Museum site for members and fans.

[trolleyboy]

Hello everyone. Seeing as this is the Classic trains Forum, and all of us here have the love and nostalga of classic trains, I'm putting this topic forward as a place where those of us who are members of museum's and historical societies can "strut" our stuff.This is a lose informal site please post pictures or info on your related museums etc and others with the intrest can ask questions or find out how to help out. Please for members of societies let us know a bit about your orginization, what it does etc. Post the web site for others to look at. Myself as the my web name may suggest I'm a member iof an Electric railway Museum in Canada, run by the Ontario Electrical Railway Historical Society. We've been at it for 50 years now and we restore and run the equipment for the public to enjoy. Have a peak at our web site for more info www.hcry.org Here's an example of some of our groups efforts. These are the final (re)assembly of London (Ontario) Street railway open bench car #23 a 1901 vintage streetcar. Enjoy. Hope to hear from and see others work as well.

[siberianmo]

Hey Rob! Good luck with your thread! [tup][:D]

As we both know, starting one is no problem - keeping going and on track is the challenge. Not a doubt that you're up to it!

See ya! [swg]

Tom, Proprietor of "Our" Place, an adult eating & drinking establishment!

[Anonymous]

Hi Rob! Great idea for a thread! [:)]

My museum is the Illinois Railway Museum in Union Illinois. I work with the Steam Team. Our current locomotive restoration project is the UP 428 Consolidation, built in 1900. It supposedly was the last UP locomotive that ran as a scheduled passenger train in 1958. The Steam Team has been working on it for more than 10 years so far.

The UP428

The cab has to be completely rebuilt

We're also in the middle of adding a 51 foot extention to the steam shop, and making major progress on a drop table installation. I'll keep you all updated!

[Gunns]

Hi all,
more up tomorrow,
site for now......http://www.nmrhs.org/
gunns

[trolleyboy]

Hey guy's thanks for the inagural posts, hopefully there will be more comming. barndad we are also embarking in some museum improvements, most notably we are in the midst of finalizing the fund raising and construction of Barn #4 the Sir Adam Beck Centre. We have the new mainline conection laid and the yard switches for the new yard 4 are in. Hopefully the barn itself will begin to build this fall. It's desparatly needed to get the rest of our fleet under cover before the weather makes the outside stored vehicles non-restorable.A sad note is that another rail museum nit far from us may soon be without a home. The Elgin County Museum in St Thomas Ontario is having it's yard atracks torn up. They are in what's left of the old Michigan Central shops. CN still owns the building and trackage and as it's retired the museum soon may be without it's historic home. Thye have a collection of Steam , diesel, and electric Traction equipment that will be hard pressed to find homes for if the worst happens. I will keep everyone posted.her's a couple snaps of elgin count'y's collection. Rob

[Gunns]

Hi Al,
Got a basket of pasterys from Tom's Place, and a "Bullet" of Coffee in the Van.

Wends. July27,05
Sorry about the Hiatus, was vacation time <G>.
Today saw much accomplished, with the Inspection of the valve seat for the emergency fuel shut off valve being the highlight.
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/abe
The inspection was accomplished with a viedio camera that was lowered in to the valve well and recorded for our records, the valve seat was found to be in undamaged condition and needs no servicing.
Also compleated was much of the prepretory painting for the reassembly of the tender, the exterior of the tender will be painted after reassembly, but all surfaces that will be inaccesable need painting now.
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/abg
The Foot plate,
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/abh
The front of the tender where the foot plate is mounted, and a look in to the Oil Bunker well.
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/abi
The Oil Bunker, note moved crib work and <not visable> installed brackets for the wood dunnage that seperates the bunker from the water tank.
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/abj
The Tool Boxes that mount under the Tender sides, that will be remounted as the last part of the reassembly.

Also nearing compleation is the wood dunnage, which has recived its first linseed oil coating, and will get a secont coat then will be stacked until the assembly to prevent warpage.
In the Office cataloging and scanning of the Folio drawings continues, with the PDF files of the drawings and Maintence folio being made interactive with our "Parts removed, and location" forms. This allows us to remove a part and tag it <with a metal "Shoe Tag"> and also link it to the drawing and folio pages associated with the repair / restoration of that part.
Also the finshing touches were applied to the Hanger that holds the "Claper" in the bell, the fabrication of the part was made much simpler by the drawings made avalible from the folio. Work on the claper continues, with the determination that mild steel is suitable for the part.

