Cosmetic Paint

Randy sez:

Hiya, friends, it's me again!  You know, one of the old guys, the one who's always complaining.  I am not Frank, that narrows it down, nor am I a lawyer.  I don't live in Salt Lake City.  Or Lombard.  I hope that helps, so let's get down to business.

I decided it was a good day for more cosmetic work on the 150.  I don't know how many visitors actually notice the ugly letterboard, but it always bugs me, so I might as well improve it a little.  This is not a thorough restoration like we would do on a car that will ever run in service, but for a display piece it should be sufficient.  I worked my way down the length of the letterboard, filling in gaps and nail holes with putty.

While I was up there, what should I notice but a Westinghouse type MP lightning arrester on top of the M-15.   That looks familiar!   So Bill was right, as always.  I loathe people who are always right.

It's not too clear in this picture, but even from the ground you can see that the house roof sticks out an inch or so from the letterboard, because it was installed over the ugly old wooden gutter that I got rid of last year.  I certainly don't want to do any work on the roof, it's pretty good the way it is.  So what we need, I think, is something that looks like tack molding.  

And here it is as a proof of concept.  A spare piece of  ordinary pine 1x2 has its top edge cut off at a 45 degree angle.  It fits up nicely under the roof overhang.  I will trim the bottom edges to make it look like real tack molding, paint it black, and nail it in place.   And that will complete this side of the car.

By early afternoon the entire letterboard had a new coat of white primer.  Next time it will get a first coat of Traction Orange.

Out by Schroeder's Store, the back porch is getting put together.

And on the west side, this will be the handicap-accessible entrance.

I asked Dave about the plans for the cars currently stored near the depot.  He says the two on the north track will be pulled out once everything is transferred to Schroeder's, and that track can perhaps be used for rotating displays of equipment.  The other two cars may stay there, and be opened for business on special days, such as Thomas.

The other thing was to finish up painting the vestibule floor in the 36.  Getting paint behind all the piping for the brakes and sleet scrapers is a challenge.

And finally, I painted the threshold casting, with its worn lettering "JOHN STEPHENSON COMPANY" still legible after all these years.  Because this part had not yet been painted, I hadn't noticed that we're missing two bolts at this end!   I'll have to look underneath to see if anything can be done about it.

But I'm pretty sure it's been like that for a long time, and is not on the verge of collapse.  None of the other cars have an exposed set of bolted castings like this.

And in conclusion, don't forget to tell your friends and acquaintances about the EXTRAVAGANZA.