2021 Restoration Work Session Schedule Announced

Mid-Continent Railway Museum Posted on by

In preparation for resuming volunteer work at Mid-Continent, I’m pleased to rollout the 2021 Restoration Department Volunteer Work Session Schedule. The volunteer work sessions kick off with the first session on April 5th – 7th and runs through December with one or more session each month. In addition, based on the availability of volunteers, we will add a number of non-scheduled sessions during the season so be sure to be on the outlook for these notices.

About a week prior to each session a reminder and call for help will be posted to the Member’s Discussion Board [Mid-Continent membership required to access] and a notice will be sent out via email to the volunteers on the Restoration Department’s email distribution list. To help with the work session planning we’re asking all volunteers interested in joining a work session to contact Bill Buhrmaster in advance of the work session. This helps make sure that we make the best use of our volunteers and we can have productive sessions. [If you don’t already have Bill’s contact info, reach out to the MCRM office at inquiries@midcontinent.org].

We have a solid core of volunteers that help with the restoration work and we’re very interested in expanding the group that actively participates in the Car Shop. Our doors are open to anyone willing to give us a hand and help us with the restoration work. Give us a hand for a day or several days throughout the summer. Every bit of help make a difference and is appreciated. We have a wide range of needs (i.e. painting, cleaning, stripping, wood work, roofing, refinishing, upholstery, metal work and more) and everyone can be a help. If you’re interested in volunteering or would like more information, please feel free to drop into the Car Shop during a work session or contact me.

For everyone’s safety and health we will be following the Covid regulations including those for social distancing and for wearing masks. We will have and maintain the appropriate cleaning supplies and hand sanitizer on hand in the Car Shop. The regulations and requirements may change over time but we want to do our part to make sure everyone returns home healthy.

In the event that you’re not comfortable working at the museum during the pandemic or you’d like to like to do some volunteering from home we can use your help with our “at home” projects. We maintain a good size list of “at home” projects that may be of interest. This is work that can be picked up at the museum, worked on at home and returned to the museum at a later date. The “at home” projects are typically parts and pieces that need to be cleaned up and repainted or new parts that require painting and varnishing. Please contact me if you’re interested in assisting with any of the “at-home” projects.

Despite the pandemic we managed to have a productive 2020 thanks to outstanding support from the volunteers that participated in the work sessions and helped us out from their homes. We’re hoping to do even better this year as we have a good project list and plenty of opportunities for volunteers to participate in a wide variety of projects. Please join us as we welcome everyone willing to help us preserve and restore Mid-Continent’s Collection pieces.

I’m looking forward to seeing you in the Car Shop! 

Bill Buhrmaster
MCRM Restoration Manager

Date(s)Session Type
April 5-6-7Restoration Dept. Work Session
April 9-10-11Restoration Dept. Work Session
April 16-17-18CANCELED: Restoration Dept. Work Session
April 23-24-25ADDED: Restoration Dept. Work Session
April 30 – May 2Restoration Dept. Work Session
May 14-15-16Restoration Dept. Work Session
June 4-5-6Restoration Dept. Work Session
June 25-26-27Restoration Dept. Work Session
July 9-10-11Restoration Dept. Work Session
July 23-24-25Restoration Dept. Work Session
August 6-7-8Restoration Dept. Work Session
August 20-21-22Restoration Dept. Work Session
August 28-29 ADDED: Restoration Dept. Work Session
September 10-11-12Restoration Dept. Work Session
September 17-18-19Restoration Dept. Work Session
October 1-2-3Restoration Dept. Work Session
October 2-3Vintage Rail Car Tours Event
October 15-16-17Restoration Dept. Work Session
October 22-23-24-25ADDED: Restoration Dept. Work Session
October 28-29-30-31MORE DAYS ADDED: Restoration Dept. Work Session
November 13-14Restoration Dept. Work Session
December 4-5Restoration Dept. Work Session

2021 New Trainman Class

Mid-Continent Railway Museum Posted on by

The Operating Department will hold a class for new trainmen on April 10-11 and May 1-2. The class will run from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM each day with a one-hour break for lunch. Attendance at all four days is mandatory to complete the class. The class is held at Mid-Continent and is limited to 6 people, we will create a waiting list for anyone requesting to join the class after the 6th person signs up. The class consists of both classroom and hands-on sessions, with the first weekend being mainly held in the classroom. You must be a member in good standing to be eligible to attend the class, you must be able to lift 50 lbs, and you must be at least 18 years of age. Be aware that you will be required to work outside in all types of weather. The cost to attend the class is free, but you will need to equip yourself with the proper clothing/uniform and will need to buy a rule book. If, after completing your student trips, you qualify as a brakeman you will also have to provide a deposit for the keys you will be issued. All requirements for the class will be explained in the invitation email. Ongoing requirements of staying in the Operating Department will be explained during the class.

