1997
1. Saturday, January 4
A. 321:
1. Installed the section of belt rail, which had been previously prepared, at sectors 4-6. Painted with primer.
2. Brought the large plank for the letterboard to the shop and cut it to length (147"), then made the rabbet for the bottom. The top was left as is; to be planed to shape after installation. Helped a little by Tim Peters. Taken to the car and checked, then the back was painted with primer.
3. The piece for the belt rail at the oval was cut to shape and installed, and a little planing was done, but a better platform from which to work is needed for this step. Hidden surfaces were painted with primer.
B. 309:
I spoke with Peter Charnon about the slides of the 309 for postcards. He gave me his business card; he also wants to make T shirts, coffee mugs, and magnets.
C. Misc.:
Les Ascher and Wally Osty visited. Stinger moved from 308 to 321. Bill Wulfert gave me a roster of preserved cars from F&F to give to Frank.
2. Sunday, January 5 (with Frank)
A. 321:
1. Removed the controller cover at the #2 end and took it to the shop, where Frank and I stripped it.
2. Letterboard hoisted into place (sectors 7-10), and two screws installed to hold it there. Still need a similar section 67" long for sectors 5-6.
3. Saturday, January 18
A. 308:
The window taken home earlier (#6) was brought out with a new pane temporarily installed. Two more panes needed for spaces #3 and #4 were stored in the car.
B. 321:
1. I installed all screws in the new section of letterboard.
2. A few more screws were installed in the horizontal molding over the windows on the sidewalk side of the car.
3. Cleaning and straightening in the smoker. The AC lights were rewired.
C. Misc.: Too cold to do very much. Spoke to Bob Kutella about Frank's 4001 article.
4. Sunday, January 19 (with Frank)
A. 321:
1. The controller cover was taken to the shop, where Frank and I finished preparing it, and Frank painted it with primer.
2. The 'new' (c. 1976) saddles and blanks, as well as two old saddles from the 309, were removed from the smoker and taken to the container.
B. 308:
All remaining baggage racks were brought from the container and put into the car.
C. Misc.: Visited the ME 28.
5. Saturday, February 1 (with Frank)
A. 321:
Frank painted the controller cover blue; left in the "clean room" to dry.
B. Misc.: Visited the ME 28.
6. Saturday, February 15 (with Frank)
A. 321:
1. The repainted controller cover was installed.
2. Frank and I did some scraping on pipes and weather stripping, etc., then Frank put primer on some of the prepared surfaces.
3. I got a section of old trolley board from the 52, and put it in place alongside the 321 for use as a scaffold for working on the new piece of belt rail under the oval window.
B. Misc.: Visited the 52.
7. Sunday, February 16
A. 321:
1. I planed the new piece of belt rail to shape, rasped it smooth, and painted it with primer.
2. I started to remove the end window at the #1 end, left side, so I can eventually replace the window sill here - the sill had a large chunk missing. Unfortunately, I found that the window frame was much worse than I had realized - the bottom fell out as I was removing the frame. At least I didn't drop the glass. Also, two of the flat strips around the window frame will need to be replaced. It is possible that 318 parts can be used.
8. Sunday, February 22 (with Frank)
A. 321:
1. Frank did some painting with the old #182 green in the smoker; both sides of the bulkhead were painted above the window sill line; on the left this is a second coat (first done in 1979?). He also did the surface prep. I had thought the words "PLEASE KEEP YOUR FEET OFF SEATS" would show through the green, but they don't. However, it should be no problem to reletter this.
2. I worked some more on the #1 end. Most of the rest of the window sill piece was chiseled out; I then decided the piece below this was also rotten and needs to be replaced. Four or five of the exterior tongue and groove boards were removed adjacent to the door post; the door post itself will need to be replaced for about the bottom two feet. I started to make a thorough plan of the end construction, but left it there. I chose some pieces of poplar from the 504 scrap pile. This is getting to be a much larger project than I had hoped, but the end was in very bad shaped and this needed to be done sooner or later. We certainly wouldn't want the end to fall apart out on the road.
