Many of you are interested in what plans we have for restoring the CA&E cars recently acquired from Trolleyville, so here's what I know. The steel cars will be handled by others, Stan and Joe and Charlie and so on, so I'll let them announce what they decide. For all three steel cars, the final 1950's paint scheme of Brilliant Red and Aurora Gray is the only choice, so that's what it will be. I understand that the 409 will probably be done first.
Now for the wood cars. The 319 will be done first, and work has already started. The car is basically in very good shape, and I don't foresee any problems with putting it into operation later this year. The car was heavily modified in 1953 when it was painted red.
The original double sash windows were completely replaced with single sash and new hardware, one of the oval windows was squared off and replaced, the controllers were changed, and the interior colors were changed. We don't think we can accurately recover the earlier shades of paint used on the interior. As a result, we have decided to repaint the 319 in the 1950's red and gray also, as seen here.
The interior needs to be touched up; some of the light tan paint is bad, and there are a couple of places where it was stripped as a test. The roof needs some work, and eventually should be recanvassed, but for now we should be able to use what's there. The car operated at Cleveland, and the trucks and motors from the 321 are known to be good, so we believe all electrical and mechanical systems will be OK.
We won't start serious work on the 36 until the 319 is done. No firm decision has been taken on what paint scheme to use. While at Cleveland, the control system was disassembled and the governor was removed, etc. These problems may take a while to fix. I can't make any definite predictions as to when the 36 might be finished. However, the roof is in good condition, and basically so is the interior.
Now for the wood cars. The 319 will be done first, and work has already started. The car is basically in very good shape, and I don't foresee any problems with putting it into operation later this year. The car was heavily modified in 1953 when it was painted red.
The original double sash windows were completely replaced with single sash and new hardware, one of the oval windows was squared off and replaced, the controllers were changed, and the interior colors were changed. We don't think we can accurately recover the earlier shades of paint used on the interior. As a result, we have decided to repaint the 319 in the 1950's red and gray also, as seen here.The interior needs to be touched up; some of the light tan paint is bad, and there are a couple of places where it was stripped as a test. The roof needs some work, and eventually should be recanvassed, but for now we should be able to use what's there. The car operated at Cleveland, and the trucks and motors from the 321 are known to be good, so we believe all electrical and mechanical systems will be OK.
We won't start serious work on the 36 until the 319 is done. No firm decision has been taken on what paint scheme to use. While at Cleveland, the control system was disassembled and the governor was removed, etc. These problems may take a while to fix. I can't make any definite predictions as to when the 36 might be finished. However, the roof is in good condition, and basically so is the interior.
I know we can't please everybody with a choice of paint scheme, but these decisions are mostly driven by practical considerations. Let me know if you have any questions via the comments.
6 comments:
What color was the 409 when it was new in 1923?
As built, it was entirely red, of a somewhat darker shade than the final 1950's red. There are no color pictures of this paint scheme, but here's a B&W publicity photo:
http://www.davesrailpix.com/cae/htm/cae220.htm
The 409 was rebuilt in Nov. 1956 (less than a year before abandonment) with welded seams, aluminum sash, new seats, and modified air brakes, and then painted red and gray. So no previous paint scheme would be correct.
There is no hurry to decide on what to do with the #36; one of the oldest interurbans in existance. It would be a shame to choose a late color scheme when the museum has a good wood working Shop and the people to work there.
Ted Miles
My hope for the 36 would be to take it back to a period in the AE&C era when it could be painted green with gold trim, like a classic Midwestern interurban at the pre-WW1 peak of the industry. I realize it would be a major undertaking in the least, but to me this car is, in terms of horsepower, size and to some extent interior the closest representative we have (and likely will have) to an E&B car.
A car painted in the original Pulman green would be priceless! What color was the 451 when new? Was is already red and grey? How about the 431? Was it originally all-red like the 409? Of all the cars, the 451 most desparately needs repainting. That blue and yellow is ugly! One last question: where was the pic of the 319-205-321(and my guess is followed by another trailer from the 100 series and ending with the 320) taken? Could it be at the turnaround in Forest Park?
The 451 and 460 were always red and gray. The 431 was originally all red, like the 409. And yes, that picture is at the siding at Forest Park, 1953-57.
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