Color and Light

The first priority today was to install newly repainted windows in our IT coach 518. I started by removing the paper and masking tape from the outer storm windows, seen here in progress. Then they were pushed up in their usual stored position, and the inner windows were put in place, along with the window shade tracks and shade boxes. Each window has a large number of screws to drive home.

When done, this is what it looks like from the outside:

(I was asked to leave the paper in place on the car in case touch-up is needed.)

And the inside.

I also did some painting on the new parts of the 277 I recently completed. Here's the double window post. Rod got the old orange paint matched very closely, I think. Of course, the car is somewhat faded, and if we were going to completely repaint it a different shade would probably be needed, but for now this seems to work well.

And here's the new window sill section. It may not be obvious, but these two pictures show the same car and the same color. Who ya gonna believe, me or your own lying eyes?!?

A couple of days ago B&G inspected the various barns and gave us some useful advice on things to fix. Dave suggested pulling the rugs out from under the blue cars, which I did. And then it would be a good idea to block our scaffold so younger visitors aren't tempted to climb up. This piece of Masonite was once part of the temporary end of the 308. It's just the right size and rather decorative. I suppose now we should finally letter the faux-faux-folding sign. I also spent some time sorting and storing parts. And I removed all of my personal things from the 234.

Several other projects were in progress. Tim continues to work on the 1797; the west end appears to be nearing completion.

And Max turned on the newly-installed lights in the shop extension for the first time! Woo hoo!

Spring Break?

Nothing says "spring break" like Florida! This is another old car card in the 150. I'm not sure how authentic it is, but I suppose it's possible the Hotel Floridan might have been advertising in Lake Shore territory back in the thirties. It's covered with the same glop (shellac?) as the others, which probably cannot be removed.

Fresh Paint and Other News

The Cleveland PCC was switched out of the paint shop and sent over to Barn 8 today, so I had a chance to take pictures of it in natural light. The striping is not yet complete, but that can be done in the barn. Meanwhile, the 714 was run into the paint shop so it can be repainted.

This is really going to look sharp when it's done!

I painted the new posts with primer and installed the metal plate and trim pieces on the 277 today. Rod and the others will take care of doing the touch-up with orange, and it will be complete. I also finished fitting the new section of outside window sill on the 518, and painted the bottom and edges so it can be installed next time. Good progress is being made on several fronts to get the IT cars ready for the big day.

Recent Donations

We have just received some more interesting artifacts donated by long-time IRM friend Robert Campbell, who is moving out of state. I can't tell you how much we appreciate gifts like this!

First we have a set of four advertising cards from the CA&E. These cards are all double-sided and would be hung on clips over the window between the smoker and the main compartments. As a rule, they advertise upcoming one-time events and wouldn't be used for very long. These are all in very good condition considering their age.

There's something for everybody here: natural history lectures, flowers, livestock, and boxing! What's not to like?

And all these events have one thing in common: there's only one sensible way to get there.

And finally, we have a trolley frog that came from St. Louis. These heavy castings cannot easily be replaced and are always useful. Thanks, Bob!


Remember, if you have railroad artifacts or memorabilia you no longer want or can care for, IRM can always give them a good home!

Focus on IT

We're working hard to prepare for the Illinois Terminal Society meet on April 30th, and everybody is invited. This means you. Please be as numerous as possible, and bring lots of spare cash to donate. (If you can.)

After two or three hours of chiseling and fitting, I finished the replacement window post sections on the 277 as seen here. I would like to wait for a warmer day and paint everything before final assembly. To the right is a test fitting of the metal plate which will cover the double post; we also have the two vertical metal trim pieces for each side. Now that's it's essentially done, I guess I can say that was fun!

And I don't usually like to admit to being a chiseler, but it's for a good cause.

Then it was time to look at the 518. There was a section of window sill that had rotted out, as seen here. Actually, I'm afraid there's more that needs to be replaced, but not today. I brought out my chisels again and started turning this wood into kindling.

I was surprised to find that the sills had been installed with cut nails. I don't think I'll reproduce this detail, although cut nails are still available. (R) It was a big relief to find that the structural wood under the sills was in good condition.

Lots of other IT work is being done. All of the windows from the 518 are being repainted by Danielle and maybe others. A few of them are seen here on the bench.

Joel has repainted all of the baggage racks for the 277.

Max is installing the lights for the new shop extension, helped today by Henry Vincent. Here we see Max on the platform drilling holes for attaching the fixtures.

Tim was working on parts for the 1797, as usual. Here he is painting one of the many new window frames.


He also helped me with rabbeting the window sill section for the 518, since the dimensions are slightly different from the 277.


So we're putting our heated shop facilities to good use. Of course, we could always use more help!

