Barn 11 is now open for business, and the first cars were switched in today!
But first, let's see some progress on the 319. Greg Ceurvorst was helping again today, and he really worked hard. Here he is (L) stripping paint from a window, while Rich Witt (R) is working on replacing the rotted sash on the sign box for the 409.
I removed the two sets of dash lights and folding signs from the 319, since they were installed at Trolleyville to backdate the car and are not correct for the period to which we're restoring it. The castings and signs are now safely in storage, so don't panic! I need to make some new pieces of siding to fill up the hole, so I decided I should check what's there, and I'm glad I did. The siding on the ends of this car is a different thickness than standard car siding, 1/2" instead of 3/4". You can see blue paint and part of the number 9, but don't be deceived: these are remnants of the light blue paint scheme which the 319 had for many years at Trolleyville, and not from the CA&E.
But first, let's see some progress on the 319. Greg Ceurvorst was helping again today, and he really worked hard. Here he is (L) stripping paint from a window, while Rich Witt (R) is working on replacing the rotted sash on the sign box for the 409.
I removed the two sets of dash lights and folding signs from the 319, since they were installed at Trolleyville to backdate the car and are not correct for the period to which we're restoring it. The castings and signs are now safely in storage, so don't panic! I need to make some new pieces of siding to fill up the hole, so I decided I should check what's there, and I'm glad I did. The siding on the ends of this car is a different thickness than standard car siding, 1/2" instead of 3/4". You can see blue paint and part of the number 9, but don't be deceived: these are remnants of the light blue paint scheme which the 319 had for many years at Trolleyville, and not from the CA&E.
Greg did a great job of sandblasting the brass window latches, and was crushed to learn that they will have to be painted. Sorry! But here they are in all their brazen glory.
I spent some hours stripping the purple paint from the 319. I was hoping perhaps I could just sand it down and repaint, but haven't decided yet. The top coat comes off easily enough; beneath it is white primer, which is harder to remove. I'll probably sand it down and put on another coat of white primer.
By the end of the day, Greg had finished stripping one drop sash and one side window sash, and painted them with white primer. Thanks!!!
Meanwhile, lots of switching was going on, so I could watch trains going by while I worked! The 36 was pulled outside, so two L cars could be switched out, and this resulted in another new picture from Wheaton Shops, almost:
The 36 was then moved to 84, next to the 309 for the first time.I had to leave before
the switch move was completed, but several cars had already been moved into Barn 11. From right to left, Fort Wayne 91, the Knoxville Birney, the TM portable sub, CTA 6125-6126, and North Shore 253. The barn really looks great; a big round of applause for everyone who worked on it! I noted with envy that it even has automatic garage doors, since there's no trolley wire.
the switch move was completed, but several cars had already been moved into Barn 11. From right to left, Fort Wayne 91, the Knoxville Birney, the TM portable sub, CTA 6125-6126, and North Shore 253. The barn really looks great; a big round of applause for everyone who worked on it! I noted with envy that it even has automatic garage doors, since there's no trolley wire.
out of curiosity, what era did Trolleyville choose when renovating the 318 and what era is IRM shooting for? Would it perhaps been easier just to stick with the Trolleyville renovation or is there a strong reason to switch?
ReplyDeletewhoops, 319 that is....
ReplyDeleteThat's a good question. I guess the current paint is supposed to be the 1930's maroon, but there's no cream anywhere and the windows and doors are a different color altogether, so maybe it's supposed to be the 1920's red. Hard to say, and in either case it's incorrect for the car's current configuration. I'll have a post on our plans for the 319 up soon.
ReplyDeleteI posted a few pics from yesterday of two steel cars, and the start of the load in.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.irm.org/gallery/album221
Frank D.
The pair of CTA cars put in barn 11 are NOT singles. They are 6000-series pair 6125-6126. Thanks for making the correction.
ReplyDeleteThanks. It gets confusing.
ReplyDelete