Mid-Continent’s Restoration Department has released its 2024 work session schedule. These work sessions are a great way to get involved at Mid-Continent Railway Museum.
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 makes 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, please reach out! To be placed in contact with Bill Buhrmaster, MCRM’s Restoration Manager, send call the museum office at 608-522-4261.
Session #
Dates
February TBD (Set by emails)
March TBD (Set by emails)
1
March 2-3
2
April 10-11-12
3
April 26-27
4
May 3-4-5 Spring Fling (Museum-wide Volunteering Day): May 4
5
May 17-18-19
6
June 8-9-10
7
June 26-27-28-29-30 2024 All Hands on Deck
8
July 13-14-15
9
July 26-27-28
10
August 10-11-12
11
August 23-24-25
12
September 13-14-15
13
September 27-28-29-30 Vintage Rail Car Tours: September 28-29
14
October 11-12-13 Autumn Color Weekends: October 5-6 & October 12-13
15
October 25-26-27
16
November 15-16-17
17
November 29-30 & December 1 Santa Express: November 30 – December 1 & December 7-8
To help Mid-Continent restore the DULUTH to its former glory, please consider making a donation to the DSS&A Sleeper DULUTH Fund. Donating is tax-deductible and easy to do. You can make your donation via mail or donate online using the Donate button.
Be sure to write in “DSS&A Sleeper DULUTH Fund” on the printable donation form or check memo line if sending a donation by mail. Credit/debit card donations can also be accepted via phone at 608-522-4261 or 800-930-1385 by speaking to our staff during administrative office hours Monday-Friday.
This update is a summary of the work that has been completed in 2022 and 2023. Much work has been done and the end of this restoration project is now in sight.
Interior work
Paint and varnish stripping is completed. This labor intensive work required using heat to soften up to 4 layers of paint so it could be scraped off. Additional scraping and sanding got down to clean wood. The baggage section was painted a dark red color to match the original paint. The color does leave the section dark looking with light only from one window and the small windows in the baggage doors.
In the passenger section walls were stripped and the walnut trim was reattached. After filling many screw and nail holes and finish sanding the walls were stained. A small section has been varnished to get an idea of the finished coloring of the walls. The clerestory area was also stripped and painted white and the clerestory window were installed.
In other perhaps less noticed work the old and damaged Panasote ceiling was removed in preparation for the new ceiling. The original ceiling/head liner was painted canvas tacked to roof ribs. We do not know the color or pattern of the original as we only have scraps of the fabric from around the edges but we hope the new ceiling will be in the style of the original. Significant time was also spent repairing missing and rotten floor boards.
Reproduction of the seats is the last major project for the interior. We have the cast iron seat parts which have now been painted and the wood seat frame parts are made and varnished. The bottom and back cushions still need to be made and upholstered.
Exterior Work
Installation of the sound deafening ceiling attached to the underside of the car body was completed and the truss rods and brake parts were painted but the major exterior project was the roof work. This work include replacing damaged structural parts, patching vent holes and replacing small portions of the roof deck. Wood drip edge made many years ago was finally installed. Prior to installation of the canvas roof covering, the roof deck was sanded and painted while keeping an eye out for any protruding nails or screws. Canvas was stretched over the roof and tacked along the edges with thousands of tacks. The canvas was saturated with a special formula canvas paint to make it impermeable to water. The drip edge and other exposed wood was painted the green color that will be used on the rest of the car body. Finally, new screens were installed to complete the roof.
A special thanks to any volunteers that have helped with the project in the last 2 years. Including (in no particular order) David M, David P, Larry S, Steve P, Jay S, Karl S, Jeff H, Nancy K, Owen H, Mike M, Tom B, Gregg W., Jane, Richard P, James B. Grant H. and probably someone I have forgotten.
All photos are by Peter Becker unless otherwise noted.
EJ&S #2 baggage section painted to match original color.Freshly stained west wall of passenger section.East wall stained with first coat of varnish.Painted clerestory area with installed window.Painted cast iron seat part including wall casting and seat back arms.Seat mockup showing configuration of cast iron parts with old seat bottom and frame approximating the size of the back cushion.Roof prior to canvas installationRoof with canvas and screens installed. W. Buhrmaster photo.
The Mid-Continent Railway Museum Restoration Department recently completed a three-day volunteer work session that was held on August 25th through the 27th. We had a good turnout as we had (21) volunteers helping us over the three-day session. The next planned Restoration Department volunteer work session is scheduled for September 8, 9 and 10. Plan on joining us and giving us a hand. We’re continuing to make some great progress and we would welcome your help.
