Mid-Continent is currently seeking volunteers to assist Nick Vertein, Supt. of Engineering, to perform track repairs on a small section that was damaged by a contractor’s machinery. This will take place on Saturday, Sept. 9th at 7 AM, at the south end of Mid-Continent’s train yard (behind Engine House and Car Shop buildings.) This relatively small track repair job is an opportunity to learn more about track maintenance, while helping Mid-Continent regain access to railcars currently trapped on the other side of the broken rail.
If you are interested in this opportunity, please email Mid-Continent at inquiries@midcontinent.org
The Mid-Continent Railway Museum Restoration Department recently completed a three-day volunteer work session that was held on August 25th through the 27th. We had a good turnout as we had (21) volunteers helping us over the three-day session. The next planned Restoration Department volunteer work session is scheduled for September 8, 9 and 10. Plan on joining us and giving us a hand. We’re continuing to make some great progress and we would welcome your help.
Also mark your calendar to attend the upcoming MCRM Vintage Rail Car Tours scheduled for September 30th and October 1st. We’ve got a great lineup of cars on the tour this year as well as tours through the Restoration Shop. More information about the tours is available by clicking on the following link:
The MCRM Restoration Department recently completed a three day volunteer work session that was held on August 25th through the 27th. We had a good turnout for the three day session and we averaged over (13) volunteers per day on restoration projects. The (21) volunteers that helped out for this session were Jack, Jerry F, Mike M., David P., Karl, Jeff Ha., Richard P., Peter B., David M., Jerry M., Steve W., Judy G., Darryl G., Gregg, Jane, Peter S., Ben, Sam, John T, Bob R. and myself. Thanks to this great crew we got a lot of work performed and completed.
Following is a brief summary of the progress made during the session:
LS&I #64:
-Jack delivered four of the recently completed seat back frames that he made in his shop. -Jack and Jerry cut and fit more of the arched window trim pieces (pork chops) on the east side. -Mike M. installed the screws in the trim pieces. -Larry continued to fill and sand the ends of the car and the roof overhangs. To date over 90% of the exterior epoxy repairs have been completed. -Judy painted the back sides of the pork chops and the balance of the car siding.
Larry performing epoxy repair on the end of the LS&I #64.The newly cut and fit trim pieces above the arched windows.Mike installing screws in the new fit trim pieces on the LS&I #64.
The LS&I #64 is coming along and looking better all of the time.
DSS&A DULUTH:
-Karl scraped, filled and sanded the shade boxes for the sleeping compartment windows. -I stained and sealed wood work on the east and west walls in the sleeping compartment -Karl and I made an exploratory cut into the upper ceiling panel in the sleeping compartment. -Karl installed the screws in window post trim pieces, shade box lower rails and the shade bearing blocks. -Mike continued to take dimensions to finalize the drawings for the four interior doors that need to be replicated. -Judy performed the final sanding on the shade boxes and the wooden dowels for the berth coat hangers -Richard continued to remove more of the old material, nails and flashing off of the roof.
Karl installing parts in the DULUTH.Work progressing on Berth #7 in the DULUTH.
EJ&S #2 combine:
-Pete continued to work on the canvas roof replacement project. -Pete installed a few of the clerestory windows and he applied a fourth and final coat of canvas paint. -Gregg and Jane assisted Pete by installing some of the clerestory screen blocks that get mounted on the exterior of the clerestory area.
A pair of the newly installed clerestory windows in the EJ&S #2.The canvas roof on the EJ&S #2, prior to final coat of paint.
Chicago and Illinois Midland #90:
-Jerry M. and Dean continued working in the observation room -They completed installing all of the mahogany plywood in the room -They installed the new window stop for the observation room end window -They cut, fit and installed the window post column trim pieces -With the above work completed the woodwork in the observation room is done and they are now moving onto the state room that is adjacent to the observation room. -Steve W. continued to work on the electrical scope for the car. This included cleaning out the old wires in the electrical closet and creating a space for the wires to be routed through the dining room.
Jerry and Dean working inside the C&IM #90 observation room.A view of the completed east wall in the C&IM #90.
