Archive for May, 2008
Wekend Update Memorial Day 2008
Posted by: | Commentsa good show by the museum! Ultimately on Monday there were two mainline electrics, one streetcar, and one interurban running from 50th Av. All this plus the mainline coach and cabeese train. YAY!
i took a set of photos for our out of town friends to see
http://www.irm.org/gallery/Memorial-Day-2008
Friday and Saturday, i was asked to help the electric dept by leaving the generators off so they could have tranquility to reinstall the tractions motors in 415, and it worked and 415 is back to life. Great work by the electric dept.
This meant we could not open for guests on Saturday, as i am really uncomfortable putting our visitors in a display with no light or fans. We did it the first year we opened in 2005, but that was only of necessity until we learned the electrical systems of the cars. We did open Sunday and Monday and seemed to be a good place for folks to stop by.
Our new location is going to be great, I think, once we get our electrical service installed and get the cars all up and running
On the passenger front,
Galt House got its carpets scrubbed, they look good again, Shelly made a lot of muddy water but its done. Now she can reassemlble and we can get it switched into its correct spot we can open for visitors.
Susan Marie finally got an opening in the walkway, so we can begin to plan a guest visit again.
We still want to make it at least a three car set, and add the Dover when Bob gets the corridor ready
The Yard 5 display is coming along. Got the interior of the RDC cleaned up a bunch, and made the aisle passable for visitors, also got a power cord run to Birmingham, so we will be able to keep the kitchen on, and no generator. Down to two running for display use. Electric is only about half of my need for the two cars being fed, so we can turn on lights and a few fans, but thats about it.
If anyyone wants to help make all that icky purple paint go away on the outside of the CNW RDC please feel free to stop by
As always, donations are welcome. i anticipate about $500 in electrical service installation for the cars in their new location, as well as another 25K AC unit for Pacific Peak and someday a fifth generator to run the RDC on the mainline train.
The account for the stramliner sleeper train is RSILVERCAR
The account for the passenger department is RPASSENGR
each car has its own fund as well, if there is some specific item or project please let us know
We will not be out the weekend of May 31 and June 1 so probably no update unless Pauline or Mike get the chance to jump in
Weekend update May 18 2008
Posted by: | Commentsanother weekend of steady progress.
All diaphragm joints in streamliner sleeper train have been closed up so when we get AC we should be able to control the space fairly well.
RDC paint removal continues, and we hope to have the interior cleared enough to at least let railfans in for Memorial Day weekend. It wont even be close to clean, but it will not be dangerous, so we will provide two entrances; one for the fans, one for folks that want to bypass it.
http://www.irm.org/gallery/CNW9933/aal
In the current configuration, we even got the side curtains between the cars to work, so another real railroad device will be out for view.
The single missing counter light in Birminghams kitchen finally got fabricated, (dont blame anyone else but me, i was trying to find one before making one) and now its installed. Kudos to R&B Metal, as they turned out a great unit, better than i expected.
The one project not completed this weekend was to track down the electrical circuit feeding the outlets in Silver Ridge. i want to connect the DVD video displays in the car itself, and eliminate the “extension cords through the corridor” syndrome and the “cords down the potty hole” syndrome. The car works as designed, it just has this one quirk i havent figured out yet.
On the Barn 3 side, Mike found a CRIP coach with bad wheels, so its OOS until the board can arrange wheels. Two other coaches were tested and cleared, and so Memorial Day will have a four car coach train. The fifth and sixth cars will be along shortly, one needs a valve, one needs testing and a ceiling panel.
Kind of a drag, but Mike seems to end up with coach work all year long now. I am sure he would love to do some restoration work but he takes his responsibility seriously and needs to be appreciated for the effort. If he ever get sout from under the coaches, he will need to work on the open coach, “known as the Vista Kallas” and work will be needed on the Glen Springs.
Dave got the prep work done to open the walkway to allow access to the Susan Marie, and we hope to have a second set of cars open for view soon. He also got the roof replaced and new side light panels installed before the Barn 11 project begins. Thanks Dave!
