Passenger Car Department

Here's a sneak peek at next year's railroad china display! On Sunday, November 2, 2014, Jim Windmeier sorted and photographed all the china we have so far collected.

Milwaukee Road patterns - Photo by Jim Windmeier

Chicago and Northwestern patterns - Photo by Jim Windmeier

Burlington Route patterns - Photo by Jim Windmeier

Union Pacific patterns - Photo by Jim Windmeier

Illinois Central patterns - Photo by Jim Windmeier

On the morning of Sunday, November 2nd, Shelly Vanderschaegen, Michael Baksic, and Michael McCraren 'winterized' the Birmingham. They moved the stairs to the preferred winter door and distributed electric heaters. There was a small turnout on Sunday for lunch but good company.

Nick Kallas, Shelly Vanderschaegen and Michael Baksic at lunch - Photo by Michael McCraren

Jim Windmeier at lunch in the Birmingham - Photo by Michael McCraren

John McKelvey at lunch in the Birmingham - Photo by Michael McCraren

After lunch, Michael McCraren and Mark Gellman went to work inside the 1st Exhibit Car. John McKelvey and Shelly worked together on Santa Fe Lounge Car berth seats. They removed five seats from one section of the 1534 and took them to their work area inside the Barn 4 shop for reupholstery. Fabric purchased recently is nearly identical to the original upholstery.

Shelly Vanderschaegen and John McKelvey with a Santa Fe Lounge Car seat - Photo by Michael McCraren

The underside of a Santa Fe Lounge Car bench seat - Photo by Michael McCraren

Saturday, November 8, 2014: Ray Mormann and Mark Gellman removed bad steps from the 2nd Exhibit Car and began planning how to secure the trap as they worked.

Ray Mormann standing where the step used to be on the 2nd Exhibit Car - Photo by Michael McCraren

The steps on the pavement in Yard 5 - Photo by Michael McCraren

Ray standing with Mark Gellman on the vestibule platform - Photo by Michael McCraren

Michael McCraren stained three boards that would become the lower shelf of the china display in the 1st Exhibit Car.

These stained boards are to be used in the new railroad china display currently under construction - Photo by Michael McCraren

Inside the 1st Exhibit Car on Sunday, November 9th, Jon Habegger, Jim Windmeier, Mike McCraren and Mark Gellman installed the bottom shelves for the railroad china display. The LaSalle Street Staion display was restyled. Work began in the Pacific Peak to lay carpet protection for winter removal of more wall carpet leftover from Amtrak service. Brian LaKemper also spent part of his afternoon in the 1st Exhibit Car working on the new railroad china display.

Mark and Jim Windmeier discuss ideas for the china display - Photo by Michael McCraren

Mark installed the lower shelf inside the display case - Photo by Michael McCraren

Michael McCraren and Mark Gellman work on the china display - Photo by Brian LaKemper

The china is laid out in position of where it will be displayed - Photo by Michael McCraren

Starting to recreate the gate board from Union Station in the late 1960s - Photo by Michael McCraren

The display for LaSalle Street - Photo by Michael McCraren

John McKelvey continued working on the Santa Fe Lounge Car seats inside the Barn 4 shop.

John McKelvey pinned new material to a previously stripped Santa Fe Lounge Car seat - Photo by Michael McCraren

Outside Barn 3 on Sunday, Brian LaKemper and Chuck Trabert worked together on the Milwaukee Road Dynamometer, finishing up winterization, packing away tools, and removing the jammed safety bars for the side doors. The bars had slid up on their hinges, shearing off the tapered pins that hold them which prevented lowering the safety bars. The bars were freed from the hinges and the hinges removed from the carbody. No photos were taken of this process.

The Steam Department kindly straightened the safety bar that had been bent at some point, and punched out the broken pins that were supposed to hold the safety bars in place on the hinge. Next time out, Brian's plans include sandblasting the hinges to remove accumulated build-up, and then to prime and remount them to the carbody. Once they are remounted, the latch mechanism for the bars can be removed, as one is damaged and requires repair.

A Call For Volunteers: Need something to do this winter and you're itching to work on railroad coaches? The Passenger Car Department at IRM is in need of more volunteers to work in the Silver Cars removing old paint and carpets. Come on out and get involved!

Another thank you to Jim Windmeier for painting the entrance to the 1st Exhibit Car - it is looking great!

Friday was Terror on the Railroad as usual. Michael McCraren, Mark Gellman, Paul Matchette, and Brian LaKemper were there from the Coach Department. Mike Blackwell was conductor, Randy Allegrezza was a trainman, and Joel Ahrendt was the engineer.

RDC 9933 ready to go on the final weekend of Terror - Photo by Michael McCraren

Part of the last Friday night Terror Train crew. From L to R Jim West, Brian LaKemper, Paul Matchett and Mike Blackwell - Photo by Michael McCraren

Paul getting into the spirit of the night - Photo by Michael McCraren

Some of the Terror Train actors in the Birmingham - Photo by Michael McCraren

On Saturday, Paul M. and Brian L. did some organizing in the uniform closet. Paul also fueled all the generators under the Birmingham in preparation for the last night of Terror on the Railroad.

Brian LaKemper working on the Terror Train - Photo by Warren Newhauser

On Saturday night the usual crew was working the last night of the Terror Train, along with help from Warren Newhauser and Fred, and Jeff Calendine from the Steam Department was also on hand. There was a generator failure but Mark G. came through with a solution to keep the affected car lit.