9. Saturday, March 1
A.321:
1. I took some pictures of the state of the #1 end, before anything more was removed.
2. I chopped out the rest of the door post, up to a point 37" above the floor where it had previously been spliced by the railroad. The body post was cut off approximately 32" above the floor, about even with the bottom of the window sill. I shaped the body post piece, and used the big mortising machine to make the mortises for the two cross pieces of the end wall under the window. See the diagrams.
3. The iron bracket which held the post to the floor is pretty rusted out along the round part which went through the floor, but the top part is OK. I showed it to Bill Wulfert, who suggested somebody could weld a new bolt onto the top. Also, the hole in the floor is rotted out and will have to be plugged up; otherwise, however, the floor seems sturdy enough.
10. Sunday, March 2 (with Frank)
A. 321:
4. Carl Illwitzer welded a bolt of the right size onto the flat part of the bracket. I had him make it about 1" longer than the original, so I can put a ¾" thick piece of wood on the bottom, to help strengthen the floor and make a sturdier place to bolt onto. I later cut a piece of oak to the right size (6" x 10").
5. I plugged up the hole with a piece of oak, then filled the area around it with Bondo.
6. The end of the lower cross piece in the wall was rotted out, so I cut off about the last 6". I selected a piece of ash to replace it, but have not started making the replacement section.
7. Frank painted blue the various sections in the #2 end vestibule which had been primered last time.
B. Misc.: Progress on 504.
11. Saturday, March 29 (with Frank)
A. 309:
Frank painted the steps on the sidewalk side gloss black (the vertical sheet metal parts). He later was given some spray paint by Roger Kramer, and used it to spray the step surfaces themselves (the corrugated metal strips).
B. 321:
1. I set up the scroll saw to remove most of the top part of the new letterboard piece. I then planed it to shape.
2. Frank painted the anticlimber at the #2 end gloss black, based on a recent excellent photo (B&W) of the 321 in 1941.
3. He painted the new piece of belt rail under the oval window, as well as the window frame itself, with Fleet Grey.
4. He painted the new wood above the windows with scarlet red, and touched up the molding piece below the belt rail on the sidewalk side. He then did the strip above windows 11-14.
5. He put primer on the new letterboard piece; he also did the door and the cabinet in the #1 end vestibule (these had been stripped a year or so ago by Jim Blower.)
12. Tuesday, April 1
A. 309/321:
6. After discussions on the phone with Bob Bruneau, the Pittsburgh Paint people, etc., I drove out to retrieve the old Carnival Red paint can and write down the numbers. I also gave it to Bruneau, so that he may be able to match it.
7. The next day, the Pittsburgh office gave me the formulas for both Spanish Blue and Carnival Red. See table below. PPG phone number: 800-441-9695.
B. 308:
At Bob's request, I put the stinger back on the 308 and connected it for his use.
13. Saturday, April 12 (with Frank)
A. 321:
We took the new pieces of 4/4 poplar to the shop and used the table saw to make the tongue and groove siding for the side (sector 14) and end (where it’s being rebuilt). Some chasing with a chisel remains to be done, and the chamfers have not yet been made. Taken home for primer.
B. Misc.:
Bought ear protectors for Frank, as well as a new broom, wastebasket, etc. Looked at the Cook tank car #101.
14. Monday, May 26 (with Frank)
A. 309:
1. A complete lubrication was done in place on track 73. The compressor was checked, and all axle caps and armature bearings were oiled. The main bearings were checked by Jim Nauer and Ed Rosengren and pronounced OK.
2. The air brakes were checked. This included pulling the panic cord, quickly disproving the scurrilous allegations that it didn’t work.
3. Operated for Memorial Day. Jim Nauer and Ed Rosengren were conductors, as well as Frank as an apprentice. Operated for five trips around the car line (due to track work on the main) followed by four main line trips after the ceremony. Operated with no problems, nearly all trips were full, and we heard no complaints from passengers, only compliments. Jim and Ed were motormen for one trip each on the main and on the car line.
