We usually don't have anything to report on Monday, but today was different. As promised, we had a large group (more than 200) Lionel enthusiasts visiting. They all got to ride the Zephyr and the CA&E train, which stopped at Seeman to let them off so they could take pictures of the Zephyr passing through. This process was then repeated with everybody changing trains in between. I was too busy to get pictures of either the 308-319 or the Zephyr myself, but you've seen them before many times. At least we have a crew portrait.
Conductor Henry Vincent, myself, and trainman Thomas Slater. Thanks for the help!
Everything seemed to go well, and evidently the charter group was very satisfied.
Then I pulled the 36 out, ran it over to 84, and put the three-car train back together. Here it is posed on some rare trackage.
Several other things were going on today. Among others, the Electroliner crew were making up for lost time. Here John Arroyo is working on the window openings...
While Ed Oslowski cleans up the frames.
I want to repaint the roof of the 309, and got some expert advice from Tim. First, I dug out a can of Pewter Gray, which we used for painting the clerestory woodwork thirty or forty years ago. Amazingly enough, it was still liquid. Here's a paint sample card drying in the shop.
Tim also found a gallon can of the grey paint most recently used on 4000's. It looks pretty close to what we used on the 309, and we might be able to avoid having to rematch the color. You can see the patch of wet paint in the middle here; I'll wait until it's dry to decide. This roof has not been repainted since about 1995. It's still in excellent condition but dirty and stained from years of use.
Did we ever mention that IRM is an educational organization? It's true! Long time friends Bill Fronczek and Walt Stafa were visiting from Ohio, and Bill wanted some education on exactly how a C6 controller is mounted. He's planning to install controls and motors in the parlor car Toledo now at Arden, and here he is taking some pictures for reference. Getting that car to run under its own power would be a great achievement for the guys at Arden, and we're glad to help where possible.
5 comments:
Bill Fronczek is spelled with an "e".
Artschwartz
Thanks for the correction, Art. It took me years to learn the correct spelling of Storzek.
Folks,
the Toledo is a very rare bird; being a city system parlor car. The people at Trolleyville, USA started the restoration and now the PA Trolley Museum is finishing it. I hear that they have the interior lights working again.
Does anyone know if the Toledo Railways & Light Company was standard gauge or Pennsylvania broad gauge? It will need to go to broad gauge to operate at the PA Trolley Mueum.
The Toledo as received by PTM was on standard gauge archbar trucks. We have a pair of broad gauge Baldwin MCB trucks for use on the car, similar to its original trucks. Toledo was originally built as a standard gauge car, to operate both on the city system and on connecting interurban lines.
Artschwartz
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