IRM had some heavy rains over the past few days, and there's still a few extra swamps around, but we're drying out and as far as I know, there's no damage.
The birds, at least, are enjoying themselves. Spot the red-wing blackbird.
The birds, at least, are enjoying themselves. Spot the red-wing blackbird.
First of all, some exciting news from over the weekend! I couldn't be there because my daughter was graduating from college, but lots happened anyway. (Or maybe because....) After the Car Dept. team finished replacing a broken truck spring on the 415 on Saturday, they had time to bring the 36 over and swap trucks. The 303's motor truck came out from under the 36, and a spare 4000 trailer truck went in to hold the car up. 
On Sunday the rebuilt motors were put back into the truck, as seen dimly here. I think we're actually ahead of schedule, so thanks to everybody who helped! That includes Stan, Joel, Ray Weart, Dan, Greg K., Warren, and Nick. As mentioned before, we'll be going out to Warehouse Point on the weekend of June 19th to swap trucks under the 303.And if everybody's interest in the Trolleyville cars wasn't flagging, who knows what might have been accomplished? :)
I started by vacuuming out the 319 as best I could. 
I finished putting a first coat of finish black on the remaining window sills, then started painting the floor with a first coat of primer. This is pretty close to the finish brown, which will be the same as we have on the 308 and 309.
Before we leave, let's see what Tim Peters has been accomplishing.
He has spray painted the numbers on the 1268 and outlined them by hand, as seen here. He is also nearly finished with the interior. He plans to have the car in service by Memorial Day, at which point it will probably move back to Barn 8 to free up a slot in Barn 4. It looks great!
Another great update, and you can clear something up for me. You now have the 321 under a tarp in the yard. Is the plan for this car to just strip it and destroy the body? Or is it to just leave it around? It would be a shame to just give up on it, since at least the photos show a pretty good car body. And, losing one car out of a diminishing stock of surviving cars would be a lost opportunity forever.
ReplyDeleteI like Tim's affordable gold leafing job!
ReplyDeleteLee: We certainly intend to preserve the 321, at least as a static display for the foreseeable future. It will go inside as soon as possible.
ReplyDeleteI thought that a deal had been struck to send the 321 to a village in the Fox Valley for static display. Has that fallen through??
ReplyDeleteThat is ok with me since I think IRM would be better caretakers. But did not the Barn Space slot of the 321 be moved to the account of one of the Trolleyville cars, so the 321 must now live outdoors. That is, until about $12,000 can be raised and after a new Barn is built?
Bob Kutella
Bob: That plan was proposed but has been rejected. Essentially we're waiting for a new barn to be built, as you say. Any and all contributions to barn space funds will help!
ReplyDelete