4. I filled out qualification forms for both Jim Nauer and Ed Rosengren.
5. The car was wyed during operation, and was put back on 73 ahead of the 4391 (which has a problem with the backup controller) with the #1 end facing west. New order: 415, 309, 4391, 144, 321, etc.
B. Misc.:
We attended the dedication ceremony for the IC war memorial. Looked at the new gas station and the Boston PCCs. Bob Kutella gave me the photos I had ordered (of 308, 310, and 321)
15. Sunday, June 8 (with Esther and Mary Ellen)
A. 309:
1. As part of a switch move involving the 308 and other cars, the 309 was switched out to track 61 at the door. We also took the opportunity to wye the car, so that the #1 end is once again facing east. From the door: 309, TM locomotive, IC cars, etc. The 308 is now on track 84; the 321 is still buried behind 415, 354, 4391, and 144.
2. Esther and Mary Ellen and I painted a first coat of the background for the herald on the north side of the 321, using One-Shot Bright Red.
B. Misc.:
I gave a copy of the Hicks tracing to Bob Kutella, who said he would start working on generating a CAD version of it.
16. Sunday, June 15 (with Frank, Esther, and Mary Ellen)
A. 309:
1. I inspected Bob Kutella’s progress so far on the herald; it looks very good. I also asked him to get a gallon of oil-based paint to match the One-Shot Bright Red.
2. We checked the status of the car; the doors at the #2 end were unlocked for some reason, and this was fixed. Also, the whistles were removed and stored in the car.
B. 266 (!):
We inspected the car’s interior and discussed what might be done on the exterior. A few heavy parts that had been stored on seats were moved to the floor to avoid damaging the seats any further.
C. Misc.: Esther, Mary Ellen, and I rode the 1630’s doghouse. Two visitors fell off the 50th Avenue platform.
17. Sunday, June 22 (with Frank)
A. 309:
1. I put ½ gill of oil into the compressor, then pumped up the car and ran it outside for work. During much of the day, we had it open for visitors while we worked on it.
2. I painted the clerestory window parts which had primer from last time with Pewter Grey. (All on the “L” side.)
3. I started installing window panes in the clerestory; there were still a total of seven missing, one on the “L” side. I installed a new triangle pane on the #1 side, and a triangle and two squares on the “R” side. Three are still to be done.
4. Frank sanded down the lower edge of the molding strip below the window sill on the “R” side. This had never been painted. He gave it a coat of blue as a temporary measure.
5. He painted the steps on the “R” side with black spray paint.
6. Frank removed the baggage rack at 25-26 so I could nail in the keystone piece, then reattached it. One more remains to be installed, at 23-24, but I left the other spares at home.
7. I cut the stick which was being used to hold the #2 doors apart in half and installed a hinge, so it can be stored more easily.
8. We helped Jeff Obarek run the 431 around to track 62 for picture taking. One unforeseen problem was that the yard tracks are noticeably tilted, and the two cars were obviously sitting at different angles. It almost looks as if they had collided (as Jeff said, “like the Stockholm and the Andrea Doria”).
9. I painted both poles with silver (aluminum) spray paint.
18. Sunday, June 29 (with Frank and Mary Ellen)
A. 309:
1. We again pumped up the car and ran it outside for work. During much of the day, we had it open for visitors while we worked on it.
2. I continued to work on installing window panes in the clerestory. Of the three spaces left, glass could be made to fit in only one of them.
3. Bob Kutella gave us a gallon of the red paint he had had matched to our sample. Frank sanded down the vertical edge of the molding strip below the window sill on the “R” side, and gave it a new coat of red.
4. Mary Ellen removed the screws for the baggage rack at 23-24 so I could nail in the keystone piece, then helped to reattach it. This finally finished this task.
