Getting Ready

There was a lot going on today, so I'll try to keep the comments brief.

First, as mentioned last time, I noticed that there are two bolts missing in these brackets for the vestibule floor in the 36.  The back is certainly inaccessible, and I believe the brackets essentially keep the floor held down (as in case of a wreck) rather than hold the vestibule up.  I was unable to find a bolt that would mesh into anything, so we will just ignore this issue.  I am positive the vestibule will not fall off the car.

As Frank mentioned previously, the Steam Dept. guys straightened out our bent coupler drawbar quite nicely.  They have the tools, they have the talent.

 I didn't see Tom around, but decided to show my appreciation by installing it on the 321.  I couldn't find the nuts that hold the piping bracket to the coupler, but other than that, we're ready to couple onto a 100-car freight train and ...  well, maybe one or two.  What would Mr. Van Dorn say?

While over in Barn 11, there was an opportunity to photograph the TM line car D-22.  Frank painted it many years ago, and it looks a lot better than it actually is.

And in our pre-blog days, we specialized in display boards for favored pieces of equipment.

And next in line is North Shore 253, which also looks much better than it actually is.

Meanwhile, everybody's getting ready for the old car extravaganza.  This jewel is the best of the lot, in my biased opinion.  It wound up temporarily next to the Fannette waiting shelter.

And the track guys put an impressive collection of speeders on display in front of Barn 4.

And the B&G guys put signs all over the property for the various makes of vintage cars that will be on display tomorrow.

The 1630 was running, and is always popular with visitors.

 Illinois Terminal business car 233 is not normally open for visitors.  But if you're in the right place at the right time, you can get a guided tour.  Want to come along?  I know you do, so watch this space!

And then I decided to start on some more cosmetic work on the 150.  The front of the car looks particularly wretched.  It's not obvious, but there were screws and nails sticking out of the wood from various attempts to rebuild the car, and it was dangerous to brush against the end.   So let's start removing some of the phony additions.

 After some work, it may not look much better, but at least it's safer.

And I've started cutting out pieces of Masonite to patch over the end of the car.  This particular piece is pre-bent, which is quite convenient.

And I did a little more piping work for the sleet scrapers.

Meanwhile, my buddies in the Track Dept. were carefully putting the pride of the fleet in position in front of Barn 4.

Looking closely, you can even see the tread marks from the special Rail Type tires on the rail.  

By now, I probably don't have to whet your appetite for Vintage Transport.  Just be there!

AND....

My old friend Les Ascher sends us a link to an interesting site: the 1894 diary of a Chicago streetcar conductor.  If we only had an actual time machine....

New Light Rail Construction in Milwaukee

Up-to-date pictures of the construction progress in Milwaukee from Norm Krentel.

The first photo is on Ogden Ave., looking east from Astor Street.

The next is from the same location, but shows the old rail projecting out from the pavement.

Also looking east on Ogden Ave, and west of Astor St.  The old rubble has been cleaned out.

The next block to the west, on Ogden – shows the cavity is filled with stone and awaiting the rail structure.

On Jackson, just south of Ogden – rail is placed – shows rubber attached to both sides of the rail.

Next, just to the south on Jackson from the above image – rail is placed, with rail stacked.

Further south on Jackson St – tie remnants were left in place,

but have been cut off, allowing space for the new rails

On Broadway, new concrete for trolley support pole

On Broadway – these little pole bases are a bit of an obstruction….

Future Station - soon will be pouring more concrete – Jackson St.

IRM e-Newsletter for August

Frank writes...

In case you were interested, the latest IRM e-Newsletter is out and is printed below. Didn't receive this in your inbox and want to be added to the recipient list? Or maybe you want to add your friends? Or your enemies? (Okay, don't add your friends or your enemies - not unless you've asked them first!) Just go to http://mailchi.mp/irm/illinois-railway-museum-news and click on the "subscribe" button at the top. You'll be glad you did! ...Maybe! (Also, in case you were wondering, IRM definitely does NOT sell its e-mail list so your contact info is safe with us.)

