Away On a Waycar

 This weekend is IRM's annual Diesel Days, with the never-equaled Diesel Parade, and we were in need of trainmen for the Waycar Train (aka Caboose Train) seen above.   So I decided it was my patriotic duty to help out, especially since it was going to be too hot and steamy to do what I really wanted, finish outlining the letterboard on the 36.  

Before service started, though, I was able to do several letters, which you should be able to make out.

Having grown up in Burlington territory, I naturally chose the Q waycar for my service today.  It's quite nice inside, as such things go.  The big red emergency brake lever (R) has been plugged, since we can't trust the passengers.  That always got a laugh.

Here we are on our way out to the station track, pulled by the first FM Diesel built.

 And we were busy all day, except during the parade itself.  Granted, it doesn't take many people to fill up one of these cars.  The Museum had a great crowd of people today, I think, and there were photographers everywhere.  So I didn't try to compete with the pros.  Anybody who took pictures of the parade should send them in.

The weather was less than the best, to put it mildly.  Most of the day it was extremely hot and humid, then just after the parade started, a tremendous thunderstorm blew through and drenched everybody.  But most people seem to have taken it in good humor.  

 

While the parade was in progress, I had a break from service, so I went to the car shop.  I finished disassembling the bad grid box from the 36.  We have ordered new mica tubes and mica washers from a supplier.  The tubes often don't survive the disassembly process, as seen here, so we will make good use of the new parts.

 I wasn't just imagining things: this grid box really did have a problem.

Don't look now, but some of the Car Dept. guys seem to have little interest in the Diesel Parade.  Tim is working on the intricate marker light assemblies for the roof of the 24, a good project for such a muggy day.

Bill helps by cutting out and painting the shields for the marker lights.  Because the entire system has to be scratch built, among other things two cast-iron frying pans and several cans of baked beans were used to put it all together.

And John McKelvey continues to work on seats for the Rock Island cars, every day.  Here he using the canvas removed from the roof of the 319 for one of the stationary seats.  It made a dreadful excuse for a roof, but it's just what he needs for these seats, evidently.

Anyway, the parade was quite impressive, as always, and if you can make it out there tomorrow it will be repeated just for your benefit.  Say, did I mention that the Zephyr was running and serving lunch?   What more could you want?

Moving ERHS to Union

A long-time member and friend, Gregg Wolfersheim, recently loaned us a nice set of pictures of the heroic movement of the ERHS collection from the Downers Grove area to Union in 1973.   The history of the Electric Railway Historical Society has already been covered here.

Gregg's pictures are carefully numbered and annotated, so we'll just present them in chronological order with his captions, some of which include details on the trucks used for the move.  Enjoy!

These images are copyrighted by the photographer and may not be reproduced without permission.

1st car loaded      4391

Red Top Trucking     Hammond, IN

Hendrickson H4   #103

 4391

Bill McGregor 

 4391

 4391     Note: Destination

John Woytash

 From 75th St. looking south

 2846 westbound Rt. 38

John Woytash leading in his yellow Maverick

 2846

84 at IRM

Towed by Allen's

1374 in the barn.  Nick Kallas, Bill McGregor and Dave Shore (clowning around),  unknown

Note the 'Flying Streetcar' in background suspended from trusses.

1374 getting winched out.  Dennis Storzek and Dave Shore watching. 

Bill McGregor at the right.

1374

1374 starting up the ramp

Dennis, Dave & Bill

1374 almost on the trailer

Storzek chocking wheel to stop the car

Dennis, Bill & Dave balance the load.

Behind Dennis is Nick's '65 Chevy pick-up truck.

1374   Ready to go

  Parked by road and ready to go for the next morning.

 141 coming up the ramp.

L to R: John Hurckes, Dennis Storzek, Dave Shore & Bill McGregor

141     Red Top 118 (replaced 103)

Nick Kallas, Dennis Storzek, Dave Shore, Bill McGregor

141

2843

The International "Farmall" A in foreground was acquired by IRM too.  Rebuilt to running condition by Gregg Wolfersheim.  It was later traded to Phil Hehn for a different tractor.

2843

Dave Shore leads in his VW, with Dennis Storzek in his Chevrolet and Nick Kallas following.

2843

Nick's VW following Storzek with a red flag on his bumper.

2843    Rt. 38 & Winfield Rd.

Storzek still trailing, but now followed by Jim Johnson in his GMC pick-up.

F-305

Red Top 103 is back!

F-305

L to R: Dave Shore (his Volkswagen) Nick Kallas, Dennis Mueller, Bill McGregor

36 Report

Over the past couple of days, what is currently the north side of the 36 got its letterboard finished with the word "Elgin"; it still needs the black outlining though.  And then I put a second coat of grey on the windows posts and window sill on this side.

Also I partly disassembled the defective grid box to check the measurements of the mica tubes, with Rod's help.  We're getting quotes on new mica tubes from various suppliers, and should be putting in an order very soon.  There are some other cars and locomotives that will need new tubes also.

Let's check on another project: the Michigan Electric car.  Maybe it's not as obvious from this picture as it is in real life, but the side sill for the baggage compartment is missing.  Golly.

But Jeff Brady has a nice new piece of steel to replace it, and is plotting out where all the holes should go.  There are lots of rivet holes, it looks like Swiss cheese.

And here are some of the other structural members that need to be replaced.

Out on the property things are in a state of rapid change.

South Junction has been raised and leveled.  The facing point switch in this picture used to be in a depression, and the new level track should be much easier to navigate for everybody. 

And Yard 15 is being expanded.  The single track already installed will be 153, evidently, and here is the switch over to 154.   Another switch will lead to 151/152.  

This is Wednesday evening.

The next morning, at 7:15 the contractors were already at work; here new ties are being taken out to yard 15 from their storage location by the new cutoff track.  By the time I left on Thursday afternoon, all ties were in place on 154 and the rails appeared to be bolted up, but not spiked. 

And then we have a new north/south road about halfway between Railroad Ave. and Olson.  Here's the intersection with Main St., looking south.  I don't know what its name is, since street signs haven't been installed yet.

Near the new intersection, Knut's old windmill is still in place, the last vestige of pre-IRM days.

Today I repainted all of the red on the north side of the 36.  It's hard to see in these photos, but perhaps you can make out before and after.

 And sanding and painting on the #1 end of the car.

I was hoping to run the 36 and 309 for the Transport Extravaganza, but due to the grid failure, it will probably be 308 and 309.  It's not that far away, and we need people to sign up.  Now is a good time to examine your conscience....