5. We took the set of car cards from the 321 home for study and possible reuse in the 309.
B. 266:
Mary Ellen and I got the lights to work, plugging them into Frank’s extension cord. We examined the car and parts some more, and looked at the aisle side. A power sander and/or rotary wire brush may be enough to do the surface prep.
19. Thursday, July 3 (with Frank)
A. 309:
6. We installed the available car cards from the 321, more or less filling the main compartment on the 19-28 side.
7. Operated during the day for revenue service, along with the 431, including two reenactments of the abandonment of service 40 years previously. Four trips on the main line.
8. After hours, two fan trips at high speed.
B. Misc.: Received two of the new 309 T-shirts from Peter Charnon.
20. Friday, July 4 (with Frank, Esther, and Mary Ellen)
A. 309:
Operated in the Trolley Pageant, as usual. Two trips around the car line. We decided not to operate in revenue service afterwards.
B. 266: Examined both 266 and 4001, and planned further work.
C. Misc.: Picnic in the smoker, due to the rain.
21. Saturday, July 5 (with Frank)
A. 309:
1. Rode the 309 in revenue service, with Ed Rosengren as motorman and Ron Sievers as conductor, also a little videotape. After revenue service, we ran the 309 and 431 out to Schmidt siding for photographs.
2. Then, one high-speed fantrip out to Kishwaukee Grove and back. No problems noted.
B. Misc.:
Spoke to Ray Buhrmaster, who was visiting. He gave me the phone number and address of his son, up at North Freedom. We talked about the Hicks car there.
22. Sunday, July 6 (with Mary Ellen)
A. 309:
1. Operated in revenue service with Jim Nauer as motorman.
2. After we left, there was another high speed fan trip; while Jerry Saunders was running it, a problem developed, on the #1 end as I understand. Car was run back into the barn on two motors. Needs to be diagnosed.
B. 266:
Mary Ellen and I worked on sanding and scraping on the south side of the car (away from the aisle).
C. Misc.:
Rode the Zephyr.
23. Saturday, July 19 (with Frank)
A. 309:
1. We checked all four motors. Motor #1’s armature appears to be a dead short, with a reading on the ohms scale of 1 or 2, depending on which segments you start from. I reslotted the entire commutator, without effect. Frank helped with operating the megger and running the car mover to rotate the motor. Pete Vesic came along and wanted the megger, so he also helped. Readings of the other armatures: #2: 400K, #3: 500K, #4: 200K.
2. We looked at the 318 motors out in the field. One of them has been moved alongside the leads to Barn 8. The SW motor in this truck is the best, reading about 1M (armature only - the fields are much lower) without cleaning. The armature of the other motor in this truck appears to be a dead short. I started removing the various bolts to remove the axle caps and remove the motor from the truck. Not complete because I couldn’t find a big enough socket.
3. Frank and I worked on the display signs and re-riveted both of them. Then they were re-installed.
4. Jim Nauer says he will start recruiting funds for rebuilding the spare motor and getting the problem fixed.
24. Wednesday, July 23
A. 309:
5. I finished loosening all bolts on the 318 motor in the field, after considerable effort.
6. I finished the lettering in the main compartment; I did the message “Please keep your feet off seats” at the #2 end (by window 28) and on the toilet bulkhead (by seat 10).
7. I finally submitted the car reports for July 3rd and 4th, and an expense form.
B. Misc.:
Spoke to Bob Bruneau and Glenn Guerra. Bob says the doors on the 354 don’t work properly, so it’s not available for service. Glenn suggests we go up to North Freedom in September.
25. Wednesday, July 30
A. 309:
1. Started working on the toilet compartment. I took off the door, and most of the added brackets and other hardware were removed. Then started sanding and scraping. The piece of tin in the upper left hand corner is partly burned through, and this was removed for replacement. The Pyrene fire extinguisher was moved to the 321’s wall locker for safekeeping. The toilet seat was removed and taken home for repainting. The walls are black up to the level of the bottom of the oval (i.e. 34” from the floor); white above this.
