Archive for News
Dept short update 2011-08-31
Posted by: | CommentsFeast or Famine , right?
Well today I got some stuff done, AND have a bit of energy left, so why not jot down a little update…
For those of you that are aware of my ongoing "arguments" with the ventilation of the Streamliner set this summer, I managed to solve another part of it
I was able to locate and repair the condensation leak in Birmingham, so now it doesnt drip on our visitors….
PLUS today when the temps got near 90 with bright sun and much more humid (again!!!) The system kept the car around 80F.
Success!
Good for this month, and answers for next year in place…
I also keep being surprised at how the Pacific Peak is staying cooler with the new blower system.
After this weekend, we will be preparing the cars for use on Showcase weekend, so come on out and take a ride!
Next door, the Wednesday guys continue to make great progress in the sunny weather.
The painting of NP 230 is moving along, and the lettering is beginning
http://www.irm.org/gallery/NP230
In addition, another bunch of Joes guys are really going at the CGW combine
http://www.irm.org/gallery/CGW4061
both cars could use support to defray the cost of the restoration.
PLUS>>> if anyone wants to support the Special Projects group as a whole, they can make a donation to them as well.
Dept update 2011-08-25
Posted by: | Comments
A little time, and a little energy. A good time to write a few notes for our distant friends.
First, a bit of congratulations to the Wednesday special Projects Group.
They have been quietly making some really great progress on the restoration of several cars over the past two years, and they need to be applauded and thanked.
To begin, the CBQ Havelock Baggage car received for the Pullman Library is finished, and is on display as the third head end car of the Central Av display line.
http://www.irm.org/gallery/album205?page=1
While they were finishing that piece, a few of the guys began exterior work on the NP baggage car being used as a shop for the Passenger Dept.
The effort has really dressed up the car, painted in NP MOW brown until now
http://www.irm.org/gallery/NP230?page=1
Third..(yes third project in one year!)
The guys have agreed to make cosmetic repairs to the CGW combine that has been begging for attention for a while.
http://www.irm.org/gallery/CGW4061
Soooo, for the fans of specific pieces, they can always use donations
CBQ Havelock fans can donate to fund R993
NP fans can donate to fund R230
and CGW/CNW fans can donate as well I think R4061, although as i write this i cannot verify that. Hope to answer my own question this weekend.
As for the rest of the story….
Thomas is happening…
While that is going on, the track guys have managed to pull all the track from the bad siding in Barn 3 and we await B&G to clear and grade the space, so new track can be placed. The team has been building panel tracks so the installation should be a relatively straightforward process, once it starts.
Again, I apologize for a lack of photos right now, the time and energy have been on short supply for a while,
I hope to get some pix in the website gallery soon.
With the construction, Dover Strait is outside for a while, and Gene and Bob are making good use of the time. The underside painting is going forward, and we still hope to have it done this year.
In Yard 5, it seems that i have spent a lot of time this summer repairing, adjustung and tweaking the ventilation in the streamliner set.
The latest, is that i have continued to fiddle with the pacific peak blower. i have now adjusted the power feed for the blowers to make it internal, so i can use the system all the time, and perhaps even when the car is in motion.
Birminghams' primary AC system has been dripping condensation recently, and i think I may have found an answer.
I will know this weekend, with a long two day run for the system.
Silver Pony has not had a lot of attention lately, i know, buy with a but of luck, we may be approaching a change in that problem.
Seat plans are moving forward. Upholstery is in hand and we await frame fabrication.
I have located and purchased the lenses i need for the dome light fixtures, and I am actively seeking lenses for the downstairs lights.
I also have leads on a couple of other items for the car, but i dont want to chat about them until they are complete.
Rumors are sometimes negative.
I reported in the dept report that we had seats in stock, and they are in the car.
My HUGE hope is to get the car on wheels soon so i can get it in place for the winter.
After Thomas leaves, perhaps we can all get the "powers that be" to focus on the project of getting the three cars home yet this year.
Last but far from least
I want to thank all of our donors, large and small , who stick with us and support us on a regular basis.
Specifically, i want to thank Kevin Brown again and Al Reinschmidt for his unexpected gift.
Not to mention our casual visitors that make many small donations in the cars themselves.
i cannot tell you how much it means to us to keep us going.
Online donations can go via the web store in some ways
http://www3.irm.org/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1_7
If someone wishes to make a specific donation to any other piece of equipment, whether one of the Wednesday projects or any other passenger car, thay can call the office at 1-800 BIG RAIL and they can take your credit card info on the phone.
