Yesterday was another active day at the Museum, with nice weather. And I was able to get pictures of several interesting projects, so keep reading. First of all, we now have a date, about two weeks from now, when they will be loading up the 453 in Scranton. Transporting it here will take a few days, but when it arrives, we'll be on hand for the unloading. Thanks again to everyone who helped fund this acquisition!
I started by cleaning out the 309 and 319. I plan to repaint the floor of the 319 this fall. It has a number of paint drips from the last time the walls were painted.
And the window wiper mechanism at the #2 end has come apart. I'm not sure whether it can be fixed, so I went over to the 321 to get a spare. It was taken home to be repainted, and I should be able to install it next time. I also spent some time trying to reattach a seat frame in the 309 that had come loose. I believe it should be good for one more day of revenue service. The only permanent fix will be to remove the frame and rebuild the wall at that point. That has been done before for other seats.
Rich Witt has been working on windows for the GB&W 109.
We haven't paid a visit to barns 10 and 11 recently. Here Victor and Bill are working in the shop they have set up in a boxcar next to the Pennsy bobber. A lot of progress has been made on this difficult project.
On this side, much of the framing is completely new.
New walls and cabinets inside the car.
An official PRR caboose stove.
Next door, in Barn 11 Jack Biesterfeld has been making great progress on the interior of the 109. He recently completed a total repaint of the ceiling, which is a huge job. It looks great!
Paul has been helping with disassembling the rotted-out parts of the side wall.
And one track over, Buzz has been lettering the insulated boxcar.
What's on track 131, in case anyone's interested:
The Yard 5 Group are busily repainting the D-13.
Ron and Henry were providing revenue service with the 749.
In the Multi-Purpose Building, the floor should be just about cured by now. I believe the next step will be to build a full masonry fire wall through the middle of the building, east to west. We're looking southwest here. The wall will be along the line of the steel posts. Behind it will be the Pullman Library, and the public sections, including the model railroads, in front.
I believe these must be the ties that were pulled out of the shop, where the pit will be. They must have been there since about 1970.
And progress is being made on the Cleveland PCC. The first wheel was installed with some difficulty, but the next ones should be easier.
Showcase Weekend is just ten days away, so don't miss it!
9 comments:
Randall,
Do you plan to work on the #453, or leave it for younger hands?
Ted Miles, IRM member
That's a fair question. The 451 is next in the queue, and once it goes into Barn 4 I hope we will get some more activity towards putting it into service. Once the 453 arrives, we will be able to evaluate it more accurately, but at a minimum we will want the exterior stripped and painted by a professional.
Jon Fenlaciki and I moved many of those ties into the Steam Shop on a VERY cold January 13th, 1973. Earlier in the day we vacuumed the green plush seats in North Shore Line 160. John Drury from ABC Channel 7 had filmed the interior on Friday the 12th to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the last day of NSL service. IRM ran 160, 714 & 251 on Sunday January 21st. Bill Wulfert
What happened to the CNW 6363's boom?
I believe the boom was removed so it can be replaced with a better one, although I don't remember the details of what was wrong with the old one. I haven't seen Mark for a few months.
And leave it to Bill to come up with an exact date for installing the ties. I knew it was before my time!
Was the money for track and barn space raised along with the money for acquisition and transport of the 453, or will that also need to be raised after its arrival?
C Kronenwetter
I believe we will have enough in the fund to cover the track space charges upon arrival, but we will still need money to cover restoration costs.
Randy the last time I was out at the museum I saw a car that was wrapped behind the streets department shop. I'm curious, do you know what kind of car is this?
Thanks in advance.
Sorry, I meant to ask around yesterday, but forgot. I think it may be the UP McKeen boxcar.
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