Sunday, October 11, 2009

What's cream and maroon and looks like an "L" car?

Answer: the 321, now! Today we made more preparations for the impending arrival of the Brookins equipment by taking step wells and pilots off the 321 to facilitate removal of the car's trucks so that they can be used under the 319. I started off by removing three of the car's step wells (the fourth was left in place to ease continued access to the car's interior); Dan Fenlaciki then helped me move them to the center aisle of the barn between tracks 82 and 83. Dan and I removed the car's four third rail beams, reunited them with some hardware that had been removed previously, and put them along the barn wall. By this time a sizable crew had arrived on Track 84 to tarp CSL 4001, and several people lent a hand in removing the 321's pilots. Dan Mulvhill and Joe Stupar both helped with some particularly balky bolts; Joel Ahrendt assisted in taking the pilots down. Thanks to everyone who helped - it was not an easy task and it would have been impossible without everyone who lent a hand! The 4001 is now tarped for outdoor storage and the 321 is a big step closer to outdoors-ready.

EDIT: Unofficial Company Photographer Gwyn Stupar sent along some photos of the proceedings. At left, I'm loosening bolts on the third step well; at right, Dan Mulvihill (R) and I take off some difficult bolts from the #2 end pilot. Below left, I'm removing bolts from the pilot braces at the #2 end (the little air tank over my head is the equalizing reservoir for the M23 brake stand, something the 308 and 309 don't have). Accessing these is a lot easier with the step well gone! "Watch Your Step" indeed! Below right, Joe Stupar doesn't mess around - he's seen here using a cheater bar to remove one of the final nuts holding up the #2 end pilot.

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