Passenger Car Department

This is the second installment pertaining to the Mt. Harvard acquisition.  Last time I showed you the process of lifting and securing  the sleeper to the trucking rig.  This segment will describe part of the 3.5 hour move from Mid-Continent RR Museum to Irm.  The small entourage consisted of first, the lead vehicle with an oversized wide load sign containing a height measuring device, then the Mt. Harvard itself, plaquer with a OVER SIZE LOAD sign, then next to last, another vehicle again with flashing yellow lights with a OVER SIZE  LOAD sign and then finally myself in my Jeep with my flashers on. The lead vehicle had a measuring stick device to measure the height of any foreign objects as we passed underneath any overhead wires and overpasses, etc.  Fortunately, we did not foul any low hanging wires!  The height of the combined truck and Mt. Harvard body was 15' 4". Marv, from Rose Cartage, permitted the height at 15' 9" so we had plenty of room to spare.  Incidentally, FYI, all major interstate overpasses are now built to 16'  standards and our route was permitted for that height.  All permits were submitted to the states of Illinois and Wisconsin by the cartage company.   It took about two weeks to get final approval.   The permitting procedures also involved the counties and townships in which the load was  traversing.  I originally scheduled the lift and move for the first Monday in October but due to a minor misunderstanding on my part of permitting procedures with the town of North Freedom we had to reschedule the event for Oct 15 and 16. If it would not have been for the new route 12 bypass being constructed for three summer months, we might have had the "Harvard" at the museum much earlier.  It was the only way out of town.  Fortunately, it all worked out find and it gave us addition time to raise the funds to move the car. Speaking of funds....your help is needed to help pay for the transportation costs and the future restoration of the Mt Harvard.   Please join your fellow members in making a contribution to the Mt. Harvard fund.  Thanks  Roger          

I have been quite busy with the Mt.Harvard move but now it's time to catch up on some important September activities.  We in the Coach Dept were very happy to finally run the Dover Strait as well as the L&M 2726 diner in a nine car passenger consist the weekend of September 19 and 20    .  The highlight of the nighttime festivities was having three cars lit for operations.  Thanks to Warren Newhauser, Brian La Kemper and their team for operating the dynamometer and supplying electric power for the Dover.  It sure was thrilling to see the lounge lite and operating at night!! 

Here are some pictures and descriptions of the incredible Mt. Harvard crane lift that took place at the Mid-Continent RR museum in North Freedom, Wisconsin, Oct 14 and 15 of this year. [Near the Wisconsin Dells]  I would like to thank all  who donated to the restricted fund, Mt. Harvard project. You helped make it possible to ship this sleeper to the museum in just five months!  Maybe a record!!  Everyone is cordially invited to view the Mt. Harvard at Irm.  Special thanks to Paul Cronin who advised me when ordering cranes and the trucking company.  Yes, this sleeper was quit heavy. Its 93 tons required two cranes to finally lift its off its trucks. [wheels] I hope you have received the most current Rail and Wire newsletter.  Its cover article outlines and explains the history of the sleeper and its donation to the museum.   In future blogs I will be discussing more about the move to the museum.   The current dollar estimates to rent cranes and the special trucking have depleted our restricted fund balance.  Please consider a donation to the Mt. Harvard so we can continue its future restoration.   Thanks to everyone for their continued  support.        Roger Kramer