Also mark your calendar to attend the upcoming MCRM Vintage Rail Car Tours scheduled for September 30th and October 1st. We’ve got a great lineup of cars on the tour this year as well as tours through the Restoration Shop. More information about the tours is available by clicking on the following link:
The MCRM Restoration Department recently completed a three day volunteer work session that was held on August 25th through the 27th. We had a good turnout for the three day session and we averaged over (13) volunteers per day on restoration projects. The (21) volunteers that helped out for this session were Jack, Jerry F, Mike M., David P., Karl, Jeff Ha., Richard P., Peter B., David M., Jerry M., Steve W., Judy G., Darryl G., Gregg, Jane, Peter S., Ben, Sam, John T, Bob R. and myself. Thanks to this great crew we got a lot of work performed and completed.
Following is a brief summary of the progress made during the session:
LS&I #64:
-Jack delivered four of the recently completed seat back frames that he made in his shop. -Jack and Jerry cut and fit more of the arched window trim pieces (pork chops) on the east side. -Mike M. installed the screws in the trim pieces. -Larry continued to fill and sand the ends of the car and the roof overhangs. To date over 90% of the exterior epoxy repairs have been completed. -Judy painted the back sides of the pork chops and the balance of the car siding.
Larry performing epoxy repair on the end of the LS&I #64.The newly cut and fit trim pieces above the arched windows.Mike installing screws in the new fit trim pieces on the LS&I #64.
The LS&I #64 is coming along and looking better all of the time.
DSS&A DULUTH:
-Karl scraped, filled and sanded the shade boxes for the sleeping compartment windows. -I stained and sealed wood work on the east and west walls in the sleeping compartment -Karl and I made an exploratory cut into the upper ceiling panel in the sleeping compartment. -Karl installed the screws in window post trim pieces, shade box lower rails and the shade bearing blocks. -Mike continued to take dimensions to finalize the drawings for the four interior doors that need to be replicated. -Judy performed the final sanding on the shade boxes and the wooden dowels for the berth coat hangers -Richard continued to remove more of the old material, nails and flashing off of the roof.
Karl installing parts in the DULUTH.Work progressing on Berth #7 in the DULUTH.
EJ&S #2 combine:
-Pete continued to work on the canvas roof replacement project. -Pete installed a few of the clerestory windows and he applied a fourth and final coat of canvas paint. -Gregg and Jane assisted Pete by installing some of the clerestory screen blocks that get mounted on the exterior of the clerestory area.
A pair of the newly installed clerestory windows in the EJ&S #2.The canvas roof on the EJ&S #2, prior to final coat of paint.
Chicago and Illinois Midland #90:
-Jerry M. and Dean continued working in the observation room -They completed installing all of the mahogany plywood in the room -They installed the new window stop for the observation room end window -They cut, fit and installed the window post column trim pieces -With the above work completed the woodwork in the observation room is done and they are now moving onto the state room that is adjacent to the observation room. -Steve W. continued to work on the electrical scope for the car. This included cleaning out the old wires in the electrical closet and creating a space for the wires to be routed through the dining room.
Jerry and Dean working inside the C&IM #90 observation room.A view of the completed east wall in the C&IM #90.
Copper Range #29:
– Darryl painted (cab green) the interior of the new cab windows (engineer’s side) and installed the glass in the two new window frames -Darryl applied a final coat of black on the exterior side of the window frames. -Darryl installed the completed windows in the cab. -This is a nice project to get completed as the locomotive is on display and very visible to the public.
The new windows installed in the CRR #29.Darryl working on one of the new windows for the CRR #29.
C&NW #613:
-David P. scraped and sanded the lower siding on the west side of the car -John T and David P. painted the lower siding on the west side. -John T. sanded and painted the two ends and scraped the east side (in process)
John scraping paint on the east side of the C&NW #613.The west side of the C&NW #613 in fresh paint.
Various:
-Jeff Ha. sanded and applied the second coat of varnish to the two toilet rooms in the Great Northern #3261 coach -David M started to needle scale the trucks for the Cazenovia Southern combine. -Bob and Richard installed the platform trap hardware on the observation end steps of the Badger #2. -Richard, Peter S, Ben and Sam helped with the following:
1. Removed the stored steam heat and air brake parts from the Car Shop and moved them to the Storage Building #1. 2. Moved the wooden work platforms and composite wood material to Storage Building #2 3. Disassembled and removed the large metal shelving from the west wall of the Car Shop. 4. Made a trash run to empty all of the Car Shop trash containers that Jeff Ha. moved to the north entrance door. 5.The steam heat pipes and scaffolding that were stored on the west side of the #613 car were moved and placed on the east side of the car. This was done to clean up the area around the car that the public sees.
