Illinois Railway Museum Blog

That is awesome to hear that there is potential of it running in October! Keep up the good work.

#1 Andrew Ossler on 2013-08-26 06:59

Andrew, Yes. A lot of us are also very keen to see her run!. Just to avoid any excessive expectations. I really do not expect her to be in any normal service this year. She may look untidy and incomplete (lagging and painting for example). Key will be do do some running in and testing so that we know any work needed to ensure full availability for 2014. Nigel

#1.1 Nigel Bennett on 2013-08-26 09:20

Great job and my compliments to the entire team. You, Tom, showed it still could be done w/ volunteers. Everyone that contributed including a few folks from the car dept have to be thanked!! Roger

#2 Roger Kramer on 2013-08-26 07:13

Thank you Roger. A lot of people have helped us in this. I believe the whole museum is determined to see steam back in service. Nigel

#2.1 Nigel Bennett on 2013-08-26 09:22

Congratulations to everyone involved in achieving this milestone! Your hard work has paid off!

#3 Kevin Kriebs on 2013-08-26 08:08

Congratulations to you and the whole Steam Team at IRM! 1630 passing the Hydro Test is a real milestone only achieved through alot of difficult and dirty work. Maybe now pace quickens and the finish line is in sight. Good Job! Ray

#4 Ray Schmid on 2013-08-26 09:10

Ray, Thank you. Yes we sure hope that the sight of the finish line will enable a big push. Nigel

#4.1 Nigel Bennett on 2013-08-26 09:23

Congrats to the whole crew! I have been following along your progress for years. I can hardly wait to brush off the cinders of my clothes again!

#5 Rob Fox on 2013-08-26 14:33

Thank you for the time and effort put into the ongoing blog updates. I have been following them for some time. Between the detailed description of the work completed and photos my knowledge of steam locomotives and what it takes to maintain and operate them is greatly increased.

#8 Mark Becker on 2013-08-27 10:25

I saw the rear of 1630's tender today (9-2-13) while I was on the green hornet street car leaving barn 9, and I was VERY happy to see a glance of it after last seeing it for a freight photo run-by in '04. I'm so happy to hear that she is getting closer to returning! Keep up the good work! Jack

#9 Jack M. on 2013-09-02 19:17

My grandparents used to take me every summer to watch and ride the 1630. In 20004 was the last time I saw it ran with my new born daughter. I saw it get put away. I follow up on the results of the! 1630. Do you think it will be up and running next year? For me that is the hi lite of the museum. Brings back a lot of awesome memories.

#10 Andrew A on 2013-09-07 12:32

Andrew, Our whole focus is that 1630 should be running routinely next year. I would never make myself or the museum hostage to fate by promising at this stage that she will be in normal service. The risks of an unexpected problem are always there when you deal with 100 year old steam locomotives. However, a lot of us have devoted a great deal of our spare time to ensuring that she will be running and will be at least as disappointed as you should anything prevent this. Nigel

#10.1 Nigel Bennett on 2013-09-08 19:41

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