More to come,
Gunns

[trolleyboy]

Great stuff Kevin it's wonderfull to see the dedication and devotion to preserving the past. Both Canada and the US owe much our countries development to the rail industry. I know with most museums vollenteers make up the bulk of the workforces so seeing anything rebuilt and running is a testament to people. Not uncommon to hear about 10 , 20 year restorations such as Doug has shown with the UP efforts by the steam shop guys in Chicago. Hats off to those of you rebuilding steam possibly no definatly the most time and fund consumming restorations.I know that our museum tends to work on several projects at once as most of the funding is donated speacificallu to the car in question therfore completion times will take a bit longer. This is going on alongside the regular maintenance and inspections of our everyday fleet of cars we use in our regular service during the operations at the museum. Inactually urge everyone to support your local rail museums or join if possible.As always please use this thread to share musuem exhibits/ information and those not members please ask questions of the museum people here. Thanks again Rob

[Gunns]

Sat. 30 July 05

Lots of visitors to day,

Cut, set up, and started cutting the clapper of the bell.
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/abn
Cutting
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/abq
Cutting
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/abr
Close up

Out side we reinstalled the foot plate on the tender, welded wear plates on to the tender trucks, and applied another coat of linseed oil to the Dunnage that will seperate the oil bunker from the water tank. Also a Bolt that had resisted mightily was finally removed from the oil bunker fill door, and much paint was applyed to the underside of the tender.
Inside the Office copys of the drawings were numbered and placed in the ready rack, also the program that will keep track of parts removed was further refined. >>
Word has it that the bearing steel has arrived and will be avalible Wends... Lots of bearings on the way.

More to come,
Gunns

[passengerfan]

Hey Rob
Sorry I never got around to congradulating you until now. Having rode many of the TTC cars the PCCs and even the old Peter Witts I guess I can write to this column once in a while. As a boy I rode the trams of the BCER with my Grandparents from New Westminster to downtown Vancouver. My first trip on a streamliner was the great Northerns new 1947 Empire Builder in February the year of its inaugural. I think since that time I have had a lifelong love affair with rails and have ridden passenger trains and streetcars every opportunity I can. Guess that makes me a railfan. I am also a member of the California State Railroad Museum, Great Northern Railway Historical Society and Southern Pacific Historical Society.
I as you already know am writing several books about passenger trains with one at the publisher already and three more almost ready for the publisher. If I can answer any streamlined passenger car questions at any time feel free to ask.

[Anonymous]

Hi all. Thought you might like to see pics of our 504 interurban at IRM.
http://www.railimages.com/albums/dougsecrist/aae.jpg
http://www.railimages.com/albums/dougsecrist/aaf.jpg
http://www.railimages.com/albums/dougsecrist/aag.jpg

Doug

[Gunns]

Hi All,
work day again to day,
Wends, Aug 3, 05

Today we assembled the bell and Rang it for the first time in 40 years.
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/abs?full=1


http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/abt?full=1

http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/acd?full=1
Where the bell lives

also work continues on the tender truck #4, the last brake Cyl mount has been removed and the springs removed.
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/abz?full=1
Compleated brake rigging mount
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/aca?full=1
Freshly removed mount
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/acb?full=1
Wear bearings and wear on the rocker arm
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/acc?full=1
Broken Spring, the only one found so far. Also

also a few pictures,
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/ace?full=1
Note 3 cylinders,
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/acf?full=1
Some of the drawings for the bell clapper
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/acg?full=1
working on the infastructure
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/ach?full=1
Our whistle
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/aci?full=1
the brake cyilnder rebuild
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/acj?full=1
a look in to the mud ring
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/ack?full=1
the spedometer.....
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/acl?full=1
Feed water injector


More to come
Gunns

[Gunns]

Sat Aug 6 05

Busy today,

We had another saftey class, for new members, with 5 attending, the bell was cleaned <old paint removed> and the inside painted, work started on the dunnage that goes between the oil tank and the water tank,
the original wood,
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/acn?full=1
The replacement <not yet compleated>
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/acm?full=1

The #4 truck continues to recive attention, with the springs removed from the front right side and the wear plates welded in,
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/aco?full=1

In the Machine shop tooling is being produced to allow the replacment of the bearings that are in the truck brake rigging,
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/acb?full=1

