Wednesday Report

Breathes there a man with soul so dead,

Who never to himself hath said:

"Gee, I wish we had more steam engines running...."

Having just returned from a nice vacation in New England, I have a lot of catching up to do.  First, we'll check on what was happening yesterday.  The foundation for the new Model Railroad Etc. Building is progressing.  

I needed to get the 308 and 319 ready for operation this weekend; we'll be running on Saturday and Monday.  There will be lots of interesting trains in operation; for the latest news, check the IRM website.

While I've been away, Bob Sundelin has continued to work on the bearing project.  The new oven is in operation and has been tested for temperature stability and so forth.   Bob has developed an improved method of holding the bearing parts inside the oven and is ready to start soldering soon.  This is great news.

But I must admit that probably the most exciting news is that we should have two, count 'em, two IRM steam engines in operation for the first time in about twenty years.

The engines are stored outside because the rails inside the steam shop have fallen victim to a wartime scrap drive, or something: 

Here Bob Olson is carrying some of the track away, helped by a couple of the Steam Dept. members.  I'm told they're planning to install an inspection pit in the shop, which will be a major improvement.

A lot of Car Dept. projects are progressing.  Let's look at the Electroliner, where Ed and John are installing the new ceiling.   It looks great.

And here are the refinished channels for the center of the ceiling, which will be installed next.

Ed showed me the replacement bowls, the spherical brass castings which form the bearings for the joints between the articulated carbodies.   Before and after:

Tim is installing new window sills in the 1754:

And the other active projects are continuing, of course.  I didn't have a chance to get pictures of them all.

Also, John Arroyo donated some CA&E paper items to the Museum's archives.   Thanks!

Memorial Day Weekend at IRM will be better than ever this year, so don't miss it!