Vintage Transport Extravaganza This Weekend Sunday, August 6th, is the 27th annual Vintage Transport Extravaganza, when more than 500 antique cars and trucks converge on Union for one of the largest car shows in the state. And there's a lot more happening at the Illinois Railway Museum: Happy Holiday Railway tickets are on sale - discounted now through Labor Day Vintage Transport Extravaganza is Sunday, August 6th Photo contest - win a free family pass to IRM! Diesel Days takes place August 12th & 13th Trains at twilight - special nighttime operations Labor Day Weekend Steam department progress Newly acquired electric locomotive arrives in Union Swift progress on "Warbonnet" diesel Santa Fe 92 New issue of "Rail & Wire" newsletter Visit us online for schedules, blog updates, and more Happy Holiday Railway tickets Tickets for Happy Holiday Railway trips in November and December are on sale now - and if you buy before Labor Day you can get $3 off per ticket! This family event features a magical train ride with Santa, cookies, gifts, carols, and a winter wonderland of lights and holiday decorations. Join us this holiday season! Click here for tickets and information Vintage Transport August 6th One of our biggest events is this Sunday! The Vintage Transport Extravaganza brings together hundreds of antique cars, trucks, buses, and military vehicles at the museum. Our steam engine, Frisco 1630, and the famous Nebraska Zephyr streamliner will also run along with interurbans and streetcars. Click for info or advance "skip the line" tickets Click here for vehicle registration form Family Fun Photo Contest We are holding a photo contest with a theme of"Family Fun at IRM" and we hope you'll submit an entry! Just e-mail your photo to us between now and August 30th for a chance to win. The grand prize is a family pass to the museum plus tickets on the Happy Holiday Railway! Photos should be between 1000 and 2500 pixels on their longest side, JPG or PNG format. E-mail your submission today Diesel Days August 12th-13th IRM has the nation's best and largest collection of vintage diesel locomotives and they'll be on display during Diesel Days. See these giants of the rails pass in review, ride behind historic locomotives like the E5 Silver Pilot, see demonstration freight service, and feel the ground rumble as thousands of horsepower pass by during the "Parade of Power." Lineup and event information on our website Night Trains Labor Day Weekend One of the best times of the year to visit IRM is on Labor Day Weekend, when train operations extend until 9:30pm. Nighttime operations give an indescribable "time machine" feel, transporting you back a century in a way you have to be there to experience! No extra fare - night trains run Saturday and Sunday and are included with your regular ticket those days. See our website for more information Steam Restoration Fund IRM is home to the nation's second-largest collection of preserved steam engines. But some of these 27 historic locomotives require stabilization and restoration work. A new fund has been set up to help with this: the Steam Locomotive Restoration Fund. Donations to this fund will help preserve our historic engines. Please write to IRM at PO Box 427, Union, IL 60180 or click here to donate. New Acquisition Arrives The museum's most recently acquired piece of equipment arrived the last week of July. It's Conrail E33 electric locomotive 4601, built by General Electric in 1956. Originally it ran on the Virginian, then later the New Haven and Penn Central. We are raising money to pay storage charges and to eventually repaint the locomotive. It was built for 11,000 volt use so operational restoration is not envisioned. Progress on "Warbonnet" FP45 The museum's FP45 "Warbonnet" diesel locomotive, Santa Fe 92, has been moved to NRE, in Silvis, Illinois, and is undergoing major work to replace its prime mover, main generator, and other components. But more money is needed to complete restoration and rebuilding work. Your support can help to make this historic engine operational! Click for more information on this project Latest "Rail & Wire" Published The June 2017 issue of "Rail & Wire," the official newsletter and magazine of the Illinois Railway Museum, is out. Its 48 pages are chock full of railroad history, progress reports, restoration accounts and more! All IRM members receive "Rail & Wire" as a benefit of membership so we hope you'll sign up and receive this great publication in your mailbox. Become an IRM member today Visit us online for schedules, blog updates, and more

Cosmetic Paint

Randy sez:

Hiya, friends, it's me again!  You know, one of the old guys, the one who's always complaining.  I am not Frank, that narrows it down, nor am I a lawyer.  I don't live in Salt Lake City.  Or Lombard.  I hope that helps, so let's get down to business.

I decided it was a good day for more cosmetic work on the 150.  I don't know how many visitors actually notice the ugly letterboard, but it always bugs me, so I might as well improve it a little.  This is not a thorough restoration like we would do on a car that will ever run in service, but for a display piece it should be sufficient.  I worked my way down the length of the letterboard, filling in gaps and nail holes with putty.

While I was up there, what should I notice but a Westinghouse type MP lightning arrester on top of the M-15.   That looks familiar!   So Bill was right, as always.  I loathe people who are always right.

It's not too clear in this picture, but even from the ground you can see that the house roof sticks out an inch or so from the letterboard, because it was installed over the ugly old wooden gutter that I got rid of last year.  I certainly don't want to do any work on the roof, it's pretty good the way it is.  So what we need, I think, is something that looks like tack molding.  

And here it is as a proof of concept.  A spare piece of  ordinary pine 1x2 has its top edge cut off at a 45 degree angle.  It fits up nicely under the roof overhang.  I will trim the bottom edges to make it look like real tack molding, paint it black, and nail it in place.   And that will complete this side of the car.

By early afternoon the entire letterboard had a new coat of white primer.  Next time it will get a first coat of Traction Orange.

Out by Schroeder's Store, the back porch is getting put together.

And on the west side, this will be the handicap-accessible entrance.

I asked Dave about the plans for the cars currently stored near the depot.  He says the two on the north track will be pulled out once everything is transferred to Schroeder's, and that track can perhaps be used for rotating displays of equipment.  The other two cars may stay there, and be opened for business on special days, such as Thomas.

The other thing was to finish up painting the vestibule floor in the 36.  Getting paint behind all the piping for the brakes and sleet scrapers is a challenge.

And finally, I painted the threshold casting, with its worn lettering "JOHN STEPHENSON COMPANY" still legible after all these years.  Because this part had not yet been painted, I hadn't noticed that we're missing two bolts at this end!   I'll have to look underneath to see if anything can be done about it.

But I'm pretty sure it's been like that for a long time, and is not on the verge of collapse.  None of the other cars have an exposed set of bolted castings like this.

And in conclusion, don't forget to tell your friends and acquaintances about the EXTRAVAGANZA.