Come out for Labor Day!
Enjoy the September event, Leviathan is running and the NZ set will be out
Stop in the Barn and see the construction, and then come over to Yard 5 and say Hi.
Department update August 2011
Posted by: | CommentsI know its been a while. My fault.
Simply put, the time to put down info has been hard to find.
For now as always at least here is the monthly department report.
Feel free to ask questions, posting comments, i will do my best to answer them.
Its Thomas time, so the next two weeks are still kind of busy.
GENERAL DEPARTMENT PROGRESS
We await repairs to the #1 track in Barn 3, identified previously.
Preparation work has begun, and we hope the work can be completed in a timely fashion during
the next three to four weeks, while six pieces of equipment are out of the barn.
Inside displays in Barn 3 now include 14 of 16 cars lit
Barn 3 and Yard 5 were both reviewed for safety issues in anticipation of Thomas.
Safety kits were accounted for, and distribution plans were made for the event.
The Thomas train, as discussed earlier in the year, will be four CRIP coaches, two DLW coaches and the CNW 7700 combine.
This will place all commuter cars in the Thomas train, and place all
individual (restored) cars on the mainline train , where IRM operating dept staff will be able to better monitor the passengers.
EQUIPMENT REPORTS
Inbound Acquisitions
Incoming acquisitions are making progress, but each has become complicated by factors.
The CBQ 1309 baggage car in Denver has been visited by the Executive Director, and many of the transport questions have been answered.
We still await the planned return visit to finish the preparation for transport.
We await the action by the UP and the Executive Director to complete the plan for these moves, and we continue to hope for a completion of all tasks by the end of this year.
DLW coaches (3)
567, is in service.
561 is in service as well, following significant repairs to brake structure and attachments
556 continues to have its interior cleaned and finishing work performed on the rebuilt vestibule.
Rock Island Coaches (5)
As noted earlier, four revenue Rock Island coaches are now in service. The fifth remains awaiting restoration
B&M 3288/1094
Continued interior work.
In addition, Jack has been successful in completing the exterior painting during season, with no compromise of public access to the Barn,
Congratulations are in order for the effort.
BLE 25
Ready for service on mainline train during Thomas weekend.
Dover Strait
Corridor shade frames have been finished and installation has begun.
Bob and Gene eagerly await the car movement outside during the 31 track repair to complete the painting of the undercarraige.
IC 3345
This project is also ongoing.
Masking of the second side of the car has begun, and the final window frame is nearing completion.
CZ Silver Pony
While no obvious progress has been made, there has been some forward motion nonetheless.
Light glass for all dome fixtures has been located and acquired.
The two missing lower level seat frames have also been located and thanks to an effort by Nick, Mike and Ray, moved into the car.
A dome seat frame has also been located complete with seats, so I now have a pattern to fabricate the dome seats themselves.
With the NZ project complete, the upholstery shop awaits the metal frame fabrication to begin
creating the missing downstairs seat cushions. The hope is to begin this work within the next two weeks.
ACL Birmingham
Ongoing work has solved many ventilation issues in this car, and while the hot weather has strained the system,
it appears that we have succeeded in creating a reasonable environment for our guests.
UP Pacific Peak
The OEM blower system in the car turned out to have been a custom design for Amtrak.
The company involved is still in business, but there is no alternative motor to adapt the system.
Therefore, we removed it completely, saved it for potential future use, and replaced it with a pair of single phase blowers similar to the system we created for Birmingham.
This has solved the issue, and we have noted that the car interior has become noticeably more comfortable for our guests,with better air movement and less humidity.
The current AC feed to the fans is temporary, and we hope to build a method similar to Silver Ridge for a more permanent solution.
YARD 5 DISPLAYS
The exit of the special exhibit cars has deteriorated significantly. Mike, Ray and Marc have begun to disassemble and repair the platform and exit stairway.
The work is similar in nature to the platform work done on the DLW coach so the technique is known, it is simply a matter of having the opportunity and time to perform the work.
In addition, the side panels repairs to the car are being planned.
The replacement metal panels have been fabricated and await the time.
The Chicago Railroad Fair display being developed by Ray Bellock has been making progress, and is nearing completion.
We have implemented a video presentation in the foyer area of the display, and will of course have Thomas video running there for the two weeks of our friends visit.
