Getting Warmer

In spite of the heat, we were able to make good progress today.  Mostly I worked on the roof of the 460.   On the east end, where the hole was, the only remaining task was to paint the rebuilt drip rail black.  It looks almost as good as new.

 I say "we" because I had a new helper today.   Don Bosan-Bruno is a recent recruit, but has long been a fan of the CA&E and has developed a website here with lots of history and information on the line.  He wants to help out, so I put him to work repainting the floor of the #1 vestibule of the 36.   Here he is wire-wheeling the metal flaps prior to painting with primer.

Don also helped me move the 460 a few feet so the platform could be moved around to the west end of the car.  On this corner the canvas was in really bad shape, as you can see.

So I tacked down the loose edges and started caulking.  

A few other small gaps in the canvas were also caulked.

It may not be pretty, but it looks better and should be watertight for a few years.   There's no doubt that the 460 will require a complete roof job at some point.   Some of this is due to the installation of the pantograph, but a lot of it is just deterioration of the canvas.

Finally, it looks like this, as seen from the platform of the North Western caboose.  The 460 project is basically done for now, and my platform went back where it belongs, next to the 150.

Meanwhile, Don was hard at work on the floor of the vestibule.  The fan helps a lot.

I thought the floor would be a good place to start practicing your painting technique.

Meanwhile, Kirk Warner dropped by during a visit from Florida.   He started working on the Russell plow when it first arrived, so he is glad to see the Freight Dept. did such a fine job of finishing the restoration and putting it on display.   Here he is (L) with a friend of his.

And by the end of the day, Don's floor looks like this.  Thanks!

We also walked over to look at the 321 and a few other things.

Finally, I hope you will agree that this site could always use more fine art.  And thanks to a recent visit to the Driehaus Museum of Stained Glass on Navy Pier, let's celebrate electrification!