I have to admit. By the time i got home after the weekend i was “out of gas”
A weekend mostly outside, getting the Yard 5 stuff done and going over the displays in Barn 3.
Less than a week until opening!

during the cooler time, and evening Saturday I attacked the corridor in Silver Ridge, to finally get the carpet fixed from the Terror event. The weave was not damaged, but the entire runner had been shifted about 1 foot lengthwise, so one end was stuffed under the next section. Obviously not going to be good for the public to trip over all summer, so it needed to be pulled.
The unfortunate part of the job (and the main reason I had been putting it off) is that it was installed and secured by the baseboard, so to fix the problem, the baseboards for the entire corridor needed to be pulled off. The initial installation in 2005 was a ROYAL pain so i was not too excited to need a repeat.
As with all things, finally I talked myself into it.

Baseboards pulled, carpet rolled up , i am going to have it trimmed to fit properly while i am at it. I also decided that if i was going to work on the flooring, I may as well make it all at once, and pulled the roomette corridor as well. This section still had the Amtrak padding under it, so it was an entire project to pulle it out and then yank up all the staples one at a time.

With that project moving along, i looked at the photo gallery for Silver Ridge and realized I had not been posting updates. Naughty me!
The 2011 pictures I have uploaded include the repairs being done over the winter, and the work in progress in the corridor

http://www.irm.org/gallery/CBQ493?page=2

During Wednesday and Saturday , we will have a “dress rehearsal” for the displays, and i hope to post and update after that

first a small note on comments. They are easy here just click the blue “no comments” spot at the top of any blog and it opens a place to make notes. We are discussing with the web goddess Pauline to try and make that spot a bit more noticeable, but once you know its there, it works fine

on to the “news”

not a lot of news right now, just a note to say we havent forgotten.

Been kind of busy with prep work, and the lousy cold rainy weather has not made things simple.

You folks might see a couple new authors show up here.
Mike has been thinking about writing some notes for folks about the inner workings of the department ,
and Eric Oleson has signed on to do some roster stuff and maybe throw out a note or two. He spends time on the road and wants to be able share while “on the road”
Charles Kuralt would be proud……

In order to not lose too much time, i think i am going to jump on the prep work in the streamliners for a couple of days, indoors and a bit warmer. If the sun comes out, i can finish Yard 5 and the barn stuff.

I am planning to take new pictures once i have the projects in hand, and will of course let folks know when the gallery is updated.

Thanks to the folks that provided info on two of our orphan cars, so i can put them in proper spots in the photo gallery.

Ten days to opening….

general information from around the department as we approach the opening of the museum for 2011.

GENERAL DEPARTMENT PROGRESS 

The weather variables of early spring have once again affected the total plan for the department. While projects have all moved forward, much work has been slower than hoped. As the weather now improves, we hope to increase the pace a bit. However, as usual in March, we must soon begin to inspect and prepare mainline cars for revenue service.  

Barn 3 displays are being inspected and prepared during the second two weeks of March, in anticipation of opening Day in April.

 Exterior signs will be mounted for more cars than in the past, as we aim toward a more consistent and complete display presentation for our guests.

The goal is to have Barn 3 complete for Opening Day, and Yard 5 ready during April, in time for Mothers Day May 8. 

We still, since November, await the move to place the last passenger car indoors, and provide a chance to repair the broken window remaining from the Terror event. The snow made the move difficult in the short term, but we continue to have one more car outdoors that should be indoors. 

We also still await the switch move to get the EJE troop sleeper out of the 10-0 track and place it for restoration and display, as approved by the BOD and the Department head nearly a year ago. 

EQUIPMENT REPORTS 

Inbound Acquisitions

Incoming acquisitions are making progress, but each has become complicated by factors. 

The CBQ 1309 baggage car in Denver had some administrative problems and will require a visit by the Executive director to make the final push for transport. We hope to have this item solved shortly 

Olympus wheels are in discussion , and while we hope to complete the acquisition soon, it is taking a while to get all the pieces in the “right place” The latest conversation places the car in line for travel in May, as the shop at Gateway is currently in use on retail work. 

DLW coaches (3)

 One car, 567, is in service

556 continues to have its interior cleaned in preparation of a ceiling painting when temperatures are better.

571 awaits the repair of brake hardware, fabrication of parts.         

Rock Island Coaches (4)

As noted earlier, four revenue Rock Island coaches are now in service. The fifth remains awaiting restoration

One car, previously noted, still awaits a window re-glazing following the Terror event, but should not delay use of the car this season season. 

ATSF 2544

          The prep work for the second side of seats has continued, with frame repair and refinishing taking place in the shop at Barn 4. Plans are to reinstall the second set of seats and complete the restoration work early this season. Some of the floor work has waited for warmer temperatures, but should be started soon. 

CBQ 1923 RPO

Brakes system has been reworked, with significant re-piping and repairs to ensure long term function. The work is complete pending its final test this spring. 

Dover Strait

          More interior work has been completed, and we are now preparing to install barriers on bedroom doors, making the car part of the planned second walk through display inside Barn 3. 

B&M 3288/1094

          No change, with continued interior work. Exterior painting was begun in late autumn, and we expect Jack will continue this as well. 

NP 230 Baggage

The Wednesday special Projects group has begun cosmetic restoration of this car to original NP Loewy Green design, The work was stopped for winter, but should begin again soon. Their current priority is of course the Havelock baggage car for the Pullman Library, and so the timetable for this car is not very well defined. 

CBQ Silver Ridge

The repairs needed from the Terror event have continued. Roomette doors are prepped and await the parts needed to reattach them, seats have been reupholstered.

Corridor carpet will require repair/reinstallation from the Terror event, should not incur any costs, will simply require time to accomplish. 

CZ Siver Pony

This car, having arrived in January, is making progress in anticipation for display.

The weather here is more inclement than is its last place of residence, and shortly after a good rainstorm, we discovered the significant water leaks caused by the broken windows. Due to this issue, we have begun the process of replacing windows sooner rather than later.

In addition we continue to clean and organize the interior. missing parts have been identified and some already located for repair.

Our goal is to have the car ready for display as soon as it is placed on trucks.

Completion will take years of course, but short term work should make the car safe for guests, as well as potential donors.

We understand the high profile nature of this acquisition and hope to make it a positive addition to the museum. 

YARD 5 DISPLAYS

Electrical service to the second exhibit car has moved forward, and with the approaching completion of Barn 4 addition, work should be completed soon.

Yard 5 review will include installation/repair of anti-climber signage, equipment information where available, and aisle markings to maintain the center aisle as a service area. In addition, we hope to implement traffic control devices on the east end of the yard, to minimize wandering off the paved surface. Some of our small enhancements were successful last year, and so we will try to improve on that for 2011.