Copper Range #29:
– Darryl painted (cab green) the interior of the new cab windows (engineer’s side) and installed the glass in the two new window frames -Darryl applied a final coat of black on the exterior side of the window frames. -Darryl installed the completed windows in the cab. -This is a nice project to get completed as the locomotive is on display and very visible to the public.
The new windows installed in the CRR #29.Darryl working on one of the new windows for the CRR #29.
C&NW #613:
-David P. scraped and sanded the lower siding on the west side of the car -John T and David P. painted the lower siding on the west side. -John T. sanded and painted the two ends and scraped the east side (in process)
John scraping paint on the east side of the C&NW #613.The west side of the C&NW #613 in fresh paint.
Various:
-Jeff Ha. sanded and applied the second coat of varnish to the two toilet rooms in the Great Northern #3261 coach -David M started to needle scale the trucks for the Cazenovia Southern combine. -Bob and Richard installed the platform trap hardware on the observation end steps of the Badger #2. -Richard, Peter S, Ben and Sam helped with the following:
1. Removed the stored steam heat and air brake parts from the Car Shop and moved them to the Storage Building #1. 2. Moved the wooden work platforms and composite wood material to Storage Building #2 3. Disassembled and removed the large metal shelving from the west wall of the Car Shop. 4. Made a trash run to empty all of the Car Shop trash containers that Jeff Ha. moved to the north entrance door. 5.The steam heat pipes and scaffolding that were stored on the west side of the #613 car were moved and placed on the east side of the car. This was done to clean up the area around the car that the public sees.
Jeff Ha. varnishing inside the GN #3261 toilet room.The newly fabricated and install trap mechanism (minus the spring) on the Badger #2 fish car.Peter, Sam and Ben after a hard day of work.David M. needle scaling one of the trucks for the Cazenovia Southern combine.
Goodman Lumber Co. #9 Shay:
Work is progressing on installing the new jacketing on the boiler. The jacket pieces were in the process of being fitted and trimmed. By the end of the weekend all of the jacketing is in place and fastened together. Next up is to have the jacketing bands made and installed. Painting of the entire Shay will follow once all of the jacketing work is completed. This work is made possible thanks to donations from numerous donors and a matching donation by Bobbie Wagner.
That’s the latest. Thank you to all of the volunteers for your time and hard work. It is greatly appreciated!!! The next planned Restoration Department volunteer work session is scheduled for September 8, 9 and 10. Plan on joining us and giving us a hand. We’re continuing to make some great progress and we would welcome your help.
Also mark your calendar to attend the upcoming MCRM Vintage Rail Car Tours scheduled for September 30th and October 1st. We’ve got a great lineup of cars on the tour this year as well as tours through the Restoration Shop. More information about the tours is available by clicking on the following link:
“The #9 crew did double duty this month with two separate volunteer sessions: one on Aug 9, and a second on August 19th. Unfortunately, Fletcher or I were not able to make it to either session as Fletcher was participating in the Juneau County Fair.
On August 9, the crew finished removing the bolts that secure cab down to the locomotive. Some air brake piping and accessories that ran up through the cab floorboards were also removed, along with the Auxiliary Reservoir. We once again contacted Comet Welding to fabricate new hanging brackets for the Aux Res, like we had done for the Equalizing reservoir. Thanks, Mike Laabs, for coordinating that. Thanks to Mike Laabs, Jay Slinde, and Steve Pahl for your efforts on that day.
On August 19, we moved all of the loose parts that we previously removed and were storing to the Eastside (outside) of storage building 1 and logged them in. All parts were properly marked with paint pens, and checked in. Thanks, Mike, for the donation of the pens! And thanks Jay and Steve again, and also a thank you to Tyler and Richard P.
Thanks to the crew for a safe and productive August, and just a reminder that the next volunteer session on the #9 will be Saturday September 9. Hope to see you there.”
Hello #9 fans. Fletcher’s crew will be having a couple volunteer sessions on our beloved locomotive this month.
Our first session will be tomorrow, Wednesday Aug 9. We have a small crew that will continue working on freeing the cab from the locomotive. Our next session will be Saturday, August 19 starting at 10am. We should have a larger crew that day, and pickup where we left off from July. We hope you can make it, and thank you for your continued support!
