X-5000 Dynamometer Goes Inside Barn 11

November 27, 2016 – Union, IL – After 30 years of sitting outside, the Dynamometer car X-5000 is now inside its new home in Barn 11 (112 track) at the Illinois Railway Museum, along with other Milw equipment. A big thank you to MRHA and IRM and all who donated to get the equipment inside and preserved.

X-5000 inside Barn 11. 11/27/16,

 

X-5000 Looking back from instrument room to kitchen. 11/27/16.

 

X-5000 Instrument Room. 11/27/16.

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Test Sandblast/Paint Run – 10/7/15

From the IRM Coach Dept Blog:

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Video from Running at IRM’s Showcase Weekend 9/20/14

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Update from Running the Dyno at IRM Diesel Days July 19-20, 2014

From the IRM Coach Dept Blog:

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Side Door Sheet Metal Panel Replacement – July 13, 2014

Orig Door Panel

The problem – door panel is very rusted and needs replacement.

 

Chuck Trabert spent the day replacing the face on the bottom half of one of the side door 16 gauge sheet metal panels on the Milwaukee Road Dynamometer car and also replaced all three deceslostat air brake hoses and fittings. Pauline Trabert took pictures and helped Chuck as much as possible.

Chuck cleaning door

Chuck Trabert vacs loose rust from Dynamometer door frame – Photo by Pauline Trabert

Pauline Applying Rust Converter

Pauline Trabert applies rust converter to Dyno door frame to keep from rusting further – Photo by Shelly Vanderschaegen

 

Chuck meansuring new door panel

Measuring the new door panel.

 

Chuck cutting new door panel (16 gauge galv sheet metal)

Chuck cutting new door panel (16 gauge galv sheet metal)

 

Chuck drilling new door panel

Drilling new door panel holes.

Finished door panel replacement. Great worksmanship by Chuck Trabert. 8/31/14.

Finished door panel replacement. Great workmanship by Chuck and Pauline Trabert.

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June 8, 2014 Update…

Our work on the X-5000 was reported on the IRM Passenger Car blog by Pauline Trabert at:

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Memorial Day 2014 Work…

Our work on the X-5000 was reported on the IRM Passenger Car blog by Pauline Trabert at (need to scroll down):

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May 2, 2014 Work is Documented on the IRM Passenger Car Blog

Our work on the X-5000 was reported on the IRM Passenger Car blog by Pauline Trabert at:

http://www2.irm.org/blogs/archives/1692-May-3rd-and-4th-Passenger-Car-Department-Update.html

 

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Dynamometer Car Runs Sept 14-15th, 2013 – First Time Since 2007!

Thanks to MANY volunteers, we were able to run the Dyno on Sept. 14-15 and 22nd, 2013. We began plans to ready the car for service after Laddie Vitek from the IRM Diesel Dept. inquired in mid-July if we could run the car for folks visiting IRM post-MRHA convention in Rockford on Sept. 22. We agreed it would be a great idea and then also chose to run it Museum Showcase Weekend as well (Sept 14-15).

From July-Sept we would spent several weekends removing no longer needed items aboard the car clearing out space on the car for riders and getting the necessary repairs made and the necessary systems working. Getting the car ready to be run will be a separate blog post in and by itself that encompassed many weekends.

The car performed flawlessly Members Showcase Weekend and Sun 9/22/13.

The following people at IRM helped make this happen: Chuck Trabert, Pauline Trabert, Laddie Vitek, Adam Farance, Jeron Glander, Paul Sawicki, Bob Olson, Jamie Kolanowski, myself, Warren Newhauser, and a few others.

 

Welding the cut lever bracket back on. The Diesel Dept guys straightened it out. 9/14/13.

Welding the cut lever bracket back on in Yard 11. The Diesel Dept guys straightened it out for us. 9/14/13.

Looking forward into the night. 9/14/13.

Looking forward into the night. 9/14/13.

Looking back from the instrument room towards the kitchen. 9/14/13.

Looking back from the instrument room towards the kitchen. 9/14/13.

Instrument Panel showing loco throttle position, gen field, and other on/off events. 9/14/13.

Instrument Panel showing loco throttle position, gen field, and other on/off events. 9/14/13.

Riding in the Kitchen. 9/14/13.

Riding in the Kitchen. 9/14/13.

Buzz Morisette making coffee with the old perculator coffee pot. 9/14/13.

Buzz Morisette making coffee with the old percolator coffee pot on the propane stove. 9/14/13.

X-5000 volunteer Brian LaKemper (left) and Jeron Glander (right) work on the dynamometer unit. 9/14/13.

X-5000 volunteer Brian LaKemper (left) and Jeron Glander (right) work on the hydraulic dynamometer unit. 9/14/13.

Dyno's 32VDC trainline powering the 3 coaches equipped with 120V bulbs makes for a nice ambiance! 9/14/13.

Dyno’s 32VDC trainline powering the 3 coaches equipped with 120V bulbs makes for a nice ambiance! We offered to replace some of the 120V bulbs with 32V to provide more light, but when we did the passengers adamantly insisted they preferred the soft glow of 120V bulbs better. 9/14/13.

Red Mars light mounted on back protects the car. 9/14/13.

Red Mars light mounted on back protects the car. 9/14/13.

Red Mars light beacon protecting the back of the Dyno (frame from a video). 9/14/13.

Red Mars light beacon protecting the back of the Dyno (frame from a video). 9/14/13.

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Dynamometer Car Expected to Run Sept 14-15 Members Day Weekend and Sept 22 Following MRHA Convention in Rockford

IMG_2974

Dyn Car in Yard 10 at IRM. 7/5/13.

This year railfans will have the opportunity to ride the Dyanamometer car at the Illinois Railway Museum on Sept 14, 15 and 22, 2013, pending successful running gear and air brake inspections, of course.  The car is expected to be moved to Yard 3 Labor Day weekend or the weekend after and the inspections then made by Mike Baksic, Head of the Coach Dept.  It may be paired behind new operational MILW E9 #37A.

The last time the car ran and was open to the public was in June 2007 after the MRHA convention in nearby Elgin.

Since 2007, much restoration work has been done. The interior is starting to take shape again with many wood-related repairs and the electrical system in now almost fully operational providing a nice ambiance, especially at night.

Each weekend (8/18, 8/25, Labor Day Weekend and 9/8, 9/14, 9/15 – usually Sundays) leading up to and Sept 14-15, we will be working on the car. IRM members will have the opportunity to ride at night on Sept 14, if it runs after the annual barbeque dinner on Sat. night. If you are not yet an IRM member, you can join once you are on the property!

If you are interested in volunteering to get the car ready please contact me directly at wanewhauser2004@yahoo.com.  All volunteers must sign a liability waiver with IRM in order to work on the grounds.

The instrument panel in the front of the car

The instrument panel in the front of the car

 

Standing in the kitchen looking forward to the instrument room.

Standing in the kitchen looking forward to the instrument room.

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