All in all things are going well,
more to come,
Gunns

[athelney]

Hi fellow restoration fans , just thought I would update the progress on Ex CPR Royal Hudson #2860 at our museum in Squamish BC Canada , We have started work in earnest on its return to steam , just recently the stainless boiler casing , the front smokebox door , various running board parts we all removed , then the superheater tubes were taken out and then all but 7 of the boiler tubes removed - now waiting for new ones to arrive. In the cab - the firebox door & surround ,all the firebox brickwork , regulator & brake stand together with all the gauges have been taken off - she looks a little naked but this is good news . Plans are for a return to steam next year -- heres hoping .. cheers

[Anonymous]

Here are a few shots of the preserved Cincinnati Car Co. curved side street car from 1923 at the Cincinnati Museum Center's Local history museum. This is in the Cincinnati Street Railway livery of the times. Two other restored cars of this model are in the country. One is newly opened at a site in Marietta GA, this is another one from the Cincinnati Fleet. The other one is at the Seashore Museum in Kennebunkport ME from the Wheeling WVA fleet.

[Gunns]

Wend. 10 Aug. 05

Finshed the last <I hope> part for the bell, <A 3/8 inch thick 3in dia. washer>
pardon the color but it was bright out and my camera didnt like it...
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/acs?full=1

Also we started using the ultra sound equipment to get a feel for what we can expect from it, our opperater used the same equipment for many years and the equipment worked as advertised.

also bearing replacment has begun, lots to do here, average of 32 bearings on the brake rigging need replacment per truck, and we have 2 of the 8 wheel buckeye trucks. Drawings and notebooks are being prepared to keep track of the work in progress.
Broken bearing above the site of the "bell crank" rocker that it goes to.
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/act?full=1

In the office the copies of our drawings continue to be marked and rolled for use. This will preserve the orignals, and allow us to drag a drawing out to the work site.

more to come,
Gunns

[Anonymous]

Athelney, do you have pics to share of your restoration?
Gunns, did you want help heat treating your bearings?

[Gunns]

barndad,
Thanks for the offer, the steel turns out to be a 1028, and has a relitivly normal heat treat, I'm going to try a few and see how we do. The club got me a pyrometer for the heat treat, my biggest worry about sending them out is keping track of the "which part goes where thing" But you can bet I'll yell for help if I get in over my head.
thanks,
Gunns

[Anonymous]

Gunns, I'm sure you already know that there will be about a 20RC difference in hardness between 1028 and D2. Usually bearings have 58RC minimum hardness specified. Your 1028 will be able to do that if you have it carburized. IF not ... expect hardness closer to 40RC. If you send me a piece of one of your broken bearings, I can cut it up and have a look to see what's there. A "piece" would be at least a 1/2" section.

[Gunns]

barndad sounds good I'll talk to our CMO and see what he says. The bearings are really wear plates for the brakes, not constant friction surfaces, in our AT&SF folio the Spec calls for mild steel <no grade specifed> and case harding. I'll let you know what they say.... <got reminded by oldest member that I am just a young whiper snapper...>
Gunns

[Gunns]

Sat Aug. 13 05

Today was the monthly progress meeting, after the meeting we went to work.
A frame was constructed to support the bell at open houses and displays.
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/acu?full=1
and needle scaling continued on truck #4, also on the tender trucks mesurments and a survey is being conducted to select the sleave bearings that need replacment.

On the tender the dunnage has been compleated and is now beeing attached to the oil bunker, or plased in its location on the water tank.
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/acv?full=1
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/acw?full=1
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/acx?full=1
In the office the plans continue to be rolled and made avalible on our working plans storage area.
Last a photo of the Back head showing the ATS bracket, and also the spots where we tested the non-destructive testing equipment,
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/acy?full=1
More to come,
Gunns

[Gunns]

Wends. Aug 17, 05

Work continues, the Buckeye trucks are still the focus of our efforts, more wear plates were put in place and welded on, the brake bearing survey continues, and the first bell / rocker plate has had the bearings removed, and new bearings are being fabricated <3 ea per plate> a punch has been fabricated for the bearing removal proccess, and works well in our 20 ton press. The maintenence folio calls for the bearings to be made fron mild steel and case hardened, the first is complete and ready for installation. Also the education committe met and discussed our ongoing education project for the local school district. In the office work continues on the restoration / part tracking program and more of the orignal plan sheets have been copied and made avalible for use in the restoration.

