Entries by Roger Kramer

                    I am sure  some  of you visited Irm during DOWT.  You probably viewed  the RI 2602 as well as he RI 2612 in the Thomas Train.

              With our expanded team of volunteers, including help from the students from Hampshire high school, we finally completed the paint upgrade in the 2602 interior.  It definitely looks much better and presents a better impression to our visitors. If you will remember just a month and 1/2 prior to the event I put out the call for volunteers.              Not knowing whether we  would  complete the painting, I, at least thought it was worth the extra effort to try. And try we all did!    I am very proud how the Rock Island crew pitched in and got  the job done.    For myself,  I spent 13 of the first 15 days of August working and managing these two projects.  The last week and 1/2 was a torrid pace of needle chipping the walls, sanding and abrading them to a smooth finish, then using masking paper and tape to cover windows etc and then finally applying primer and three coats of color. Once that was completed; most previous peeling areas were turned into a beautiful color green.        The paint was hardy when set we immediately started installing the 42 seat backs, cushions and 8 nickel seats.   The  paint  should have  been left  to "dry" for at least a week, but we couldn't afford the time. The painting was completed August 13th and the coach was back in service the 16th!   As I said to a couple of new volunteers "the museum pulls together when its really needed".     If you would like to join our Restoration Team we meet any  Wednesday in back of Barn 3.  Please stop by for a visit and see the projects for the fall.  Thanks to everyone who helped with these two restorations.  

        You, the reader of these blogs, now can help us by sending a donation the Indoor Storage  RI 2612 fund.   We would like to place this coach in  one of two new storage buildings  being built this upcoming Spring.    Thanks   Roger Kramer 

                                    Yes, indeed, the 2612 Team pulled off one of the more memorable restorations in the museum history.      Many Thanks  to all who help in this effort!         It wasn't that it was a special restoration  no, but it was rather the speed in which the restoration took place.   19 months from a Christmas car to a functional Rock Island coach. That is a very short time line. 19  months, is probably a new record for IRM.   Now don't get me wrong in your assumption that everything is complete, painted and functioning.   Far from it.    But it is now a usable piece of equipment that Irm can use on its the demonstration railroad.                                  Here, then, is a partial list of our teams accomplishments.  The interior is almost complete.    Most seat frames have repainted parts.  25 seat cushions and seven seat backs have been reupholstered. Two nickel seat frames are of brand new manufacture.   Two nickel seat cushions, bottoms and backs have been reupholstered        Many of the walkover seat handles are now a polished brass.      The ceiling has yet to be painted but all walls are now painted.  40 of the 42 seat frames are installed, 38 of the 50 window frames are installed, and the floor has been painted and repaired.   Steam lines are one step closer to being  pressurized.   Interior lighting was made operational.  42 advertising  car cards have been installed.     38 brass window frames have been repaired, painted, glazed w/ new safety glass, and installed.  Lastly,  12  window shades have been reinstalled.   Did I forget something?    Maybe, anyway that is a heck of a list.        

The exterior of the coach was not neglected.     One side was completely chipped and made free of the old paint.   A coat of primer was sprayed on to protect the surface before we can spray a first top coat.    Two new stair assemblies were made and installed.    Repairs were made by a Hampshire, Ill welder to the lower vestibule  frame to except the stairs.   Old deck plate was removed and new plate installed.   One entire vestibule has also been chipped and spray primed.  Two pin lifters have been reinstalled and painted along w/ two passenger gates.   The emergency conductors valve was made operational by repainting the airline pipe.    Both hand brakes were repair and made operational.   Four new buffer rods were manufactured so that two could be installed  using a spare used buffer plate.   AND we did all this work on time; and in time to be used on the DOWT train.     Quite an accomplishment for any group of people!!                        Now you can help us!!    We would like to store this coach inside the next barn that is being built.   BUT to do that we need your $help.  Please  send a donation marked " INSIDE STORAGE RI 2612"     This will insure that our hard work will be protected from nature's extreme weather changes.     Thanks for reading these blogs and more will be coming.    Roger Kramer                This last picture says a whole lot.    We literally installed the buffer and got it working 30 minutes before the switch crew tied onto the 2612 and moved it to the Thomas Train.    We sure cut the timing close.    The main thing is that we made the time frame!   

                          The restoration crew from the 2612 has been divided and many of us are now focusing on the interior of the RI 2602. As you know, the interior of the 2602 was in worst shape than the rest of the combined  Rock Island fleet. Being left out side all winter aggravated its condition and the coach had a massive paint failure. It was about a month ago that I decided to try and solve that problem. The work started out slowly but quickly increased as the deadline to Thomas soon approached. The call for new volunteers failed but the "Old Reliables" stepped up and are now helping get the job done.                                         Please keep following the 2602 news.    News next  time  will be even more impressive.    Thanks Roger