Today was a holiday for me, at least. My wife and I went to the Labor Day parade, walked around the new Pingree Grove forest preserve, and had lunch. Then we turned up at IRM.
The blue cars were in operation, with Dan Buck (L) the motorman and Chris Buck (R) the conductor. We noticed that there's another seat in the 308 that needs to be fixed and a window shade to be adjusted, but really everything seemed to be going quite well. There was a good crowd out, and the Zephyr and the bilevels were running. And the West End Jazz Band was playing, what more could you want?
The blue cars were in operation, with Dan Buck (L) the motorman and Chris Buck (R) the conductor. We noticed that there's another seat in the 308 that needs to be fixed and a window shade to be adjusted, but really everything seemed to be going quite well. There was a good crowd out, and the Zephyr and the bilevels were running. And the West End Jazz Band was playing, what more could you want?
It wasn't a holiday for everybody, though. Frank was hard at work on the 205 over by Barn 4. Here we see that he sanded down the entire side of the car in preparation for painting with primer. Shortly after this picture was taken, the poles were installed with the help of Joe Stupar and others (see above.)
Finally, our latest acquisition has arrived on the interchange track. Santa Fe Diesel #543 was sitting on its 16-wheel flatcar, with a Winton prime mover as a bonus. It's a Fairbanks-Morse H12-44TS, whatever that means, but it is very historic: it used to switch Dearborn Station. It's also as close as we'll ever come to having an FM Train Master.
A FM H-12-44TS is a standard FM H-12-44 switcher that sits on a longer frame. Unlike the normal counterpart, it has a short hood, which contains a steam generator. It rides on the normal AAR type-A trucks that normal H-12-44s ride on.
ReplyDeleteSanta Fe used Dearborn Station, and this locomotives and its two sisters were used to switch the coach yard and the station.
I believe the prime mover on the flatcar is a rare Winton 201A prime mover. Wintons were used in early EMD products, including the D&R locomotive in IRM's collection, I believe.
That spare engine is certainly not an FM engine, which would have in-line cylinders.
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed a Winton prime mover. What does this put us at? 3 or 4 Winton prime movers? Probably the most Winton engines in one place anywhere now.
ReplyDeleteDearborn, Union, whatever. It's been fixed. Obviously I should avoid talking about subjects I know nothing about.
ReplyDeleteMOT in St. Louis has at least 3 winton prime movered locmotives. We have an early EMC switcher, and an early B&O passenger box cab that has two Winton prime movers.
ReplyDelete