More to come,
Gunns

ps, them Buckeyes are big! they are 8 wheelers, which means 4 frames to a side, 36 springs, 20 or more wear plates,well over a 84 bearings in the brake rigging 4 wheel sets <8 Wheels> 1 major and 2 minor pivot points in the frames and a weight of over 22 tons. I am getting tied of Buckeye trucks And we hope to not have to "do" another refit for "Years".
Gunns
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/aaz?full=1

[athelney]

Hi again , regarding photo's of # 2860 undergoing restoration , do not have any myself except some video I've taken . We do have some shots on our website for all to view , it's --- www.wcra.org --- hope you get a chance to view them .

[Gunns]

barndad,

I have some bearings you can test, this one and the two others from this brake rocker.
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/act?full=1

Gunns

[Gunns]

Sat 20 Aug 05
We had a great day to day. Weather was good and cooler. Sevrale members were in Amarillo to support the move of AT&SF 5000 the Madam Queen to its new display building.

At the work site, we managed to replace all the bearings in one of the rocker/bell crank plates on tender truck #13 berings were press fitted and had been case hardened according to instructions in our maintence folio. On the tender trucks needle scaling continues, and the last two spring pockets have been opened and the springs removed for inspection and cleaning. No futher springs were found to be broken, so the score was 1 broken spring out of 72 total springs, and the replacment spring can be orderd. Wood dunnage continues to be attached to the oil tank in preperation for its reinstallation in the tender. Much care has been taken to fit it to the "many" rivits that hold the tank together. The bell display frame was painted and polish was begun on the bell for it's display at a Tricentenial celabration for the City of Albuqurque this coming Saturday. The theme of this on is "Rails in to Albuqurque"

more to come,
Gunns
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/abt?full=1

[Anonymous]

Look who's at the IRM this weekend and next.

I really have to give Thomas a lot of credit for providing the funding we need at the museum. There was a steady stream of cars entering our auxillary parking lot when I left.

[trolleyboy]

hello folks finally made it back on the thread. I had some picture problems with page one that left me unable to read it. We have been busy at the HCRR as well.Looks as though our barn 4 project is a go. Should satr on the structural steel this fall with the roof andsiding completed next year.Car restorations are on going as well. TTC track plow TP-11 has it's trucks 90% reassembled we are just waiting for the traction motors return they have been outshopped for rewinding, then the reassembly of the car will begin.hopefully by next spring it will be painted and running again.It's been a two year odessy a complete frame off. Likely the first time it's been stripped this bear since it's initial construction by national steal car in 1945! radial car 416 has a new roof and the vestibule and window frame and sash rebuilding are beginning. Two sets of doors are reinstalled and the early rewiring of the floor conduits has begun.Likely two or three years of work yet,but it's finally starting to look like the radial car it used to be.I'll be back later with some shots. rob

[trolleyboy]

atthelney Thanks for joining our little museum thread, i'm glad to have you on board.[tup] I have had the privilage of a ride or two behind 2860. I'm glad to hear that it's on it's way back to life. Once you have it up and running perhaps another double header run is in order again. The last time I rode behind it was the year of the double head run with 6060. I didn't make that trip but seeing that or a run with 2816 would be grand.thanks for the website post as well. Rob

[Anonymous]

I'm really getting something from this thread Rob. Keep up the quality work we all admire so much. Regards Theodorebear

[trolleyboy]

thank you Ted don't be a stranger here.And don't be afraid to ask the questions that you were always afraid to ask. Rob

[Gunns]

Wends Aug24, 05

Today we finshed one of the brake "bell" cranks and re installed it to the tender truck, one down and 7 to go,
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/acz?full=1
also another crank was inspected and is ready for installation but we need to replace a wear plate on the tender truck frame before we can replace that Bell crank. The replacement for the single broken spring has been ordered. The saftey brackets that keep lose brake gear from falling from the trucks needs work, wear zones are being renewed with added stock and re formed to the proper profile.
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/adb?full=1
The bell was polished and the bell display rack was finshed in preperation for the Rails to Albuqurque activity this Sat. in the office, the last sets of drawing were prepared for copy, and futher refinement on the parts / work tracking software continued.
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/add?full=1

other photos,
"Lurch" the car mover
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/adc?full=1

And built in ladder access to one of the lubricators <80 in driver in back ground>
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/ada?full=1

More to come,
Gunns