With the recent death of Jonn Cloos, i have mentioned to some that we would be happy to create a space for one of his exhibits as a way to remember him.
Jon Habeggers long term plans continue to take shape as he prepares for the anniversary exhibit
While we still await the completion of the second car power supply, we continue our plans to add the second car to become part of the show as soon as possible.
Testing the connection
Posted by: | Commentssorry for delays in reporting folks, having a bit of technical difficulty publishing from my end.
The webmistress is not having the same issue, so i will see if I can solve it
for now realize it was a good diesel weekend, and it was HOT!!!!!!!
Department Report July 2011
Posted by: | CommentsIRM Passenger Car Dept
Report of Work July 2011
GENERAL DEPARTMENT PROGRESS
We await repairs to the #1 track in Barn 3, identified previously. The report from the general Manager is that preparations are underway to accumulate the supplies needed, and perform the repairs beginning late July /early August.
The timing is excellent, as it will utilize the time when several pieces of equipment are in service and out of the barn during the Thomas event.
Summer inspections are on track.
All heavyweight and commuter cars are done. All streamliner cars are inspected, with repairs needed on one unit. This includes all Thomas cars.
Windows broken during revenue service from the previous reports have been repaired and invoiced to the Operating Dept for payment.
A single window in a DLW coach came out off track, and was repaired during July 10 weekend.
Parts of two days were spent providing support to the Nebraska Zephyr effort.
Two door windows were replaced, two door latch mechanisms were repaired for function, and three of the step traps were repaired for function. Further repairs were identified
In addition, the passenger dept is assisting in facilitating the reupholstery of several torn seats within the train.
EQUIPMENT REPORTS
Inbound Acquisitions
Incoming acquisitions are making progress, but each has become complicated by factors.
The CBQ 1309 baggage car in Denver has been visited by the Executive Director, and many of the transport questions have been answered.
We still await the planned return visit to finish the preparation for transport.
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".Price quotes for over the road move of the trucks has been received, and the letter to UP for the move has been sent.
Gateway has indicated they will load the car as soon as we send them a flat car.
The most efficient and cost effective plan is still to have all three cars on property, and use cranes one time to put all pieces on wheels.
DLW coaches (3)
567, is in service.
561 is in service as well, following significant repairs to brake structure and attachments
556 continues to have its interior cleaned and finishing work performed on the rebuilt vestibule.
Rock Island Coaches (5)
As noted earlier, four revenue Rock Island coaches are now in service. The fifth remains awaiting restoration
B&M 3288/1094
Continued interior work. While the report has no new information, the efforts by Jack Biesterfield should be noted, as he continues to move the project along.
BLE 25
The car has been placed in Barn 3 as planned, and the conversion to 110vac completed. We have now reduced the electrical consumption by approx 275 KwH per week. at current prices, this amounts to about $100 per month in reduced electrical demand. In addition, the conversion allows us to INCREASE the quantity of display lighting during weekday operations, with relatively minimal cost.
IC 3345
This project is also ongoing. Masking of the second side of the car has begun, and the final window frame is nearing completion.
CZ Silver Pony
This project has slowed a bit, as we devote our time to the public areas and displays. upholstery work has been stopped to allow the upholstery shop to concentrate on the Nebraska Zephyr work with its short timeframe.
ACL Birmingham
Ongoing work has solved many ventilation issues in this car, and while the hot weather has strained the system, it appears that we have succeeded in creating a reasonable environment for our guests.
UP Pacific Peak
The hot weather of June and early July, together with the ventilation failures in other cars, has caused us to re examine the existing systems for the two remaining cars. Both Pacific Peak and Loch Sloy had been converted to HEP systems by Amtrak, and blowers are 480vac. I have identified a method to replace the blower motors with single phase motors to allow the ventilation of the cars in the same way as Silver Ridge. This will also allow for ventilation of the cars while in service, as the current technology will not overburden the generator power available.
YARD 5 DISPLAYS
The Chicago Railroad Fair display being developed by Ray Bellock has been making progress, and is nearing completion.
We have implemented a video presentation in the foyer area of the display, and have been presenting video displays in support of museum events, such as RPO weekend, Chicago Weekend and July 4 Trolley day.
We will be presenting a video of the UP turbines for Diesel weekend.
Jons long term plans continue to take shape as he prepares for the anniversary exhibit
While we still await the completion of the second car power supply, we continue our plans to add the second car to become part of the show as soon as possible.