We try to hold a class for new trainmen once each year in the spring. If you are considering joining the operating department, you must attend this class to become a trainman. If you left the department without taking any kind of approved leave (leave applies only to a small number of people), you also must take this class if you wish to return and will start as a trainman. No credit will be given for previous service or positions held.

Due to the cancellation of last year’s class, applicants from 2020 have first choice this year, but if you would like more information on the program or would like to be added to a waitlist in the event a seat is available, please send an email or call the MCRM office at (608) 522-4261 or inquiries@midcontinent.org.

If you are selected to attend this year’s class: The first weekend will be entirely indoors at the North Freedom Town Hall. The second weekend in the yard will be mostly outside and require a few specific items (Steel-toe Boots, Gloves/Leather Mittens) and will be discussed in a follow-up email and at the first class. Social distancing guidelines will be followed and masks/face coverings will be required at all times indoors and on museum property. You will be required to obtain a Consolidated Code of Operating Rules, Edition of 1980, which you can purchase from the museum for $10. The museum has limited quantities and you are free to acquire your own copy of a Consolidated Code of Operating Rules, Edition of 1980 outside the museum (ebay or other sellers), but it is a REQUIRED item to have on your person while on duty. As well, once you qualify, you will need to pay $5 for a switch and “O” key. This is a one-time deposit fee and you will be given a receipt. You will be expected to return the keys should you no longer remain an active volunteer in operations, at which time your deposit fee will also be returned.

ALL details subject to change. We welcome any suggestions or other input. If you are still interested in the Trainman class, but not at this time, please let us know so we can keep you on a list for future classes. We also recommend following our Facebook page and reading the Steamer newsletters.

Thanks,

Christopher E Lorr
Assistant Training Officer
Mid-Continent Railway Museum

Donate to the D&R #9 Cosmetic Restoration

Mid-Continent Railway Museum Posted on by
Created using the Donation Thermometer plugin https://wordpress.org/plugins/donation-thermometer/.$9,999‘Thanks$9,999‘Thanks100%

Mid-Continent Railway Museum has announced plans to begin the cosmetic restoration of the Dardanelle & Russellville #9 steam locomotive starting in Spring 2021. The restoration will be more than just slapping on a new coat of paint. It will involve a number of steps, each involving expenses:  grinding, stripping, and blasting of the locomotive to provide a clean, rust-free surface, repair/replacement of deteriorated wood, sheet metal, and other custom components, primer, paint, and associated supplies, and finally the creation of interpretive display materials.

To complete this project, your help will be needed!  Mid-Continent has begun fundraising for the project, with a goal of raising $9,999 to support the #9. If you wish to see Mid-Continent’s oldest locomotive made beautiful and ready for public display once again, please consider making a contribution today.

Mid-Continent Railway Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. All donations are 100% tax-deductible and a donation acknowledgment letter will be provided.

If you wish to become a project volunteer, please send an email to inquiries@midcontinent.org. Volunteer sessions are anticipated to begin in spring 2021.

Fundraising progress thermometer last updated: 03/19/2021.

Fundraising Update 3/19/2021:

Mission accomplished! Our fundraising goal for this project has been achieved. Thank you to everyone that has contributed.

steam locomotive no. 9
D&R #9 in service at North Freedom, June 1969. Jim Neubauer photo.

May 2021 Dining Trains Canceled

Mid-Continent Railway Museum Posted on by

SCHEDULE CHANGE NOTICE:

All ONBOARD DINING departures scheduled in May 2021 have been canceled. The affected departures include:

  • May 8, 2021, 1:00 PM Pizza Train
  • May 9, 2021, 10:30 AM Mother’s Day Brunch Train
  • May 9, 2021, 1:00 PM Mother’s Day Brunch Train

These cancelations are being enacted by Mid-Continent Railway Museum to best comply with a recently-released Transportation Security Administration (TSA) directive aimed at reducing the transmission of the COVID-19 virus aboard railroad passenger trains and other forms of mass transit. After careful consideration, our Dining Services and Operating departments felt we would be unable to provide museum visitors aboard these trains the quality experience they paid for and deserve while also remaining compliant with the TSA directive.

We apologize for any inconvenience these cancelations cause. Customers already booked aboard the affected trains are being contacted individually and will be offered a full refund.

