Roof Work

As you shall eventually see, railroad car roofs are enjoying a huge surge in popularity.  It's the latest craze.  And of course we here at Hicks Car Works don't ever want to be left behind in what's happening now!

 

Be that as it may, I started by finishing the tack molding for the lower canvas on the 319.  The end block was reinstalled, and all of the molding was painted black.  We should be ready to start installing the lower canvas soon.

For the upper canvas, we still need new tack molding.  The carlines tend to be split at the ends, so the solution is to install sisters, glued and nailed in place.  Here we see a couple new ones installed.  More sisters need to be made at home, but this job should be done soon.

After that, it was time to work on the side door for the 36.  Larry Stone had started stripping it, but my old heat gun finally died and was given an ignominious burial.  With a new gun, the work went quickly, and here is the main frame with brown primer.  This is the inside.

And this (R) is the outside.  The door itself is in very good condition and needs no structural repairs.

I also painted the metal strips for the drop sash tracks on both sides, and stripped the red paint from the drop sash itself.

But that's enough about me.  Let's see what the other guys are doing.   For a Thursday, it was busier than usual today.

Jeff Brady was working on the roof of the Michigan Electric car.  The saddles are being installed.  Oddly enough, they are bolted through the roof structure.

So that requires somebody down inside the car.  Here we see Walt Stafa helping install the bolts.  Walt drives to IRM from his home near Columbus, Ohio, every so often to help out.

Project leader Norm Krentel was working on various parts of the project, and supervising.  And among other things, he talked Rod into helping by fixing some bolts on the trolley base for the car.  Since it's a single-ended car, there's only one trolley base.

And Steve Iversen is seen here working on the roof of the Newark PCC.    Frank Sirinek reports that they now have the lights working inside the car.

For variety, inspection is always an important springtime activity.  Rich Schauer and Warren Lloyd brought four L cars over onto the pit lead; Warren can just be seen underneath the third car.

Finally, Tim Peters arrived with a load of long Southern White Pine planks which will be the roof boards for the 24.  This is old wood that was resawed by a man we know in Sycamore.  It's really nice stuff!  Tim has been putting in a lot of work on the roof of the car, of course.

So that's our report for today.  Of course, we can always use more volunteer help on the many Car Dept. projects that are going on.