Thomas weekend two

Frank writes...

I was helping out at the museum entrance both days this weekend for Thomas again. Attendance seemed decent; Sunday in particular was pretty busy despite a brief rain shower in the morning.

I've been working on marketing for the museum and between the two weekends of the Thomas event I had asked about getting a sign made advertising IRM's Facebook page. Dave Diamond and our friends at Buildings & Grounds obliged, as seen here; Richard Schauer is to the left while Carl Illwitzer helpfully points out the new sign and Gerry Dettloff peers suspiciously at the photographer. Are you on Facebook? If so, why? (Or at least, why aren't you following IRM?)

Up on Station Track 2, the heavyweight coach train was top-and-tailed by the 1630 and this fellow with the unusual water tank design. Anyway, I should mention that the hard work of the Coach Department over the past number of years was quite obvious. The Thomas train included five fully restored Rock Island coaches, the C&NW combine, and a Lackawanna coach - a very impressive train of commuter cars and all in admirable cosmetic shape. The Percy train, above, was all railroad-roof cars including more Lackawanna coaches, the DM&IR day coach, and two combines.

But anyway, back to traction land. Saturday night the car shop crew was hard at work reassembling the truck for Sand Springs 68, shown above. The motors have been successfully tested, though a small bit of adjustment or shimming may be needed. Brake rigging on one side still needs to be fitted, as do the axle dust guards.

And the 68 itself has been switched from Barn 7 over to the pit track. Hopefully this historic lightweight car will be running again sooner rather than later!

And Jeff Brady was hard at work on Michigan Electric 28, helped along by a new volunteer named John. The steel framing at the end of the car has had some welding done and is now in fresh black paint, which I suppose is a good sign that things are going back together. Progress is also being made on the 1754, the 4223, and the Electroliner.