Before we get to the 36, let's take a look at our latest acquisition from the CTA. This is an 1892 car from the South Side Rapid Transit, as one can tell from the paint scheme, and if we were to get this running, it would be by far the oldest operating car at the Museum. But I'm told it will probably be scrapped instead. Oh well. I wish Dave would let me turn it into a roadside diner along Main Street, but you know how hard to satisfy he can be.
I finished repairs to the 36's control system, so that all contactors are now operating correctly. The next thing we need is trolley poles, and Joel and I picked out two 12' poles from storage, along with the other trolley hook. They will both need new shoes, and one at least probably needs a new harp, but this is a big step forward. Here we see them leaning against a bracket in the barn.
I wire-wheeled both of them in preparation for painting.
Ray Pollice helped with this project, which is much appreciated. He also did a very good job taking the hook down to bare metal.
I painted these parts with brown primer, and next time they will be painted silver. I also had to spend some time straightening up the container which we share with the signal display.
On Wednesday, I hope to pull the car over the pit to adjust the brakes and do some inspection, and on Thursday I've arranged to lift the trolley bases onto the roof. So the project is progressing well.
What's wrong with this picture?
The 36's triple valve is located under a corner seat, as seen here. At some point I'll need to clean and lubricate it. It looks somewhat different from other M style triples, however, so I'll be interested to take it apart.
Tomorrow is the Steam Department Benefit, and now my conscience is bothering me. Maybe I didn't talk it up much this year. Sorry!
10 comments:
I thought the cta was holding the 2 "1892" 2000 series cars for eventual exhibition at the Pullman Historic District? Sad to see that that plan has fallen through. Great work on the 36.
Bob
Doesn't look like any type M valve I've seen...maybe it's an M1 valve? Or a T?
Im not a CTA/Rapid Transit guy, but the South Side car looks pretty unique. It isn't worth preserving even as a display piece?
Thanks. Nick.
Ahh, I see the 36 has the last of the red floors from Trolleyville.
I wonder if Brookins was in the Navy or something.
Save the 2007 (1892) as is, even if only for a display piece. And keep it painted as it is! Even though it is not historically correct for that particular car, it is the only ex-Chicago-rapid-transit car at IRM with the historic Pullman green paint job with yellow pin striping.
Edward J. Maurath
Hello, all.
"1892" IS historically correct! CTA 1892/199S, ex CTA 2007/2008 were painted as shown in 1992 to comemorate the 100th anniversary of the Green Line (South Side Rapid Transit) on the orders of CTA Official Bruce Nelson. When the CTA 2000 series cars were retired in 1994, CTA 1892/1992 were preserved at Skokie Shops, and CTA 2153/2154 were sold to and preserved by the IRM. ALL OTHER CTA 2000 SERIES CARS WERE SCRAPPED! "Some other museum" had expressed interest in 1892/1992 for a static display. If 1992 still exists, they could indeed get their wish. After all, if IRM aquired 1892 for parts, there would still be a car body left after all actuators, motors, compressors, seats, etc were stripped. You could ship the dead hulk to "some other museum" on trucks "that will never run again," and from the far side of silk ropes 20 feet away, you wouldn't be able to tell, even if you knew what to look for. Or, if IRM got the complete set, then we could retain 1892/1992 after canibalizing them for 2153/2154, and when the interest and donations gain sufficient mass replicate the needed parts and make both pairs operable. But, as we used to say in the Army, "this is far beyond my pay grade!" I'm sure that the IRM is taking the best possible action based on all the circumstances at hand, including those not generally known. And, I'm not a General, and I don't know either, so please don't ask. Brian J. Patterson.
If there is a lot of support for saving the 1892 and its mate, plans could change from the current one to part it out and dispose of the bodies. Every car that is kept at IRM pays an assessment for deferring the cost of the track it sits upon. If someone magically came in with $8000 to save these carbodies, that would certainly get our attention and maybe change the long range plan.
Bob Kutella
Unlike Bob, I'm not an "official," so I can't OFFICIALLY say. ALL checks and money orders for private donations are made payable to "Illinois Railway Museum" and are mailed to:
Illinois Railway Museum
PO Box 427
Union, IL 60180-0427
The "remarks" "notes" or "for" block of the check or money order is important. In this block you would enter "CTA 1892-1992 Track Fund" or "CTA 2007-2008 Track Fund." If the $8000 comes in quickly enough, (weeks, but not months and certainly not years) then as Bob said, plans can change. After all, no museum really WANTS to scrap half of the remaining ANYTHING they preserve. Any "overage" on the track assessment would roll over to the "barn assessment."
One contributor with $8000 would be great. Eighty contributors with $100, one hundred contributors with $80 or two hundred contributors with $40 would be more realistic. But more generousity quickly makes a desired outcome more certain quickly.
There are many valid reasons to both save CTA 1892-1992 and to strip the last parts for 2153-2154 and scrap them, particularly since the cars were already stripped somewhat by the CTA before the IRM got them. As the old saying goes; "Money talks..." Is there enough "talking money" out there to save CTA 1892-1992? I do not have the answer, or more accurately, I have only a small portion of the answer. YOU, the reader of this blog have the answer to the question "Should we preserve CTA 1892-1992." I look forward to seeing that answer, whatever it may be.
I'm for using 2007-2008 as a parts source as originally envisioned. IRM just received 2 - 2200 cars. Next I'm sure are 2 2400 series cars, 2 2600 series, 2 3200 series, and eventually 2 5000 and 2 7000 series cars - cars that haven't even been built yet will be retired someday. IRM has a lot of land, but, what is the museum going to do with 4 2000 series cars? Take a good color photograph of the 2 recently arrived 2000 cars and display it with the soon to be mint green and alpine white 2000 series cars that IRM already has. The museums limited resources both $$ and manpower can't support an infinite number of "L" cars. I love the "L" please preserve representative groups - IRM can't and shouldn't save everything. Just my opinion.
Bob
At least IRM, and most other American museums have the good sense to save a married pair of cars, or at least one whole car. It is my understanding that in the UK, there are a few examples of Electric cars where just 1/2 of a pair exists. Similarly, (as is a case with some diesel and electric locomotives), the whole thing is not preserved, just the cab.
Example, (BR Class 76, a 1500V DC Electric Locomotive): http://www.online-utility.org/image/ImageCache?file=3/32/British_Rail_Class_76_Cab_05-09-17_106.jpeg/800px-British_Rail_Class_76_Cab_05-09-17_106.jpeg
Post a Comment