Mark Gellman, Warren Newhauser and his helper Fred lift a faulty generator from the vestibule for repair - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Stationary Terror Train cars await dark hauntings - Photo by Pauline Trabert

The Screamliner was still on the mainline during the day on Sunday - Photo by Pauline Trabert

On Sunday, Warren N., Chuck Trabert and Brian L. gathered to work on the Milwaukee Road Dynamometer, X-5000. Brian retrieved an air hose that had been jammed behind the X-5000's heating boiler for an unknown length of time. Later he poured anti-freeze into the car's hot-water heating system. Mark G. provided the crew with a possible replacement for one of the car's missing door latches.

Chuck hung the rebuilt boiler motor as Warren wants to check the heating system. Later Chuck hung exterior drip caps on the two side doors of the Dynamometer.

Chuck Trabert fitting a drip cap manufactured by Buzz Morisette for the X-5000 - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Brian LaKemper pouring antifreeze into the Dyno hot-water heating system - Photo by Pauline Trabert

The Birmingham and Silver Cars were still sitting on the station track but coach volunteers in attendance gathered there for lunch. Guests included Kevin Brown and Nick Kallas.

Kevin Brown enjoys a laugh at Sunday lunch in the Birmingham - Photo by Michael McCraren

Pauline Trabert joined the crew for Sunday lunch - Photo by Michael McCraren

Mark Gellman taking a short break - Photo by Michael McCraren

Nick Kallas joined Jon Habegger for Sunday lunch in the Birmingham - Photo by Micahel McCraren

At 5:50 PM on the way out, a hot air balloon was seen heading toward the Steam Barn. You never know what you are going to see at IRM and this was pretty interesting.

Near sundown a hot air balloon passed overhead - Photo by Pauline Trabert

The baloon was going to land in the IRM parking area - Photo by Pauline Trabert

The chase crew was already there - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Nearly 6PM as the balloon deflates - Photo by Pauline Trabert

Sunday night found Jim West and Brian L. returning the Silver Cars train back to Yard 5 in a four-hour switch move. Many thanks to Jim West for staying late to help get the cars put away.

This is the eighth year of the Terror on the Railroad event at IRM and the Passenger Car Department was prepared for action. Team members Mark Gellman, Michael McCraren, Paul Matchett, and Brian LaKemper have been active on the Terror Train all month and will continue for the last two nights coming up fast. The last weekend for Terror on the Railroad in 2014 is upon us folks, don't miss out!

On Sunday, October 11th, Jon Habegger, Jim Windmeier, and Mark Gellman met to discuss upcoming exhibit changes in the 1st Exhibit car. There are some exciting new displays on the horizon we can all look forward to viewing in 2015.

Michael McCraren took sevearl photos over the last two weekends. He said, "Who would think that in 2014 you would find an F9 engine coupled to classic lightweight passenger cars running at night? On this night (October 11th) Jim West was the engineer and Bob Opal was the conductor."

BN-1 is coupled up to the train followed by a RI coach and the Loch Sloy - Photo by Michael McCraren

The back half the the train - Birmingham, Pacific Peak, Silver Ridge and 9933 - Photo by Michael McCraren

Two of the Halloween actors getting ready in the Birmingham - Photo by Michael McCraren

Brian LaKemper getting ready to work on the terror train - Photo by Michael McCraren

Welcome to the Birmingham Terror Train Diner - Photo by Michael McCraren

Michael Mcraren: "Since we are doing night operations, reflective vests, jackets and even pants are the fashion of the day. We found three lost cell phones last night. All were found this time. Please put your cell phone away in the safe place when on the train.

Electric Mark Gellman at the end of a long night - Photo by Michael McCraren

On the weekend of October 17th and 18th, in addition to the Terror Train crew as mentioned above, Jeff Caldine helped on Terror Saturday night. In other work, Brian LaKemper checked the underfloor water tanks on the X-5000 to make sure they were drained with the assistance of Austin Harvey. Brian also spent some time looking at the Silver Pony's underfloor equipment to figure out exactly what we have and what we need to make the car's systems functional on their own. Mark G. and Brian took a brief look at the open car project (ex-CB&Q 7128).

On Sunday, 10/19/14, Kevin Kriebs, Mark Gellman, Michael McCraren, and Jim Windmeier discussed how to display china; the working name for this project is "Movable Feast". Around mid-day Buzz Morrisette and Kevin discussed building a display cabinet for the 1st Exhibit Car. Shelly Vanderschaegen spackled holes in the 1st Exhibit Car while Michael Baksic and Ray Mormann cut open a wall by the vestibule steps on the 2nd Exhibit Car to repair corrosion. John McKelvey repaired a berth seat in the Santa Fe Lounge Car and later he and Shelly discussed seat repairs and material to be purchased for reupholstering the lounge car.

Mark Gellman in the kitchen of the Birmingham last weekend - Photo by Michael McCraren

Birmingham actors getting ready for the Terror Train - Photo by Michael McCraren

Pizza made by Michael McCraren for the entire crew on Saturday night - 10/18/14 - Photo by Michael McCraren

Lunch visitors on Sunday, October 19th included Sam Polonetzky, Kevin Brown, and Nick Kallas.

Shelly Vanderschaegen and Michael Baksic at lunch in the Birmingham on 10/19/14 - Photo by Michael McCraren

Nick Kallas with Ray Mormann at Sunday lunch in the Birmingham - Photo by Michael McCraren

John McKelvey sitting in the sunshine - Photo by Michael McCraren

A favorite visitor, Kevin Brown came for lunch on 10/19/14 - Photo by Michael McCraren

Mark Gellman in highly visible gear is sitting near Nick - Photo by Michael McCraren