Is it just me, or does that blue look lighter than bankruptcy blue?

Is it just me, or does that blue look lighter than bankruptcy blue?

You have to really tip your hat to the fine folks at IRM. I have been a member for years, but have to really thank the volunteers that work tirelessly on these projects. The internal combustion department has been making one home run after another for the last several years. This is not unique, the passenger car department, freight cars, bus, trolley busses, steam shop, building & grounds, transit, all have had huge successes. In getting back to the internal combustion department, look at the list of restorations in the last decade or so.

Full to service and cosmetic restorations:

1) Joy Manufacturing #2
2) BN U-30-C #5383
3) CB&Q E-5A, #9911
4) CB&Q SW-7 #9255
5) CMSP&P H10-44 #760
6) CMSP&P HH-660 #1603
7) CB&Q SD-24 #504 (ex BN-6244, In movie Groundhog Day)
8) Illinois Terminal GP-7 1605
9) C&NW F-7A 411 (ex Metra 305)
10) C&NW Bi-level train set and cab car.
11) Wisconsin Southern E9-B 102 (ex Michigan Northern 671, UP 967B)
12) Rock Island GP-7 4506 (ex C&NW 4160)

In service, returned to service or in process of restoration

1) C&NW GP-7 1518 (The first GP-7 built, in shop for several years) (Ex EMD 100)
2) Southern Pacific SD-7 1518 (The first SD-7) (Ex EMD 990)
3) Wisconsin Central SD-45-2 7525
4) C&NW SD-40-2 6847 (Set to be painted within the coming years)
5) Green Bay & Western RSD-15 2407 (ex Santa Fe 841)
6) CMSP&P E9-A 33C (In the shop)
7) CMSP&P E9-A 37A (Placed in the shop)
8) CMSP&P F-7A 118C
9) Santa Fe FP-45 92 (ex. ATSF 101 / ex 5992 / ex 5942 / ex 102)
10) CMSP&P U-25B 5056 (Removed from the shop several years ago)
11) USA GE 45 tonner, 8537
12) Metra F7-A 305 (ex C&NW 414)
13) BN-1 F9-A
14) BN-2 F9-B
15) BN-3 E-9A
16) Commonwealth Edison 15 SW-1
17) L&N FA-2 314 (ex Long Island 604) (Re-wiring in process)
18) Nekoosa Paper 14 Alco S-3
19) Minneapolis Northfield & Southern DT6-6-2000 21 (Have not seen run recently, not sure if operable.
20) Union Pacific M-35 (1927 EMC in shop, progressing steadily)
21) Chicago & North Western RSD-5 1689
22) Union Pacific Dash 8-40-B 1848
23) Minnesota Transfer RS-3 200 (Cab interior restoration has started)
24) BN E9-A 9908 (ex CB&Q 9976) (In the shop)


Real gems in the collection awaiting their turn,

1) Dardanelle & Russellville 14 EMC (1937 EMC with Winton engine) (In the Shop)
2) TP&W RS-11 400 (not sure if operable.)
2.5) TP&W Alco C424 800
3) CMSP&P F-7B 96B (Could be used to make a Milwaukee Road A-B-A F-7 set)
4) CMSP&P FP-7A 104C (Could be used to make a Milwaukee Road A-B-A F-7 set)
5) Union Pacific DD40A 6930 Centennial (Has been used as a cab control unit at Diesel Days in recent years.
6) Union Pacific GE Turbine 18 (The museum recently received enough money to cover half of the cost of storing this set indoors.)
7) C&NW RDC
8) Union Pacific H20-44 1366 (Ex Fairbanks Morse H20-44 2000 Demonstrator)
9) ATSF Baldwin 543
10) Columbus & Greenville Baldwin AS-416 606
11. Pullman Davenport 10-ton 1792
12. Ingersoll Rand ALCo-GE-IR 60-ton Boxcab 91 (Ex DL&W 3001 6th Boxcab built in 1926)
13. ARMCO Lima LS-1200 E100 (Last locomotive Lima ever made)
14. ARMCO Baldwin-Westinghouse Visibility Cab B-71 (Built in 1930 it is one of only two left to exist)
15. Other

Additions, corrections are always welcome!

No matter how you slice it, this is an impressive list!

