Archive for June, 2008
Update June 22, 2008
Posted by: | Commentsits been a couple of weeks since we last did an update, mostly because I was just plugging along doing the same ol’ same ol’ and didnt think anyone would be interested.
This week we made some progress.
First, a bit off topic, we need to congratulate the guys from Electric land that got the Electroliner out and washed her up for display. The train looks great!
http://www.irm.org/gallery/album114
second we got some progress made on the RDC. The latest writings we found thanks to Barb Lanphier pretty much confirm the cars number is really 9934, not 9933. We got one side of the pullover seats disassembled, and discovered they were all welded shut, so we fixed that. Then of course we needed to do the lubrication and other fixing to get them to work again, and true to most railroad constructions, they work fine with just a little attention. Once we have the chance to reassemble one side w ewill do the other as well. All upholstery is in decent shape so the seats should be usable soon.
http://www.irm.org/gallery/CNW9933/abc
Exterior is less purple than before, but it will be a loooong summer until we get it all off. Cant rush it because under the purple and silver paint is a layer ot white and then in spots another layer of purple but in the end its all stainless.
http://www.irm.org/gallery/CNW9933/abh progress
http://www.irm.org/gallery/CNW9933/abg stainless shine showing through a bit
on the other streamliner front, we are still stalled on electricity, so we still are hoping for a cool summer! We have been moving forward with some of the displays.
BLE 25 is done and waiting to go into its heavyweight train location. We have plans to put out a decent diverse Pullman green passenger train for diesel weekend, so stay tuned and come out for the show!
DMIR 84 windows are all in thanks to Chucks persistence.
Galt House is almost done, and as soon as we can get it switched into position we will be ready to open it for visitors for the first time in three years! Another forward step we hope. It will allow up to have a complete set of heavyweight cars as a walk through with ATSF loungs 1534 and ATSF combuine 2544, plus visits with Ely when Shelly is out.
have a great summer! come out and visit as often as you can , and feel more than free to donate to your favorite passenger car
Update June 11, 2008
Posted by: | Commentssorry for not being too talkative for a bit. Was out of town for over a week, and back last Sunday, spent most of the day just getting things “back on track” so to speak.
We are making progress on the electricity for Yard 5. Max got all three poles in the ground last weekend. YAAAAY!!!
Now we await the ordering of parts to install on those lovely poles.
In the meantime, the streamliner set is open for visits, but not running at 100%. We have perhaps half the power needed, and no power at all to the RDC or shop car yet.
In the meantime, we keep making progress on removing all that purple on the RDC. Marc has been plugging away at it, and it will be a task to pick away at for the rest of the season, I think. In addition, we have taken all the seats apart on one side of the car, and gotten the pullover seats to work again. We discovered that someone didnt want the seats to be movable, so they WELDED the frames shut. D’OH!
A couple of new pics in the RDC folder, hope to take some interior shots this weekend as well. The car is cleaning up nicely, and as soon as we have electricity in the area, I hope to solve the lighting issue as well. Just cant do a lot of experimenting yet since i dont really have a stable source right now.
http://www.irm.org/gallery/CNW9933
On the heavyweight front, The diaphragms are in on one end of the Dover, and of course they are gorgeous. Bob Hunter has fought them all winter and spring, fabricating and shaping each piece by hand one at a time. Next we hope to get someone to start sanding the corridor and perhaps get the car striped and lettered this summer.
Bessemer combine 25 has its windows back in, and Mike hopes to get it air tested this weekend. The brake valves for the DLW cars are back, and one is installed, hope to get the second one in next weekend.
B&M cafe car is quietly moving along as well. Jack is beginning to work on the coach area, and if the dining area is any indication, its gonna be great when he gets it done.
Wayne Baksic is making new step boxes for the barn displays, larger than previous stock, to make it a bit easier for our visitors. Once they are done, we will plan to open Susan Marie up for visits, as the ramp railing has been opened for a doorway.
We hope to get the barn reset this weekend, and give Andy a chance to assault the other side of the IC cafe car, plus put the Galt House in position to open for visitors.
This time of year, there always seems to be lots of things to do, and never enough time to do them. As always, if anyone wants to help feel free to join in. We have housekeeping to do, metalwork on some, paint removal on some, etc, etc, etc…..