As mentioned earlier, the 2872 (or 872) is now in Barn 4. But Tim wants us to admit that there was some false advertising involved: the car is actually in worse condition than it might have appeared. Investigation is still underway, so that's about all we'll say for the moment. But this will undoubtedly be as big a project as any of the wooden L cars so far.
Bill was helping with the 872 project. Here is one of the battery-voltage headlights that were used on the Met's early cars.
Meanwhile, over on track 43, work continues on the 306. The guys have cleared off the roof, but today they were working on the body again.
John is providing support as Gerry welds in some more steel.
By the way, you get a nice view of the Electroliner from up here.
I worked on installing the guards and baffles for the horns on the 453. When finished, the #2 end looks like this:
At the other end, the guard required some bending to regain the right shape, and that took a while.
I also cleaned up and installed both of the trolley hooks.
Then, I decided it was time to drill the holes for the bases. The bolts that hold the bases on these cars form a perfect 10" square, and thanks to my vast knowledge of geometry that was easy enough to lay out and drill. Whenever the bases are ready for service and I have some help, they can be lifted onto the car and installed.
The bases are the same distance from each end of the car, of course, but because there's a slight difference in the spacing of the carlines, and therefore the saddles, at the #1 end, they don't look like they're placed the same. At one end the base straddles a saddle, but not at the other. But that's how it was.
Now I just need a small vacuum cleaner up there.
Is 2872 the better of the two? Was this car equipped with trolley poles?
ReplyDeleteDoes the 2872 fail a "McGregor Pencil Test"?
ReplyDeleteI think the 2872 doesn't look as bad as the gate car. If I remember correctly, the end platform looked like they were about to fall off. Either way, I am sure it is in fine hands and that Tim will do an excellent job on restoring 2872.
ReplyDeleteI am also beginning to think that Tim is working his way up the difficulty levels to the end goal of restoring the bowling alley car.
The MET used 3rd rail from the beginning so they did not have trolley poles when built, but I may be wrong.
ReplyDelete-Will K
Tim is quite the wizard with the wood “L” cars. Before it was scrapped, if you had told me he was going to completely build a new Met carbody on the S-329 flatcar, I would have believed it. Of course, 2872’s structural work isn’t even started and I’m already daydreaming about potential paint schemes. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteLooks like the same style light shade on our low floor Pittsburgh cars 3756 and 4398 at Pa. Trolley Museum.
ReplyDeleteBill Fronczek