We've got real potential

I did spend some time on Sunday working on the 205, but it wasn't anything terribly exciting. I installed the center end window (shown below) at the west end, needle-chipped and wire wheeled one of the end window posts, and did some more clean-up inside the car. Practically everything is now underneath the seats instead of on top of them, though I still need to do something with the large pile of junk window shades at the east end of the car.More interesting, or at least I thought, was that I assisted (read as: stood around and watched) a group of Car Dept people who were troubleshooting CA&E 431. Training motormen on the CA&E steel cars will begin this year with the goal of putting them into revenue service, but before that happens a few bugs have to be taken care of. Most notable is the 431, which hasn't been "playing well with others." In a two-car train there are control problems, although the car is fine by itself or in a three-car train. The problem was traced to the potential relay, something the wood cars don't even have . I was told that this drops out the motors if power is lost in the 3rd point or above, forcing the motorman to notch back up and preventing a sudden jolt of current when power is regained (like at a third rail gap). Below left, the potential relay, which is mounted inside the end of the DB-260 contactor box; below right, Rod, Dan and Joe watch as the car is sequenced after the relay was repaired by Rod.









In other news, Norm Krentel updated me on the replacement contactor tip situation. The order has apparently been placed for a batch of new DB-131 contactor tips which can be used under the 409 and 308, and we're working on an order for DB-15 tips that can be used under the 309, 36 and also under "L" car 1024 if it is made to run in the future. Know any museums that might be interested in going in on the DB-15 order with us? Shoot us an e-mail!

Tick, Tick, Tick

The Illinois Terminal Society annual meeting will be held at IRM on Saturday, April 30th this year. You do not want to miss it! Meanwhile, time is ticking away so we're working like madmen to get things ready. Your Museum has, of course, the only comprehensive and operational collection of IT equipment, and we want to demonstrate it to the fullest.

Work has mostly concentrated on our IT combine #277. I installed the new section of window sill seen here. It needs another coat of primer over the filler, but it was too cold today. After the primer, we'll put on a coat or two of Traction Orange.

Most of the day was spent attacking the double window post seen earlier, which was badly rotted out. I cut out and adjusted the replacement post for the right side, as seen here.

Then it was trimmed and installed. I then started working on the left side. The wood needs to be trimmed down to a straight line that we can fit the replacement pieces to, and doing this with a chisel is time-consuming and tiring. It struck me that it would probably be faster just to drill a few holes and start blasting. But the others would probably want me to pull the car out of the barn first, and there was too much junk in the way. So that plan was abandoned.

The left-hand post needs to be in two sections, connected by a ship lap. I have essentially finished the lower half, although more trimming of the original post is needed. But good progress is being made.

I took some time to walk out to the 321. Icicles are hanging from the tarp, but everything seems to be OK. As usual, I climbed up the side of a nearby boxcar to check the top of the tarp.

Lots of other projects were being worked on, too many to list. These include other parts of the 277. Joel Ahrendt was stripping the old paint from baggage racks, down to the bare brass. These will be painted silver, unfortunately.

Scott Greig inspected the controller.

As I say, there were many different projects going on. Here Dave Fullarton is working on toys for tots, it appears.

Pardon Our Dust

Here at the Schroeder Store, we're busy remodeling to serve you better at our new location. Or just to serve you at all, I guess. We have contractors hard at work rehabbing the building. One of them told me the structure is in better condition than it might look, and should be very dependable when they're done.

(R) You may be able to make out the original sign advertising "Used Furniture & Antiques" -- but that's not all you'll find at the new improved Schroeder Store! So watch this space for news!

Meanwhile, I've been ordered by the boss to fix up the 277 in various places, some of which I showed last time. I now have the wood I need. The first project was to make the window sill sections, and I trimmed the first one to shape and installed it in the 277, as seen here. It takes a while to make the various adjustments, but the end result is a nice tight fit.

I also made two corner post moldings we'll need for the bad center window post.

They were then painted with white primer. I also slapped as much paint as I could on the wood under the new window sill. I should be able to install it on Saturday.

I also worked for quite a while on excavating rotten wood from the two posts shown here. Unfortunately the absent-minded professor forgot to bring his good chisel set along, but I was able to make progress with the department's tools. Next time I will try to smooth it out some more and start cutting the post replacements I made today to fit.

And I now have a matching color for the 319 vestibule floors, which are different from the rest of the floor.

In the evening I went to the visitation in Wheaton for Julie Johnson. (Frank had been there earlier.) The funeral home was packed, and there was a large crowd of IRM members. Pete Schmidt came in from Baltimore, and there were others who came long distances or made special efforts to attend. I can't begin to list them all. It was good to be able to talk to some of Julie's relatives, and to join the large number of people who came to pay their respects to the memory of a life-long member who did so much for the Museum.