Passenger Car Department

Michael Baksic and Mark Gellman set to work on the buffer of the Chicago Rock Island & Pacific 2555 that was pulled from the coach train last weekend. They spent most of the day on this project and will have to order parts to complete the repair. Later, Mark started changing light bulbs in the Lochsloy and Pacific peak for the Screamliner.

RI 2555 buffer repair was begun by Mark Gellman and Michael Baksic - Photo by Jon Habegger

John McKelvey continued working on the Henrietta seats but needed trim pieces to complete them. He fully expects to be finished with these seats this week, for this year at least. John is a snowbird and is getting ready to fly south. Thanks again, John, for your many, many hours of labor on the Henrietta seats.

Shelly Vanderschaegen completed vacuuming in the Silver Ridge and Pacific Peak which basically took all day.

Jon Habegger took pictures and then was in the 1st Exhibit Car greeting visitors.

Lunch visitors in the Birmingham included Bob Hunter who talked about the rubber flooring for the Dover Strait, and Kevin Brown, one of our favorite people. Nick Kallas also joined in conversations and food.

Lackawanna 556 report courtesy of Brian LaKemper: Over the weekend of 9/6 and 9/7, Brian P. and Brian L. each put in several hours needle-chipping and sanding the interior of Lackawanna 556. They also tested a new small media blaster that can use baking soda, ground corn husks, and ground walnut shells in place of the usual (and difficult to remove!) sand. The results: when the blaster is functioning, it does a good job of removing paint; however it is slow going and the blaster frequently needs attention. For the moment, needle-chipping and sanding will be the primary paint removal methods. However, the media blaster has not been entirely abandoned, and will be tested further as time allows.

Brian P. is sending chips of paint flying off the walls of the car - Photo by Brian LaKemper

An in-progress shot of the end of the car - Photo by Brian LaKemper

A close up of Brian Ps efforts - Photo by Brian LaKemper

Brian L. spent about a half hour on each of the window posts in this shot - Photo from Brian LaKemper

Between the two Brians, a large pile of paint chips, used blasting media, and other material was swept up on Sunday evening, along with a general cleaning and organizing of the various tools, cords, and air hoses that are needed for the project.

On Saturday Ray Mormann and Barn 3 Curator Michael Baksic changed the oil on the genaerators under silver cars and checked to be sure they were full of gasoline as they started getting ready for Terror on the Railroad Haunted Event.

Michael Baksic and Ray Mormann work on a generator - Photo by Jon Habegger

John McKelvey continued the seemingly endless task of stripping, repairing and reupholstering the Henrietta seats.

Also on Saturday, Mark Gellman, Michael McCraren and Shelly Vanderschaegen prepared the Birmingham for the Band Organ Rally breakfast to be held on Sunday morning. Kevin Kriebs, Mark and Shelly cleaned the tables and put on table cloths in between regular Saturday visitors to Yard 5. Shelly cleaned the kitchen and vacuumed the dining area.

Mark Gellman practices his waiter skills on Kevin Kriebs - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Jon Habegger and Ken Kosan were talking with visitors in the 1st Exhibit Car.

Ken Kosan talks with visitor in the 1st Exhibit Car - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

On Sunday, Mark Gellman, Michael McCraren and Shelly served up the Band Organ Rally breakfast. Michael M. was the chef, Mark was the waiter. Shelly washed dishes, took care of garbage, and tried serving coffee. Menus had been created and fresh flowers were in vases on each table. They served sausages, eggs, grits, country ham, orange juice, milk, and coffee to a group of volunteers and some of the band organ people. Donations were accepted. Jeff Calendine helped serve and bus tables. Big thanks to the crew for a job well done.

Mark Gellman waits on the first customer of the day - Photo by Jeff Calendine

Soon it was a packed house with more people waiting - Photo by Jeff Calendine

The breakfast crew - Michael McCraren, Shelly Vanderschaegen, and Mark Gellman - Photo by Jeff Calendine

Limonaire Freaes Band Organ, one of many - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

The eye-catching Dutch Canadian Band Organ - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

Brian LaKemper reported that the Coach Department did something different and ran the five operable CRIP commuter cars and combine 7700. Late on Sunday, Brian noticed a mechanical problem with RI 2555 as a loud noise from the end of the car was reported. Mark Gellman inspected the coach and found a defect so the car was removed from the train for buffer repairs. According to Brian, the purpose for running the CRIP cars was to identify any defects so that repairs can be made ahead of next season. All defects were duly noted and reported to Michael Baksic along with a plan of action to resolve the pressing concerns. Brian spent the weekend on the coach train as a trainman/conductor trainee/mechanical rider.

With work on CRIP 2602's interior wrapping up for now, a group is applying lessons learned on the DLW 556 coach in Barn 3. On Monday night, Brian P. and Brian LaKemper returned the car's missing interior brake beam to its rightful place. It awaits attachment to the car's brake rigging and final adjustment. Once it is installed, the car's brake valve will be cleaned, tested, and installed, completing the mechanical work needed to bring the car to operational status. It still needs interior repainting and volunteers are encouraged to show up. Someone should be around Wednesday through Sunday of this week.

Chuck Trabert continued working on the side doors of the Milwaukee Road Dynamometer car. He has replaced the rusted metal and has primed the doors.

Chuck Trabert painting a refurbished Dynamometer door - Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen