End of Summer Freight Car Report

Buzz Morisette sends us a brief report on what the IRM Freight Car Department has been working on this summer:

1. Victor and Bill have almost completed the Pennsylvania bobber caboose. Here Victor is putting the first coat of lettering paint on. That and some window and brake work, resulting from a collision in the 50s, are all that remains.

2. The Milwaukee caboose across from the office has been adopted by Brian N. as a visitor meet and greet location. As this caboose only received an exterior restoration, Freight Curator Bob Albertson has taken up the task to fix up the interior. He just finished the floor primer after replacing about 30% of the rotted floorboards.

3. Buzz and Bob have been busy with several vinyl stencil jobs, such as this last end number on the Milwaukee/URTX reefer painted last summer. I’d show myself painting but it seemed wiser to hang onto the ladder.

4. Buzz also finally got half of the sash windows put into the X-5001 caboose/business car. Before the other side can be installed much wood rot needs to be repaired.

5, The reproduction Milwaukee heralds used on the cars repainted last summer were a team effort. Reflective vinyl material cost was picked up by the Milwaukee Road Historical Association, artwork and assembly were supplied by Buzz, and vinyl cutting was by Waren Newhauser, our Dynamometer manager.

6, Warren has also been completing the exterior detail lettering as well as window and interior work on the dynamometer.

Many thanks for the help and support of our great volunteers, from all the IRM departments, as well as from the MRHA and member donations.