Did the Illinios Railway Museum ever get the ex Union Pacific #428 fully restored to operation? The web site has old info and has not been updated for some time.

Thanks in advance for the info.

JD

mnfrailhist@hotmail.com

> Did the Illinios Railway Museum ever get the
> ex Union Pacific #428 fully restored to
> operation? The web site has old info and has
> not been updated for some time.

> Thanks in advance for the info.

> JD
I was at IRM in early June. It is not yet finished but is being worked on. We spent about a half hour talking with the fellow who was working on rehabing the locomotive's cab. Could not tell you how much longer it will take them, but they intend to do it right.

ka4gbbill@aol.com

> Did the Illinios Railway Museum ever get the
> ex Union Pacific #428 fully restored to
> operation? The web site has old info and has
> not been updated for some time.

> Thanks in advance for the info.

> JD

The UP 428 is a continuing project, and a lot of major work has been accomplished including boiler work to hydro and test to where we feel it will pass. That includes a new rear tubesheet, new tubes, remanufactured superheaters, one new cast cylinder head, new smokebox extension, staybolts, remanufactured ash pans, some new grates, and a hot riveted boiler patch; probably a list of another 100 items attended to but those are the visible BIG jobs. "Accessories" including air pump and power reverse are on the list.

The tender is also receiving a lot of attention including new coal bunker and new springs on completely rehabbed trucks.

The steam crew doing the restoration is also the crew responsible for maintaining and operating the Frisco 1630 decapod, so operating season can cut into restoration progress to some extent. (We are operating the decapod for a total of 19 days this season - please come out and see it and photograph the operation. It had new crosshead bearings this winter, and at some point faces additional running gear repairs. It is being evaluated on a year by year basis.)

The website has become a very large and complex reference source as well as a vehicle for news. It is maintained solely by a very dedicated volunteer who is responsible for a lot of on property work. In his 'spare time' he maintains a job and family! So necessarily it is not always the best source for late breaking news or project reports.

A lot of members trade questions and freely supply updates on a Yahoo Group - 'IRM List' and this site will frequently get you specific information.

Hopefully some member of our steam department can set this straight if I made any boo boos, but the 2-8-0 is definitely coming along, although not yet ready for steaming.

Bob Kutella

68trolley@comcast.net

Whatever happened to Shay #5? When I was there in 2001 it was in the large barn in front of 2903 looking a little tired. The website has it listed as being "temporarily out of service". Is she down and out or will we see her run again in the future?

davelecount@juno.com

Bob,

Thank you for all the information you have given. I have been keeping track of this restoration for a while now and it is nice to know that the old gal will steam sometime in the near future.

JD

mnfrailhist@hotmail.com

> Whatever happened to Shay #5? When I was
> there in 2001 it was in the large barn in
> front of 2903 looking a little tired. The
> website has it listed as being
> "temporarily out of service". Is
> she down and out or will we see her run
> again in the future?
I was out there a week ago and it's the same old story, the steam department is hurting for men interested in rolling up their sleeves and getting the 428 job done. For the 1630 it's running on barrowed time.

spirek5@aol.com

> Whatever happened to Shay #5? When I was
> there in 2001 it was in the large barn in
> front of 2903 looking a little tired. The
> website has it listed as being
> "temporarily out of service". Is
> she down and out or will we see her run
> again in the future?

The shay finally ran out of time on tubes. The old ones have been removed and new tubes are on hand. The larger flues for inserting the superheaters have been fabricated.

That project is not dead in the water either, but rather a question of time and priorities. For now we are focusing on a larger rod engine, keeping the decapod going, and getting the 428 ready for when the 1630 needs a 'rest'. Hopefully the 428 will be ready in time.

I was always a big fan of the shay and that is saying something for a trolley fan! Long ago I helped remove the firebrick when it was returned to a coal burner, and even did a few days duty as fireman in operations. But the fact that we offer a 10 mile round trip on pretty close headways (on busier days) really makes the slower shay less than ideal. So, first things first.

We have a very strong steam department and curator/manager and most days the shop is quite full of bodies and work. Not to say there is never room for one more eager volunteer!

Bob Kutella


68trolley@comcast.net

> The shay finally ran out of time on tubes.
> The old ones have been removed and new tubes
> are on hand. The larger flues for inserting
> the superheaters have been fabricated.

> That project is not dead in the water
> either, but rather a question of time and
> priorities. For now we are focusing on a
> larger rod engine, keeping the decapod
> going, and getting the 428 ready for when
> the 1630 needs a 'rest'. Hopefully the 428
> will be ready in time.

> I was always a big fan of the shay and that
> is saying something for a trolley fan! Long
> ago I helped remove the firebrick when it
> was returned to a coal burner, and even did
> a few days duty as fireman in operations.
> But the fact that we offer a 10 mile round
> trip on pretty close headways (on busier
> days) really makes the slower shay less than
> ideal. So, first things first.

> We have a very strong steam department and
> curator/manager and most days the shop is
> quite full of bodies and work. Not to say
> there is never room for one more eager
> volunteer!

> Bob Kutella
Bob,

I wish I could come help. I may get a chance in the future to at least come for a visit. How fare is Union from Peoria?

Thanks,

JD

mnfrailhist@hotmail.com

Here's the 428 on its last trip, at Boelus, Nebraska on the Loup City Branch, October 15, 1958. It was UP's last 2-8-0 to run, and the last trip was recorded by several chasing photographers, including Otto Perry.

http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00017437+OP-17437
ryarger@rypn.org

> Here's the 428 on its last trip, at Boelus,
> Nebraska on the Loup City Branch, October
> 15, 1958. It was UP's last 2-8-0 to run, and
> the last trip was recorded by several
> chasing photographers, including Otto Perry.

Ah, what a beautiful photo! And here is something that I believe IRM has in its power to closly replicate. The 428 (after it is restored to operable condition of course), a gon (possibly a mill gondola), what appears to be a stock car or possibly a single sheathed box and an arch window combine carrying the markers. How about it boys, could you do it?

Les Beckman (Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum/North Judson, Indiana)



midlandblb@cs.com

> Bob,

> I wish I could come help. I may get a chance
> in the future to at least come for a visit.
> How fare is Union from Peoria?

> Thanks,

> JD

My son went to school in Peoria and once the car learned its way, you could almost set it on autopilot and make the trip in maybe 3.5 hours without risking a ticket. But I would come up I 39 to Rockford and then east without going I 55 into the Chicago metro spaghetti bowl.

Bob


68trolley@comcast.net

> Ah, what a beautiful photo! And here is
> something that I believe IRM has in its
> power to closly replicate. The 428 (after it
> is restored to operable condition of
> course), a gon (possibly a mill gondola),
> what appears to be a stock car or possibly a
> single sheathed box and an arch window
> combine carrying the markers. How about it
> boys, could you do it?

> Les Beckman (Hoosier Valley Railroad
> Museum/North Judson, Indiana)

Who knows what the future holds? The stock car and s/s boxcar are no problem, but the gon might be a stretch. We have one off site waiting to be moved and a side dump gon that could stand in. Any of several heavyweight combines are available for such a scene, although none with arch windows.
Of course it is nice to dream and plan ahead. But do you think fans might support the idea of a photo 'subscription' ticket for this event or other events? I understand this concept works in Europe.

We regulalry do such special events and there is a significant effort involved - generally well appreciated and nice comments from fandom, but not a lot of revenue at the gate. The casual visitor or family group visiting are not 'into' the details of such minutiae.

Bob Kutella


68trolley@comcast.net