Just to remind you. This is what the shay smoke box looked like a couple of weeks ago.
This is yesterday, March 24, 2018. The smoke box cover is being installed for the very first time
Here the gang is fastening the nuts onto the studs.
Trevor was inside the smokebox making sure the studs were in the right position. He just climbed out and happy to the light of day again. Only kidding, of course, hes smiling because the job is done!
Here's the installation gang
Another look of the shop forces. Just like the old days. A picture of the guys who participated in the work gang.
Not to be outdone Christian holds the builders number plate onto the front of the smoke box for me to photograph.
Charlie is painting the tool box underneath the 1630's tender.
Charlie's Dad Paul is painting the front pilot beam of the 1630. The 1630 is getting sprucing up. We will be celebrating the engines upcoming 100th birthday this year.
This was last weekend. Working on the foot boards
Not to be outdone the UP 428 is also receiving a painting job.
This father and son team are painting the flexie stay bolt caps on the 428
Here is maybe the next generation of volunteers. This is Ricks grandson. He sure had a great day. You can tell by the glint and glow in his eyes.
Roger Kramer Author
Roger Kramer is a longtime volunteer in IRM's Passenger Car Department. He has worked on many restoration projects including several Rock Island commuter cars and the Pullman car "John McLoughlin." He was also instrumental in acquiring for preservation several of the museum's historic passenger cars and diesel locomotives.