Full to service and cosmetic restorations:

1) Joy Manufacturing #2
2) BN U-30-C #5383
3) CB&Q E-5A, #9911
4) CB&Q SW-7 #9255
5) CMSP&P H10-44 #760
6) CMSP&P HH-660 #1603
7) CB&Q SD-24 #504 (ex BN-6244, In movie Groundhog Day)
8) Illinois Terminal GP-7 1605
9) C&NW F-7A 411 (ex Metra 305)
10) C&NW Bi-level train set and cab car.
11) Wisconsin Southern E9-B 102 (ex Michigan Northern 671, UP 967B)
12) Rock Island GP-7 4506 (ex C&NW 4160)

In service, returned to service or in process of restoration

1) C&NW GP-7 1518 (The first GP-7 built, in shop for several years) (Ex EMD 100) nee EMD 922
2) Southern Pacific SD-7 1518 (The first SD-7) (Ex EMD 990)
3) Wisconsin Central SD-45-2 7525
4) C&NW SD-40-2 6847 (Set to be painted within the coming years)
5) Green Bay & Western RSD-15 2407 (ex Santa Fe 841) operable, but needs turbo work
6) CMSP&P E9-A 33C (In the shop)
7) CMSP&P E9-A 37A (Placed in the shop)
8) CMSP&P F-7A 118C
9) Santa Fe FP-45 92 (ex. ATSF 101 / ex 5992 / ex 5942 / ex 102)currently at NRE, will be operable when it returns
10) CMSP&P U-25B 5056 (Removed from the shop several years ago)
11) USA GE 45 tonner, 8537
11.5) GE 44 Tonner
12) Metra F7-A 305 (ex C&NW 414)
13) BN-1 F9-A
14) BN-2 F9-B
15) BN-3 E-9A
16) Commonwealth Edison 15 SW-1
17) L&N FA-2 314 (ex Long Island 604) (Re-wiring in process)Trucks and motors are "in the pipeline"
18) Nekoosa Paper 14 Alco S-3
19) Minneapolis Northfield & Southern DT6-6-2000 21 (Have not seen run recently, not sure if operable. needs traction motor work
20) Union Pacific M-35 (1927 EMC in shop, progressing steadily)
21) Chicago & North Western RSD-5 1689
22) Union Pacific Dash 8-40-B 1848
23) Minnesota Transfer RS-3 200 (Cab interior restoration has started)
24) BN E9-A 9908 (ex CB&Q 9976) (In the shop)


Real gems in the collection awaiting their turn,

1) Dardanelle & Russellville 14 EMC (1937 EMC with Winton engine) (In the Shop)
2) TP&W RS-11 400 (not sure if operable.)Needs rod bearings

2.5) TP&W Alco C424 800 should be operable when it arrives
3) CMSP&P F-7B 96B (Could be used to make a Milwaukee Road A-B-A F-7 set)former rotary snow plow power car X2, needs traction motors, rewiring in process
4) CMSP&P FP-7A 104C (Could be used to make a Milwaukee Road A-B-A F-7 set)main generator problems
5) Union Pacific DD40A 6930 Centennial (Has been used as a cab control unit at Diesel Days in recent years.
6) Union Pacific GE Turbine 18 (The museum recently received enough money to cover half of the cost of storing this set indoors.)
7) C&NW RDC
8) Union Pacific H20-44 1366 (Ex Fairbanks Morse H20-44 2000 Demonstrator)needs oil cooler work, but GOD what a glorious sound when she ran...
9) ATSF FM H12-44TS 543
10) Columbus & Greenville Baldwin AS-416 606 Needs air compressor, and needs fuel tank to be reinstalled
11. Pullman Davenport 10-ton 1792
12. Ingersoll Rand ALCo-GE-IR 60-ton Boxcab 91 (Ex DL&W 3001 6th Boxcab built in 1926)
13. ARMCO Lima LS-1200 E100 (Last locomotive Lima ever made)formerly operable, but needs oil cooler work, and whatever else has gone wrong in the last 30 years of sitting
14. ARMCO Baldwin-Westinghouse Visibility Cab B-71 (Built in 1930 it is one of only two left to exist)
15. Other

Additions, corrections are always welcome!

No matter how you slice it, this is an impressive list!

The photo was taken with inside-the-building lighting. Wait until it is out in the sunshine. Then we can make a judgement.

I’d like to ask a question about the Milwaukee Road E9A’s. What color will they be painted in once they’re both restored. UP Armour yellow?

What happened to the GTW RS1 #1951?