09/18/2023
In the fall of 2022 RW Keys & Son completed an exterior restoration of the IC 9945 caboose at the Kishwaukee Valley Heritage Society Museum in Genoa, IL.
Built in 1950 by Illinois Central, it was moved to the museum in 1983. R.W.Keys and Son began the restoration in June 2022. "Restoring the caboose was equivalent to the restoration of numerous vintage automobiles that are really rusty."
Some highlights of the job include:
This caboose was one of 900,000 pieces of railroad equipment, tracked with a barcode in 1968. This technology was known as Kartrak automatic car identification. The barcode was replaced by 1975 and upgraded with radio transponders for tracking.
The caboose had an update and new logos in 1972 when Illinois Central merged with Gulf Mobile and Ohio to form Illinois Central Gulf.
Extensive restoration and preparation for finishes including: sandblasting with water and crushed glass, metal repair, welding and body work, as well as the application of sealants to stop rust.
High quality PPG automotive finish for truck fleet and airline epoxy primer and finish paint gives the caboose its luster. The coatings should retain their finish for more than 30 years.
The windows were "in really bad shape." In some instances the joints and sills had completely rotted away. Keys restored the windows making them operational.
New armrests, upholstered in black leather were replicated from fabricated and installed. These armrests drop down from the inside when a sliding door is opened providing some comfort as the caboose traveled down the tracks.
Find out more about the restored caboose at the Kishwaukee Valley Heritage Society here: https://loom.ly/3LTMwBM
