Four of a Kind

On Sunday, while my back was turned, the crew did a massive rearrangement of Barn 8, completely switching out tracks 82, 83, and 84.  As a result, for the first time in 50 years we now have four wood CA&E cars lined up like this.  It's not the greatest picture, of course, due to the limitations in the barn, but next year for the trolley pageant, if it's humanly possible these four cars will be running as a train.

After this huge switch move, I started by doing some rearranging and cleaning.  I looked inside the 36, and nothing had changed.  Our guys certainly know how to move things gently!  But as long as we're here, I might as well take you on a tour. Watch your step.

 These early cars have the smallest possible vestibule.  I hope you're not claustrophobic.  I forgot to bring my claustrophobia pills.

 This is the smoking compartment.  The light bulb under the number 36 is a later modification; it switches on when you turn off the light in the vestibule.  On the right side is the back of the electrical cabinet.

 All of the wreck tools are missing.  But I hear the FBI is hot on their trail, so your best bet, miscreants, is to cooperate now!

There's a little door which opens so you can oil the wheels on the pocket doors. These old cars have lots of nooks and crannies.

Then you need to be able to open the windows over the pocket doors to clean the glass.  

Unlike the Niles cars, there's no electrical cabinet at the #2 end, but windows on both sides.  Frank and I jokingly refer to this as the "solarium" end.  More hinged windows and hinged panel for oiling up the door rollers.

You will observe that the baggage rack is missing at this point.  At sometime in the 20's, I think, this car had a toilet compartment installed at this location.  It was removed again in the 1946 rebuilding.

 And here is the main compartment in all the glory of its Bijou lighting.  If this doesn't say "1902", what does?

 Here's a detail shot of the baggage racks.  These are actually somewhat better than the ones in the later cars, which are good only for hats and small packages.

And here's a detail of the ventilators.  This is the only preserved car that doesn't have the "Utility" brand ventilators.  This is a pretty crude design, and I haven't been able to get all the little doors open yet.

After moving the various scaffolds and steps around, since everything had been rearranged during the big switch move, I moved the 319 a few feet to provide air for testing the 36's brake system for the first time since it arrived.

The compressor has a shorted armature, but I have selected a replacement which we should be able to overhaul and install sometime in the next few months.  I had to find another control pipe hose for the 36, and after installing it, I could pump up the car for the first time with air from the 319.  I had to tighten up a few pipe joints, and the motorman's valves need to be overhauled, but everything else seems to be working OK.  The brake cylinder, the triple valve, the conductor's valve, and the whistle valves all function as intended.  So I blew the whistle a few times!

 And I did some more paint stripping, now on the #2 end.  Once the Museum is closed, I can start stripping paint from the north side of the car.  But that's enough about me....

Tim Peters has made tremendous progress on the 1797, helped by Frank Kehoe, so they'll be ready to run a two-car wood L train for Members' Day!  The Zephyr was moved outside so the barn could be locked, and Tim can run his cars up and down the length of track 41.

So this Saturday, for Museum Showcase Weekend, we'll have two trains of wooden electric cars running.  Plus lots of other stuff.  And the weather is supposed to be "glorious."  You won't want to miss it!