319 Report Plus B&M Diner

First, let's take a look at the progress Jack Biesterfeld has been making on the B&M diner. He has just finished work on the coach section, as seen here, and it looks great!

Next is the dining section, which he finished first. It's equipped with delicious- looking plastic food. This car makes an excellent static display for visitors walking through the Lester barn on the raised platform.

Finally, there's the kitchen section. This part was really gutted when the car was put into work train service; all the original fixtures and the partitions were removed. Here we see Jack starting to remove the later kitchen fittings.

At the very front of the car there are still some problems. This is a stove which must weigh about five tons. In the washroom next to it is a huge fuel oil tank. It will have to be cut up in place to be removed. We think they must have removed the side of the car to install it, there's no other way. At some point these things will have to go.

Sorry, what I was doing today may be an anti-climax. First of all, Frank Sirinek and I went out the 321 to get a bus jumper receptacle; we'll need some of its parts for the 460, which we would like to put into service soon. I had looked some more through our storage space for parts, without finding what we need.

Then I spent a few hours working on the trolley bases. One of them I reassembled completely, and then hauled it over to Barn 2.

The other one had two castings rusted together, so Gerry helped by heating it up so they came apart. The smaller casting in the foreground has a small crack which you can't see, so Gerry will weld that up. I also need some more cotter pins of the right size. But I got the bearing back together and adjusted, so there won't be much more to do on this one.

Finally, I painted the window sills on the entire north side of the car. This makes a big improvement in its appearance.