Busy Saturday

Another busy Saturday.  I have lots of pictures, but even this only captures part of what was going on at IRM.

In the morning I had some training to do; our old friend Greg Ceurvorst was instructed and got qualified on the CA&E steel cars.

The cars are limited to 14 passengers apiece.

The coach train was also running.  Here's the crew. 

The Rock Island Diesel was used for the first trip; the Shay was later brought out.

I spent some time working on removing fixtures and canvas from the roof of the 453.

Here's Jon Fenlaciki working on the roof of the 65.

We'll be right back after a commercial break.  It's election season, you know.

PAID POLITICAL MESSAGE

This has been a paid political message.  And now, back to our usual programming.

Another problem with the 453 are these handles on the #1 end that got bent in by a collision at Cleveland.  I tried removing them, but all of the bolts are frozen and will have to be torched off.

Meanwhile, here's the new motor truck for the 1754.  It's about the ugliest truck I've seen yet, but the shop crews will clean it up and put it into operation as fast as possible.

The 18 was also in the shop, over the pit for some brake work and general cleanup.   More on that later.

Here Rich Schauer puts another coat of black on the air tank for the 451.

And work is progressing well on the 1754.  Here Keith Letsche explains to some visitors what's happening with the car.

Tim finishes up some lettering inside the car.

And lettering on the outside is already complete!

Finally, the Steam Department used the Shay to do some switching in Barn 9 in the afternoon.

And so the Santa Fe Northern was brought outside for public viewing...

... as well as the 3007...

and even our very first locomotive, Public Service 7.

Frank was out also, and he'll have a post on his work later.   So don't touch that dial!