The cancelations do NOT affect Mid-Continent Railway Museum’s COACH TRAINS, which will continue to operate normally while observing social distancing and mask requirements.

The current TSA directive expires on May 11, 2021; however, it may be extended. In the event the directive is extended, additional changes to Mid-Continent’s onboard dining train schedule may occur.

C&NW #1385 Update – January 2021

Mid-Continent Railway Museum Posted on by

With January coming to a close it is time to check in again with Chicago & North Western #1385’s progress. Steve Pahl, MCRM General Foreman of Steam, provided the following list of work being performed or recently completed as of January 20, 2021.

Key areas of work on C&NW #1385 during January 2021.

  1. The auxiliary steam dome is currently being repaired. The auxiliary steam dome is where the safety valves, boiler vent valve, and whistle are mounted. The boiler vent valve is used for filling the boiler with water and serves as a vent when draining said boiler. The whistle, of course, is the epitome of steam railroading! 
  2. The cast iron blanks for the new piston bull rings have been water jet cut to rough dimensions and are ready to be machined to the final dimension with grooves cut for the piston rings. The center “donut hole” left over after the piston bull rings were cut out are being used as the blanks for the two smaller bull rings that are needed for each valve. That way there is not nearly as much waste in material lost.

    One of the cast iron “blanks” for the new piston bull rings, shown after being water jet cut to rough dimensions. Further machining is required. Steve Pahl photo.

  3. A valve cage is a hollow cylindrical wear element that is used as both a guide for the valve as well as the outer sealing surface for the valve so it can route both the live steam and exhaust steam to the proper places. The valve packing rings form the inner sealing surface and slide back-and-forth in the valve cage as the valve is moved.

    C&NW 1385’s new valve cages stand ready to be installed into the steam chests. Steve Pahl photo.

    There are two sets of ports that have been machined into each cage. The large rectangular ports lead to the exhaust nozzle up to the smokebox so the exhaust can be pointed up and out of the smokestack. The smaller parallelogram-shaped ports lead to the passage to the cylinder. Depending on the position of the piston valve inside the cage either the live superheated steam is routed into the cylinder to push the piston forward or back or the cylinder is connected to the exhaust passage to release the steam once it has done the work of pushing the piston. Since steam pushes the piston in both directions there are ports needed for each end of the piston travel and the need for a cage at each end of the steam chest.

    The valve cage on the locomotive’s engineer side has been previously cleaned up by boring and was found to be thick enough to still have a long service life ahead and was therefore left in place. The fireman’s side valve cage was found to be in need of replacement. The new fireman’s side valve cages are now ready to be installed into the steam chest. This will be an interesting process to install. The valve cages will be shrunk using dry ice. In the meantime, a couple of rosebud oxy/acetylene torches will be used to expand the steam chest and if everything goes correctly, the valve cage should slide right in. One cage will be inserted from the front side of the steam chest while the other will be inserted from the rear.

  4. Fire doors have been painted and await installation. A “spacing” ring needs to be fabricated that will fit between the boiler and the firedoor itself. This is necessary for operational clearance. Due to the change from threaded and peened staybolts to the now welded staybolts, which was by design of the new boiler.
  5. As mentioned in the December update, the air compressors are awaiting installation. With the new boiler design, there needs to be adjustments made to the mounting brackets and boiler studs to ensure the proper placement as it appeared when MCRM purchased the locomotive. This will also be necessary for the power reverse due to the same circumstance.
  6. SPEC Machines made a tool for resurfacing and lapping the seats and flanges on the steam delivery pipes, the superheater header, and the steam chests. This ensures a tight seal for delivering the superheated steam from the superheater header to the steam chests. Work on these existing sealing surfaces is now complete. Yet-to-be-made matching “donuts” will be inserted between the branch pipe and steam chest flanges and the branch pipe and superheater header to adjust for minor manufacturing size differences and space variations between the new and old components.
  7. The smoke box has been seal welded to the boiler. This procedure finally secures the smoke box to the boiler itself. As reported last month, SPEC Machine was busy drilling and reaming the holes that connect the smoke box to the cylinder saddle. I am happy to report that the smoke box is in fact bolted down to the cylinder saddle with 50 tapered fitting bolts custom made by SPEC Machines with 50 H2 heavy nuts.  The boiler is now officially attached to the frame!  There is still some work to be completed with the smoke box; i.e., complete the grouting at the bottom of the smoke box with refractory, install smoke stack and assorted draft appliances.

50 custom-made tapered bolts now help secure the smoke box to the cylinder saddle. Steve Pahl photo.