On Monday May 19, Operation Lifesaver made a stop at IRM for lunch and brief tours. It seemed to go well, and lots of folks seemed to enjoy the visit.
http://www.irm.org/gallery/album75
now we have a youtube video of the train on pulling out of the museum after their visit as well
http://www.youtube.com:80/watch?v=TL43-c-MyIQ
If the switch crew gets the two coaches out on the train, we may be able to get the Barn 3 moves done, and get Galt House in position to open for visits as well. We would then have two sets open for passage, and a total of 12 of 15 cars inside the barn lit.
We have a need for more docents if anyone is interested in “sitting” with one of our parlor cars. Shelly is working hard to get Ely ready, and if we open Susan Marie, it will require another volunteer. Friendly atmosphere and light workload, meet neat folks that want to enjoy the cars. If you have time please let Mike or I know, and we will be happy to have cars open based on availability.
CNW 7700 photo update
Posted by: | Commentsadded a few new pics of the door building in the wood shop winter 2007-08. not big news, just a further sharing of the work put into the doors by the passenger team Shelly, Wayne, Mike, Ray, Marc with lots of help from Bob Kutella and the wood shop crew
Weekend Update May 10. 2008
Posted by: | CommentsHappy Mothers Day to all
Saturday was a decent weather day, made a good amount of progress getting the streamliner cars powered up and lit for visitors.
Sunday not so good…..
Chilly rainy until early afternoon, then an area wide power failure for two hours took the place down for awhile.
It was kind of fun being the only spot in the museum with electricity for a while. Kitchen was open and a few folks stopped in for a “cup and a sit”.
On the work front,
RDC paint removal made forward progress. Mark Gellman just keeps scrapin’ and scrapin’ and…..
photos in the car file http://www.irm.org/gallery/CNW9933
Streamliner cars got some of their joints weatherproofed, and some of the interior display pieces got put out.
Cleaning will be a perpetual process for a while, until we get caught up and full power restored.
While we are on internal power, we do not have enough electricity for AC so as a purely selfish reason we hope for cool temperatures for a while.
After two years of dependable service one of our generators is getting a bit fussy, so will have to do some maintenance next week.
Mike got the second DLW coach tested and it failed, so after attempting repairs, he pulled the brake valve from the icky baaaad DLW coach, and it failed too.So no added coaches this week.
Pete did get the CRIP coaches in position so Mike can go on them next weekend, add one for Memorial Day at least we hope….
Roger and Bob Hunter were out and both made progress on the Dover.
Wayne got the main signpost in front of Barn 3 installed between tracks 2 and 3 so we can do a nice display for guests.
Shelly keeps finding things to clean in Galt House. she also brought in the mirrors we need to replace so we hope to get them hung soon.
Mark Hoffman was a “tailhoser” Saturday, so spent Sunday getting the BLE 25 window re installed. Almost done. We have an ulterior motive as we need to assemble a Pullman train for a special event in late July
As always, if anyone is interested in work on a particular piece of equipment, they are always welcome to
ask questions or
help or
donate
and we will appreciate it greatly.
Weekend Update May 4 2008
Posted by: | CommentsYAAY!!! We are moved to our new home in Yard 5
Knowing that we needed to vacate so Dave could get the barn started, the switch crew came out about 4 pm and said to prepare to move.
and move we did
http://www.irm.org/gallery/Streamliner-cars-move-to-Yard-5-May-2008
Yard 5 rearranged , Bob Bruneaus caboose shifted to Yard 4 and the streamliner set in place on the north track of Yard 5, with the RDC on the nose. It will give us a “blunt end obs” for now, a new addition to the display, and hopefuly a coach trailer for the set when it goes out on the mainline.
Obviously there will be lots to do. First thing we will need to get all the cars on generator power until Max gets a chance to install the new equipment. Then we will need to get all the car connections weatherproofed. Progress on Silver Ridge and the RDC will begin as soon as we can. Mark is already getting the purple off the outside.
We will be out and open for Mothers Day weekend, perhaps “under construction” but feel free to stop by and say hi in our new digs. Diner is still closed, so we will contiue to have light refreshments available for donations in Birmingham
On other passenger notes, Mike, Ray and Mark got the second car on the mainline train, the third is in line to be tested Saturday, and hopefully be ready for service on Mothers Day. Shelly makes progress on the interior of Galt House in preparation for its opening soon.
We continue to have 12 cars in Barn 3 lit for display.
Summer is almost here, and we agoing to have a blast. Join us if you can!