Entries by Roger Kramer

            May has been a rather on again, off again month in the coach dept.  One week its been like June and the next it been like March.    So... some of our projects have been slowed by the weather changes.   As goofy as it has been we still manage to get things accomplished.   Our main focus, again, has been the upgrading of our Rock Island fleet of passenger cars. 

 With the upcoming Day Out With Thomas event we are continuing the work in the 2612 and upgrading the interior  in the 2555.  The ceiling is the last of the interior painting projects on the 2612.  Working on the interior ceiling  is very comfortable when  the weather is this cool.  Standing on a ladder and painting over head in 90 degrees is not my kind of fun.   I thought it would be a good idea to start the ceiling project when it was relatively still cool.  So we began the painting the ceiling about three weeks ago. With the help of Chase Renwick the job is almost done.   Yet to do is the painting of the steel supports  brackets.  Those can be done at any time but at least the majority of work is completed.  Not pictured but equally important is the continuing of removal of the  old yellow paint on the exterior.    Howard and Mary Gierer and Austin Harvey have been chipping and priming this  last side. Meanwhile, we also have been busy removing old peeling  paint on the 2555.    Dan Boguse has been busy prepping the card advertising holders for the eventual new coat of paint.   I was not at Irm this last weekend but Mark Hoffman told me that he, again, worked on the EL 556 and that Loraine Bixler continued needle chipping on the 2555.  l, instead, drove to the Mid Continent RR  Museum on Thursday and for the next three days worked on the Mt Harvard.   I will be giving you an update on my efforts in a couple of days.  In the mean time, please consider sending a donation in for the Mt. Harvard.  Thank you!    Roger Kramer 

 

      The Illinois Railway Museum is announcing the  major acquisition of a Pullman ten section buffet lounge solarium.  This complete heavy weight sleeper has been donated to the museum by Roger Kramer.   The Name is the    Mt.  Harvard   and it was built in December, 1923 by Pullman Works here in Chicago.  Originally, designated a Sleeper-Observation it had ten sections, a lounge, a women's lavatory, a men's  smoking room and lavatory, and  the observation platform.   At 1923 prices it cost $32,587.00.   Our car, the Mt. Harvard, was one of fifteen cars named in this Mt. series.   It was built to Lot 4742, Plan 3521.  These fifteen cars were built for general service and not assigned to any specific railroad.  In 1935 the car was equipped with air conditioning at the Chicago plant.  Again in 1939 its original floor plan was revised and rebuilt to Plan 3521-L with the enclosure of the open observation platform.  In addition, a small buffet [kitchen] was added and the lounge was updated and enlarged.   This work took nearly three months at a cost of $13,383.00.  To my knowledge this is only one of three cars left in existence in this configuration.  Mt. Baxter and Mt. Broderick  being the only other sleepers left in this lot.          It now is identified as a 10 section Buffet Lounge Solarium Observation.  It has only one vestibule entrance, next to that is the ladies' lavatory, then comes the ten sections[five on either side], the men's smoking room and lavatory, the small buffet, an lastly the 15 seat lounge solarium observation room.  That room included a table for four, a settee for two, and another nine chairs separated by four tables for lamps.        I purchased this sleeper at the Mid-Continent Railway Museum,  North Freedom, Wisconsin auction May 2, 2015.    In a May 11, 2015 letter addressed to the museum was the offer of donation and at the May 16  BOD meeting the museum accepted my donation.       Now you can help Irm with a contribution to the newly established  fund called, you guessed it, MT. HARVARD.      I will tell you why your $ are  so very important to this unique piece.   First, the  MT Harvard is not, I repeat, not an incomplete sleeper.   This is a complete piece with all walls, berths, windows and support appliances.    That is why this car is so important to the collection.   Irm will be able to operate this car in conjunction with our other heavy weight pieces  with a  minimum of effort.   It needs a very good cleaning and some parts reinstalled but it can be done this season!       The major problem is that it must be trucked out within three months of the sale.  It has friction wheel bearings and no US railroad will except this odd technology on their lines.    Just the estimated cost for cranes and trucking to Irm is between  $25,000.  and $30,000.  We must raise this amount to move it.  I believe with your help we can reach this goal in that time frame.   This is definitely a worthy piece to save and appreciate.   I look forward to your questions and comments.   Please, consider this project for your museum!!  The opportunity to save a complete sleeper of the "Golden Age of Railroading" does not come very often.           Thank you       Roger Kramer 

               Here are two updates on the continuing restorations efforts of the coach department.  First,  Mark Hoffman is still working in the interior of the EL 556.  His focus now is sanding  and priming the wall areas between the windows.   This has been his project for the last few years and finally all his efforts are paying dividends.  We intend to have this car in operation for this years Thomas.   We need more volunteers to help Mark make it happen.   He will be working away this Memorial Day weekend on the coach.    Please consider helping!       The next subject is our old friend RI2612.   We are still working on her with major emphasis on the exterior.                   Work sessions will be scheduled for all three days of the up coming Memorial Day weekend .  Won't you join us?           Watch for an special announcement          Roger