Jeff Ha. varnishing inside the GN #3261 toilet room.The newly fabricated and install trap mechanism (minus the spring) on the Badger #2 fish car.Peter, Sam and Ben after a hard day of work.David M. needle scaling one of the trucks for the Cazenovia Southern combine.
Goodman Lumber Co. #9 Shay:
Work is progressing on installing the new jacketing on the boiler. The jacket pieces were in the process of being fitted and trimmed. By the end of the weekend all of the jacketing is in place and fastened together. Next up is to have the jacketing bands made and installed. Painting of the entire Shay will follow once all of the jacketing work is completed. This work is made possible thanks to donations from numerous donors and a matching donation by Bobbie Wagner.
That’s the latest. Thank you to all of the volunteers for your time and hard work. It is greatly appreciated!!! The next planned Restoration Department volunteer work session is scheduled for September 8, 9 and 10. Plan on joining us and giving us a hand. We’re continuing to make some great progress and we would welcome your help.
Also mark your calendar to attend the upcoming MCRM Vintage Rail Car Tours scheduled for September 30th and October 1st. We’ve got a great lineup of cars on the tour this year as well as tours through the Restoration Shop. More information about the tours is available by clicking on the following link:
Mid-Continent Railway Museum has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the National Railway Historical Society. This grant will be utilized for the reproduction of 16 seat bottoms and back cushions needed to complete the restoration of the East Jordan and Southern No. 2 combination car. This car is the oldest in our museum’s collection, and we are thrilled to be able to begin the last step of this car’s restoration journey.
#2 while in service. Date unknown. Location is alongside the EJ&S’s East Jordan depot. Date unknown; L.B. Herren photo; Ted Schnepf collection, from Paul Swanson.
About the East Jordan and Southern No. 2 Car
East Jordan and Southern No. 2 was originally built in Nov. 1864 as first-class coach No. 112 for the Grand Trunk Railroad of Canada and operated between Detroit and Port Huron. The coach was renumbered 585 and received a major rebuild in 1889 to update its appearance and give it new mechanical gear. After refurbishment by Hicks Locomotive and Car works the coach came to the EJ&S in April 1902. In 1919 it was rebuilt as a baggage coach combination car by the EJ&S. The combine remained in service until 1961 when the line was abandoned. East Jordan and Southern No. 2 was acquired by the museum in 1963 and it has been at Mid-Continent for the past 60 years. EJ&S No. 2 is one of the oldest passenger cars surviving in the United States. While the exterior has been considerably altered by two significant rebuilds, the interior of the passenger section still has the character and woodwork of the 1864 car. The plan is to restore the interior to that of an 1860s car which will be unique among the collection at our museum. No seats were in the car when it arrived at the museum. We must reproduce seats typical of the time which have cast iron frame parts and cushions made with plush mohair upholstery. Restorations on the EJ&S No. 2 has been progressing since its start in 2014. Work thus far has included replacement of the side sills. Along with the rebuilding of the “east side” wall structure, windows, baggage doors, steps, and end platforms. The siding has been replaced thanks in part to a 2015 grant from the NRHS, and as for the interior woodwork, it has been stripped and is waiting to be refinished. The remaining work includes installing canvas roof covering, clerestory screens, as well as installation of the window, doors, blinds, and interior hardware. The last step is reproducing and installing the seats in the passenger section of the car, and with help from this grant, it can now move closer to being completed.
How to Help this Project Move Forward
Thanks to the NRHS, we have some additional help in finishing this project. However, the full cost of this project still exceeds the amount we’ve been given. In total, the full cost of the seats will be around $30,750. If you would like to help us reach this goal, please donate at the link below.
The National Railway Historical Society is a non-profit organization that supports the preservation projects of trains, railways and stations with thousands of dollars awarded in Heritage Grants. This organization was founded in 1935 by rail historians and has since grown from a small group of 40 founding members. Today, they have over 13,000 members, who include men and women of all ages. Thus, making it the largest rail preservation and historical society.
About the Mid-Continent Railway Museum
Mid-Continent Railway Historical Society–also known as Mid-Continent Railway Museum–is an outdoor, living museum and operating railroad recreating the small town/short line way of life during the “Golden Age of Railroading,” with operating trains, educational exhibits, and displays of restored rolling stock. In 2023 Mid-Continent will be celebrating its 60th anniversary of sharing railroad history with museum visitors.
