General Blog Entries

The freight car department is in the need of a few more volunteers.   Right now there are only three full time volunteers participating  in the department.   As one can imagine their efforts are only concentrated on a couple of projects.   Right now the Pennsylvania Bobber Caboose and the B & O RR Wagontop boxcar are their main focus. Leading the efforts are the following:  Victor Humphreys, Dave Rogan and Bill Peterson.  Like all departments,  these three active members  are looking for more recruits to help  in the freight car department.  That is the urgency,   They would like a few good men and women  to help them.  If you have any talents such as carpentry, painting, piping  or welding they sure could use your efforts.  Matter of fact if you don't have any talents they will teach you.   See Victor on any Wednesday or Saturday in their new shop, barn 10, for more details. They share the barn with the coach dept.  AND don't forget to bring your lunch!  That group breaks for lunch around 11:30.  Contrary to some rumors, we at Irm are not all work.  We as well, do our share of socializing!                    The next three pictures are from June of this year Talking to Victor a couple of weeks ago another project underway is the scraping and painting of the trucks under the Wagon top boxcar.    He has hired a painting contractor to repaint the entire car and then it will  be stored inside for viewing,  possible in barn 11   More on that project later.  Remember to send in a few dollars to the freight car dept.    These three volunteer members certainly deserve your support!    Thanks   Roger 

Here is a short Freight Car update given to me by Buzz Morisette.  The Rail and Wire had a short article about the Wagon Top Boxcar, it is still primed and ready but now we have the funds available to paint it this Summer.    It was great weather, finally, April 8th so I  [Buzz]  reinstalled a rebuilt door onto the Soo Line caboose # 162.   The Wednesday  single project crew have been wire wheeling and bush priming the caboose.   They are restoring back to the its Milwaukee heritage, #992300.   As mentioned before Buzz is repairing and painting the two exterior doors: one down one to go. 

He also stopped by to see the progress on the Pennsy  476199 Bobber caboose located in the new shop barn,#10.This past winter Victor, Bill,  and Dave have been energetically working away on the exterior old frame woodwork.   Much of it is beyond saving so many new wood parts must be fabricated and custom fitted.   Sitting right next to the bobber is an old Wisconsin Central steel and wood frame boxcar # 131650.   It has been long used as a storage car for El car parts.Its now out of the weather!   The Freight car department is sharing space in barn 10 with the passenger coach dept.   Three cars are currently undergoing various forms of restoration.  They are the RI 2524, IC 3345 and the heavy weight Pullman sleeper, John Mcloughlin.   The fourth car B & M diner is now under cover but not being worked on.    

For two weekends we had two private varnish coaches visiting the museum.   Stored on station track two they made a beautiful back drop to the entrance of the museum campus.

What  beautiful private varnish these two were.   Sitting in the dome one could fantasize  traveling down the rail at 90 mph   WOW!     Please remember the freight car department when  making out your donation check.     Thanks  Roger and Buzz Morisette

I will begin and end with the vertical boring mill.  Sure glad we have this machine!As you can see its definitely a team effort!There is sure a lot of maintenance to contend with when your operating a steam locomotive.    The old saying goes...  For every hour it runs there are two hours of maintenance to perform. This certainly true for the 1630. As you have seen and read its been a busy first quarter for the steam dept.  Now,  the crunch really comes because it about one month till 1630 is due to run.    If it continues to rain that might put a hold on some of the outside testing the locomotive has to go thru before its certified to operate.    Again, remember to send your donations in to the Steam shop fund to support and fund the  work  on these  "Iron Horses".      Thanks     Roger