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Illinois Railway Museum Blog

Saturday, April 14. 2018

Just Another Saturday Posted by Roger Kramer in General Blog Entries at 20:15

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I would just like to help announce that the Irm.org web page has been updated to a brand new format. Please take a look. I think you will be pleasantly impressed with this updated and more informative version. Now, here is a sample of what happened last Saturday. It was just another cold day at Irm. There sure was a lot of activity for a cold day. Here are just a few images of the days events. I couldn't cover every dept but just be sure lots of progress was being made.

Ray is taking a break sitting on the cab floor of the 1630 while Ken Ristow enjoys the view.

Bob and Ed Kletecka drilling holes in the 428s new steel cab floor.

Mike McCormick, another new steam dept member, is also drilling and laying out the old pattern on the new floor steel.

Bob Olsen sanding the exterior vestibule door on the Mt Harvard.

Last Saturday he was sanding the new window exterior frames for the Mt Harvard.

Here are some 80 screw heads that I sanded and primed for future installation on the window frames.

The latest project of both the track and buildings and grounds departments.

After all these years the old bookstore passenger cars are being removed from the site next to the station. Now we shall have a much clearer view of operational equipment running by the main line.

Remember these stairs? How many times did we all walk up and down them? They will be gone shortly.

Jane and Stu from the steam dept were helping Norm and his crew with more riveting on the MEC 28.

Thats Jane heating the rivets.

Another view

The riveting is slow work but it eventually gets completed.

The following are pictures of Tim's CRT1754 wood El car restoration.

Heres part of the exterior where Tim has removed the old wooden siding and now is preparing to reside with new!

End view of the 1754.

An interior shot. Tim is again working hard on this project! He is at the museum almost everyday except Sundays. That is his day of rest.

I hope all of you are enjoying your newest addition of the Rail and Wire. They have been mailed. You should be receiving them any day now! For all you Pullman heavyweight sleeper fans. there is a short article about the Dover Strait towards the end of this addition. We are hoping to complete the restoration to the lounge area this year. Your donations will be appreciated! Thanks Roger

Monday, March 5. 2018

Soiree 2018 Posted by Roger Kramer in General Blog Entries at 18:53

Comment (1)

Soiree 2018

Here are a few pictures of the 2018 IRM Soiree held at the Old Warsaw Inn.

The Buck brothers among the crowd.

Say hello to Harold

Steve you look lonely there

The place was packed with members

Two Nicks and a Rich

The table with a beer and pitcher of water. The conversation was really flowing

To say the least everyone went home well satisfied the Stuffed with good food and drink. Thanks to Harold Krewer for putting this together! The entertainment for the night was a fascinating group of slides of Chicago electric lines in operation. For those of you who could make this 2018 soiree why not consider attending next years soiree. Hope to see everyone next February! Thanks Roger

Saturday, January 20. 2018

More from Steam Alley Posted by Roger Kramer in General Blog Entries at 10:16

Comments (2)

More from Steam Alley

Here is a short roundup of activities last week in the Steam Shop.

Hello Rich Thomas Glad to see you. Rich has been working a lot but now has retired. Welcome back to the steam dept.

Take a good look This is the inside of the shays smoke box.

Chris and Ray working on the steam cylinder chest of the 1630

The next three pictures pertain to the machining of the 1630s main driving rod. The steam team is replacing the main bearing on the engineers side.

Phil, Eric and Ben setting up the 1630 main driving rod for machining

Eric operating the machine

The 1630 is in need of a new bearing.

Side rods from the UP 428

Here is just another instance where the steam shop and facilities help other departments. The buffer rods on the IC 3345 coach needed straightening. There were three of them! So... the shop press is being used to straighten them. You can view the article in this last Rail and Wire concerning the IC 3345.

The volunteers first heated the rod by the bend

Then using the shops press they reformed it into the correct shape.

. LAST CHANCE! Please consider taking advantage of the special Challenge Grant for the UP 428! This offer ends late January. Let us work getting this steamer operating in 2019. Why the Push!? Well, that is the same year the UP 4014, Big Boy, 4-8-8-4 is scheduled to be in operation. Wouldn't it be awesome to view both engines in operation and setting side by side. YOU can help make the UP 428 happen! Call today and/or send in your donation! The museums number is 815-923-4391. Thanks Roger

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Comments

James Kolanowski about Milwaukee Road 33C update
Fri, 03-29-2024 21:26
We're slackers and spend more time working on the equipment in the shop than keeping all you readers updated. We'll work on it, but I'm sure updates [...]

AJ about Milwaukee Road 33C update
Thu, 03-14-2024 08:02
What happened to the Department Blog? It's been over 2 years and I still regularly check for updates, but nothing comes...

Ted Miles about Progress update of the Multi Purpose Building
Mon, 12-27-2021 16:28
Happy New Year to all the Departments at the Illinois railway Museum! Thanks for all the good work you do in railroad preservation. Ted Miles, [...]

J Blustein about The Old Bag and the Silver Beaver
Wed, 10-13-2021 13:33
Was the CB&Q 1309 every transported to IRM?I’ve been reading old issues of Rail&Wire and the car was mentioned several times.

Jason E about Progress update of the Multi Purpose Building
Mon, 06-07-2021 22:40
I was wondering if in the model layout display what scale would you guys be using and would you be displaying model train history as well? Just [...]

Thomas about It Happened One Saturday at IRM
Wed, 06-02-2021 17:27
Nice to see 428's cab back on. Looking forward to when it is operable!

Ted Miles about It Happened One Saturday at IRM
Tue, 06-01-2021 16:47
I hope the work will continue on the UP #428. Now that they are the museum's connection to the national railroad network; she would be very [...]

bob miller about Dover Strait Progress Part Three
Sat, 04-17-2021 23:07
What is the status of 126, the Milwaukee Buffet car that is in S. Dakota? Any guess on when or if it will get to IRM?

Ted Miles about John McLoughlin Progress - Part Two
Wed, 04-14-2021 21:09
Perhaps it is time to scrap the remains of the c, B & Q 7128 to make room for the Villa Real. Ted miles, IRM member

Jason Erkenswick about Diesel Shop update 1/29/2021
Wed, 04-14-2021 15:26
Hi IRM my name is Jason and I was wonder If you guys would be willing to save a CN Dash8-40cm they are currently being retired by CN and being [...]

Alex Schneider about Dover Strait Progress Part Three
Fri, 04-09-2021 19:56
Bear in mind that the Nebraska Zephyr is an articulated train set, so cars cannot be inserted at will. Although cars and/or a second engine could be [...]

Matthew Maloy about Dover Strait Progress Part Three
Wed, 03-31-2021 11:37
I believe Silver Pony is currently on the back burner, and has been put into storage in one of the barns. The car needs a lot of work done to it's [...]