319 Runs

Today Frank and I got the 319 running under its own power for the first time since it arrived at IRM. The blue cars were scheduled to operate today but didn't, due to the intermittent rain.

First, though, we went out to the 321 to get the stencils we'll need for the letterboard, a cover plate for the control system, and to work on fastening the tarp more securely.

I then taped up the motor leads and rechecked the armatures on all four traction motors. We made up the train, rechecked the brakes, and then pulled it outside to test the motors. The 319 performed well, just as expected. We are running on the trucks and motors from the 321, which were last used in 2006. Everything went well, but the rain started so the three car train ran back into the barn using all traction motors.

We also replaced a defective retriever on one end of the 319, and then started working on the roof. I had to redrill the holes for the two trolley bases; one of them is now bolted in place, and the other I can do myself. We're much closer to having the car able to operate by itself.

Just as I was about to leave, Rod arrived from East Troy with two motor trucks on a flatbed which I helped unload. They're pretty interesting: old TM electric car motor trucks with wooden bolsters, which are rather tired. Several Car Dept. people were up at East Troy today; we're getting several trucks and other parts from that group, and they need to be moved quickly. Norm got everything ready so the 303 motor truck and parts can be loaded tomorrow for shipment to Warehouse Point in Connecticut. And the new open car has arrived from Scranton. At IRM, hardly a day goes by without some significant progress!

And as a publicity note, the IRM segment on "Cruisin' Illinois" should be aired this Thursday evening on the 9PM news on Channel 9. You can probably get WGN just about anywhere on cable, so watch for it!

Frank adds...
Video of the 319's first run is here. And in addition to all of the events mentioned above, there was also progress on the electric car shop extension. The wall between the "old new" shop (the previous extension) and the new extension was knocked down, presenting the view shown below. While the new extension has HVAC it doesn't have lights - we still need to raise several thousand dollars for those. Donations to the Car Department shop fund are greatly appreciated!