Paving the Way to Progress

Monday's big news doesn't have much to do with railroading, actually, but it's important nonetheless because improvements to the campus environment are always good.  And at long last, Museum Drive is being paved.   This will be welcome news to everybody, because it's the main route onto the grounds for anyone who works there.  The job should be finished this week, just in time for the Transport Extravaganza.  Antique automobiles will no longer have to drive through the dust and potholes to get to their destinations.  And neither will we.

The paving will extend from Olson to the intersection with Railroad Ave., and then around the south end of Barn 9 to this point just west of the Springfield Ave. crossing.

And there are some other smaller projects being done; this short section of Central immediately north of the diner was excavated and will be repaved.

And in other exciting news, we received a substantial donation today of artifacts and documents mostly associated with the IC electric division.  Randall Bosma is a retired electrical engineer (and Museum member) who worked for the IC for many years and collected some very useful and interesting items.

This is an illuminated sign from the IC station at 53rd Street.  You can see how a metal plate was later put over the sign to hide the letters CSS&SB!

And then there are several artifacts from Central Station.

And many plans and drawings; these are blueprints for an IC substation.

And this is pretty nifty: an ancient AC frequency meter.  Of course, the electric division had to use an AC signaling system, just as IRM does, and this meter helps keep the power supplies synchronized.

And there was a lot more to the collection.  We are always glad to receive donated items that are either of historical interest or may be useful in restoring equipment.  It's easy to get in touch with us via the IRM website, and we can arrange the details.

And thanks again to Mr. Bosma for his generous donation!

Car shop work continued as usual.  Today Pete finished painting all the seat pedestals for the 306.

Fred is seen here working on the controller.

Tim's alternate method of propulsion for the 1808 isn't working very well yet, but he continues to tinker with it.  And fasten down trolley bases and so on while he's at it.

And I did some more work on the wood cars, as usual, mostly in preparation for operation.

I should point out that the tracks in Barn 4 have now been raised and tamped, so we're getting close to having the floor poured.  That will be nice!

Meanwhile, weekday operations continue as always.  Today the 431 was providing service.

And of course, Priority One is making sure we're ready for the Transport Extravaganza.

You won't want to miss it!