Entries by Roger Kramer

Yes, after all these years IRM is finally having a BLACK TIE EVENT.  You will need to dress in your best.  Your best attire that is for working on the construction gang laying railroad ties that is.  Its not April Fools Day but this is an actual event that is going to happen.  You see, Irm has just purchased and received 1600 brand new ties to be used in construction of new rail storage track.  Plans call for the completion of the last two tracks in yard 15 and the construction of about 1,000 feet for the future streetcar loop southern expansion.  If you would like to help pay for this purchase, please send a donation in to the restricted fund:  Track department.     Thanks    Roger    

Here is the latest information regarding the installation of interior electrical service to our two new barns. Notice in the background of the above picture the hoppers in storage   After these pictures were taken I heard that the ceiling fixtures have been ordered and the last step in this process will begin- the installation of the ceiling lights.   Hopefully, by April we will be switching equipment into these two new barns.  THAT will be a humongous undertaking taking many weeks.   You will see equipment moving from one spot to another that hasn't seen the light of day for years.    It might be a good time to be a photographer.    As  always keep sending donations to the new barn construction.     Next big project is the expansion of yard 15 to four tracks.  Watch for it this coming summer!        Thanks Roger

Here is a pictorial of two events that have recently taken place at IRM.   The first two are the beginning of the installation of crossing gates and flashers at the main entrance as you walk into our museum.  Bob Olsen and his crew have been developing this functioning display for about two years .  When completed this Summer we will have a set of working gates and flashing signals at this location.  In other words when a train is about to pass this location the gates automatically lower and the flashes flash red and the bell rings.    I must mention that this sound will be a real bell not the  crummy electronic ones you hear at other Northern Illinois  locations. Please help the signal department maintain and operate all our various signal by contributing a donation to the SIGNAL Dept.   Thanks        The museum has begun leasing its unused track space to shippers who need to store cars for a short duration in the winter.  This has become very beneficial to both parties.    We are now storing on our railroad more than three MT hopper trains for one customer.   It just so happened that I took these pictures of the  signal department as the first train of hoppers arrived.  Please refer to a couple of blogs ago referring to the maintenance and repair of the cab heater systems in these two diesels.  FYI  For those of you who are new to this "game" called winter storage, the museum is charging and receiving a fee for storing these hoppers.   The next blog will highlight the benefit of this winter storage!       Roger