Entries by Roger Kramer

                                 Here, are a few more "shots" of the unloading of The Lake City!    Nick and the truckers began moving the car into postion about 3:30 pm and didn't stop until the job was done.... at 9:45pm at night.    O,  I almost forgot to tell the reader that the night work lights were provided from members cars shinning their high beams on the work area.    This sounds real fimiliar to many of us e old-timers. That's the way we did much our work at night.   Remember guys!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The problem that was encounted was due to the position of the load on a piece of curve rail east of barn 10.  The first wheel set lined up fine but when Nick began to lower the obs car on the second wheel set it was fouled by part of the underbody.  We needed a straighter piece of track.  Thus, the trucker with his 100 foot plus rig, had to repositon the load on the unloading rail.   This moving back and forth happened about 3 or 4 times.                     Half the car was already on its wheel set while the other half  was still swinging in the air suspended by the crane.  It was jockeyed back and forth before the right postion was obtained.     Finally, about 8pm and after a quick pizza  delivery break, thanks Nick for the dinner, the car was finally lowered onto the second wheel set.   Also, a BIG  Thank You goes out to Rod, curator of the Electric Car Dept, for sitting in the cab  of the 45 tonner for 3hrs while this effort was  taking place.  He then moved the Lake City to yard 3.    Gerry and I went home about 9pm and had a great story to tell the next weekend.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Today, the Lake City is now housed in Barn 3 for your viewing.   When visiting Irm this year don't forget to stop by and view this splended example of 1910's railroad transportation.  Wouldn't it be grand to sit in this car while traveling down our right-of-way?   This can be a reality but the coach dept needs a "Few" funds to accomplish this.   Many items still need to be purchased before this can happen .   We need to purchase and install period carpeting, reupholster 10 sitting chairs, purchase light fixtures and globes and then complete the two washrooms.   Please consider a donation to the Lake City restricted fund.  Your generosity will help us meet this goal.     Also, please remember the museum's ongoing  Barn 14 building fund raiser program.       Thanks      Roger Kramer    

                                               The  Chicago, Milwaukee and Puget Sound  RR,  LAKE CITY, arrived on the property in August 19, 2012.  Here are some pictures of its movement around the museum roads.  The unloading  portion will be shown at a later date.    To move this rare observation car from central Wisconsin to Irm's campus cost over $33,000!!   Nick Kallas arranged for the movement as he has done for all the museum's off-property acquisations.    It was a nice late Summer day and only about 10-12 people were present to help and record the history making event.  Only two coach dept members were there to help: Gerry Boguse and myself.  Also assisting were the Buck brothers who were in operations earlier in the day.    We sure needed their prayers for the unloading did not entirely go according to "plan."                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   If you are a member of Irm you have come to realize that when an acquisation first arrives it needs to pay for the museum to construct additional track for that piece to be "stored."  This is also the case w/ the LAKE CITY.  The storage price is $75.00 per foot to construct the track.   That price includes the cost of the rail, jointbars, spikes, ties and ballast.             You get the picture.      For an 81 foot passenger car this really gets expensive.   It is an additional $6075.00    We are putting out the appeal for donations to pay for the "space."    I realize it is almost income tax time but with a donation this year to the Restricted Fund, LAKE CITY you will be working on your 2013 tax deduction!!                         In addition............ Please! Please!  do not forget to send in a few donational dollars to help in the barn building fund,  Barn 14.                                       

                                                   Restoration  has continued on the women's lavatory in the John Mcloughlin Pullman sleeper.     Mark Hoffman and I have been working on the bathroom as time permits.  In the last two years I  have installed two missing sinks and  the fittings that are attached to them. I have also  installed the brass water pipe below the sinks.  Just as important, I have purchased the five correct brass shelves and the 2 lite fixtures.   Monies for purchasing  these items have come from donations to the John McLoughlin restricted fund.                                             Last Summer, we decided to paint and restore a test section in the women bathroom.  The results were quite stunning!  I hope you agree with me.  Here are pictures of the before and after!!    The test section sure turned out quite well!!  Mark and I were very pleased.  There will be more improvements in the future!                                  This is the view from the exterior if you would be on the walkway in Barn 3.   No longer is this window frame clear glass as it was for many years.  Now, with correct pressglass installed one gets the correct "look" when the sleeper was in operation .     Mark and I have decided to tackle the repaint of the entire  bathroom.     We started in early summer of 2012.   The next blog will update you on our progress....    BUT... In-the-meantime,we need some assistence with one problem.   Part of the wall in missing, removed out by the previous owner.                     Donations would be very welcome to assist in the rebuilding of the wall.  Since this is a volunteer project not supported by the general fund please consider a donation  to the Resticted Fund.... John Mcloughlin.    While you're at it.... Please also consider sending  a donation to the BARN 14 building Fund.    Thank You       Roger