lunch for Coach Department volunteers on the Birmingham while the cars were being tested. Everyone having lunch in the Birmingham enjoyed the name and Brian's announcement as they returned: "Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for riding the Denver Zephyr, now arriving at scenic East Union Depot, please exit to the rear"

Lunch on the Birmingham with Mike Baksic, Mike Abernathy, John McKelvey, Jon Habegger, and Kevin Kriebs - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Mike Abernathy brought a chocolate cake - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

The 2612 was wyed, along with X-5000. Mark Gellman, Brian LaKemper, and Jim West handled the switching, with help from Jamie Kolanowski and Mark H. The Milwaukee Road Dynamometer, X-5000 is now in place to begin prep work for getting a new coat of paint.

Thanks to Jim West, Mike Baksic and General Manager Jamie Kolanowski for getting the cars out for a ride down the IRM mainline. The cars were being tested for the upcoming Terror on the Railroad Haunted Event.

Looking east as the Denver Zephyr approaches Karstens crossing - Photo by Kevin Brown using Brian Ls camera

Michael McCraren in charge of the westbound Denver Zephyr (note the red glow from the functioning marker lights) - Photo by Kevin Brown using Brian Ls camera

Brian LaKemper was the trainman on the Denver Zephyr - Photo by Kevin Brown using Brian Ls camera

The Denver Zephyr comes around the diesel shop - Photo by Kevin Brown using Brian Ls camera

The Denver Zephyr is about to take the switch into the station, note Mike Blackwell in the distance ready to realign the switches once we get through shop - Photo by Kevin Brown using Brian Ls camera

Back in the station, note the reflection of the RDCs headlight on CRIP 2571 - Photo by Kevin Brown using Brian Ls camera

Monday, 9/29/14: Jim Windmeier came out and painted the entire 1st Exhibit Car forward vestibule with the gray paint.

Thanks to Shelly, Mark, and Brian for contributing information and photos for this update.

This Dynamometer update is courtesy of Warren Newhauser and Brian LaKemper who crewed the X-5000 for Showcase Weekend, September 20-21, 2014, and wrote this report:

On Friday night, Brian LaKemper and the Steam Department crew got the coach train put together. Totaling 10 cars, the train fit with a car length to spare on Station Track 2. Jamie K. provided assistance and advice. Brian also procured a set of stairs for riders to board without using the stirrups.

Saturday Morning dawned bright and early, with the train already assembled, it didn't take long for the crew to get ready, journals checked, stepboxes procured, and markers hung. After a successful air test, the coach train made 3 trips behind UP 1848. Brian's records show that 1848 put on an impressive show, with upwards of 30,000lbs of drawbar pull with no brakes applied, and a momentary peak of 100,000 lbs of buff while shoving upgrade and slowing for Seeman Road. 1848 never got above run 6 during these trips. After 1848 in the morning, 1630 arrived, bringing her auxiliary tender (former express milk car) to make the grand total 11 cars in a coach train that barely fit on Station Track 2 and in Johnson Siding.

The coach train is ready for service - Photo by Brian LaKemper

Warren Newhauser arrived Saturday mid-afternoon just as 1630 was being coupled to the coach train consisting of the Dynamometer and 9 other cars. After the stairs were positioned, long lines of people formed to get on the Dyno.

1630 leading the train - Photo by Warren Newhauser

1630 has made its coupling and is pumping the air back up - Photo by Brian LaKemper

Long lines formed of people waiting to ride the X-5000 - Photo by Warren Newhauser

Just before the first rain storm of the weekend (sending the wooden electric cars racing for the barns), the guys from the Steam Dept took over the office, sleeping areas and kitchen as they wanted to ride. Warren and Brian made a mad dash in the rain to get the Waukesha Enginator running, as the batteries were getting low.

The Steam Department took over the kitchen - Photo by Warren Newhauser

More Steam Department members in the Dyno - Photo by Warren Newhauser

The train made another 3 trips during the afternoon carrying a lot of people. Over two days, a lot of the conversation by museum guests overheard was, “IRM really puts on a nice show”, “There’s something about a train” as well as discussion the dismal state of Illinois politics.

After the annual Showcase Weekend barbecue, Brian L, Brian P, Cody from the Steam crew, and Warren began to figure out how to light the coach train. A large part of the problem was a lack of the historically correct trainline jumpers, and the fact that one car lacked trainline connections. We should have begun work on this earlier, admittedly. This required we find personnel with CB&Q keys, crawling through RPO's baggage compartment with volt meters tracing the wiring circuits. Among the “it’s funny afterwards” category, Shelly Vanderschaegen was inadvertently locked in the RPO during this time. She called Pauline Trabert who notified Chuck Trabert on the Dyno. On the positive side Shelly discovered some stored furniture on the RPO she can use for future exhibits. Cody and Brian (Warren and others assisting) used welding cables, train line jumpers and misc. cables to bypass the car lacking trainline connections. Using the jumpers we had, and Cody's bypass, we lit DMIR 84 and DL&W 561 from the 32V trainline on the Dyno. Brian Patterson replaced some 120V bulbs on the 561 with 32V bulbs to provide more light. The scheduled 8:00pm departure turned to 8:30 or later.

Looking forward from the kitchen end of the car with the cars 32v DC lights lit up - Photo by Brian LaKemper

Brian Patterson lighting the coach train - Photo by Warren Newhauser

Night run starting out on Station Track 2 - Photo by Warren Newhauser

Night run - Photo by Warren Newhauser

This is the second year lighting the coach train and what we have found is the passengers really like dimly lit cars while the Operating Department would prefer functional lighting for safety when boarding and disembarking. Brian L. is already planning a revised operational plan for next year's coach train.

The Dyno’s original Waukesha Enginator and batteries are more than capable of proving enough HEP for the coach train, requiring only around 10A at 32V.

The Waukesha Enginator - Photo by Warren Newhauser

After the lights were rigged, we made one more run in the evening where the lightning was clearly visible even though the skies were clear at the time. Unfortunately the skies really let loose as we made our arrival back to Union at about 11:40pm, forcing people in the rain to hurry to get to their cars.

The crew on the Dyno for Saturday of Showcase Weekend was Chuck Trabert, Dick Melzer, Brian La Kemper and Warren Newhauser (our core team).

Chuck Trabert and Brian LaKemper inside the Dynamometer on Saturday - Photo by Warren Newhauser

Sunday was a late start, but we made several runs with 1630 pulling, and a good time was had by all, despite the occasional rain. Brian got pulled off the Dyno to help man the understaffed coach train. Despite the Dyno being in the coach train, due to the RPO's inclusion, the Dynamometer was effectively isolated from the rest of the coach train. Dick Melzer joined Warren in manning the X-5000.

T-Bird by Johnson Siding on Sunday - Photo by Warren Newhauser

On the final run Sunday afternoon, 1630 cut off the train to go to the steam shop. The dispatcher told 1630 head end “Thank you for a good day” to which 1630's engineer replied “good day, good year” [signifying the completion of successful Steam operation for this year].

The final run on Sunday - Photo by Warren Newhauser