2. Installed the first of the repro car cards: the verse from Jeremiah.
3. Removed the bolt that holds up the pilot bracket at the #1R corner, and made a cardboard pattern for the next (and last) piece of flooring to go there. Also finished cutting the existing floor to shape.
4. Found the supply of car card springs in the container, and got two gallons of white primer; one needed to be strained.
5. Painted a first coat of white primer on the ceiling of the toilet, after sanding and scraping.
B. Misc.: Helped a little with putting a tarp on the first of the Shafer Lake cars (#50). NMRA convention.
26. Saturday, August 2
A. 309:
1. With the help of Jerry Saunders and Dave Shroder, we removed the motor from the 318 truck and brought it over to the car shop. The brasses were put in the shop. Later, I got some crater and a large rag and wrapped up the axle.
2. More work on the toilet compartment. Second primer on the ceiling.
3. Painting in the coach compartment: I finally finished painting the ceiling! First finish coat (Wellington White) on sectors 5-6-23-24 and 7-8-21-22, also the last of the bell cord hangers.
B. Misc.: Discussed motors with Rich Block, Pete Vesic, et al. I ordered a nameplate for Frank.
27. Sunday, August 3
A. 309:
1. Car was opened, off and on, for the Transport Extravaganza. Cleaning and sweeping.
2. Worked on the seat at sector 7, which was out of the track; I installed a new shim, and it now appears to be much sturdier.
B. Misc.:
Counted teeth on the 318’s motor pinion and gear: ratio is 25/40, much higher than I expected. Talked to Larry Goerges, who is updating the Museum roster. Spoke to Ralston Taylor, Jim Johnson, Norm Krentel, . . .
28. Wednesday, August 6
A. 309:
1. I cut out a piece of galvanized sheet metal (approx. 24" x 15") to replace the damaged section, then drilled and installed it. Seems to fit well. Glenn let me use his tin snips.
2. Continued scraping and sanding on the rest of the toilet walls. Several screws were installed or replaced.
3. First coat of Wellington White on the ceiling of the toilet.
4. Installed the section of 89" molding in the toilet, which had been prepared many years ago.
5. Cleaned up the 318's axle cap bearings, to be put into storage by Bob Bruneau.
6. Meggered the other two 318 motors again; the west one reads about 500K, the east one, which will be harder to get at, reads about 900K. We talked about how to get money to do two motors at once.
7. I removed three car cards in the smoker and took them home for refurbishing.
8. For the frame around the toilet door on the inside, I will need two pieces of mahogany 3/8" x 1½" x 80", plus one 3/8" x 1½" x 24".
B. Misc.:
Glenn Guerra gave me the name of a photo finisher for the 4001 negatives. I made several copies of the Hicks Co. roster and gave two to Bob and one to Glenn.
29. Saturday, August 16 (with Frank, Esther, and Mary Ellen)
A. 309:
1. First coat of primer (for galvanized metal) on most of the walls of the toilet compartment; Frank and Esther each did about half of the painting. Parts of the walls, particularly close to the floor, remain to be done.
2. The third rail beam at the #1L corner was wire-brushed, then painted with primer (the usual Rustoleum) by Mary Ellen.
B. 266: Mary Ellen did some more scraping on the south side of the car.
C. Misc.: Pete Schmidt visited and took pictures of the four of us by the266.
30. Saturday, August 23 (with Frank)
A. 308:
We scraped away at paint on the side sill in several places, trying to find evidence of what basic body color was used for the "coffee and cream" paint scheme (which we may want to use on the 321.) The layers, starting from the top, seem to be:
(1) Black (put on by IMOTAC)
(2) Red (1950s)
(3) Brown primer
(4) Blue (late 1940s)
(5) Brown primer (again)
(6) Black (early 1940s - part of the blue paint scheme on this car)
(7) Dark red/maroon (1930s - appears to be similar to the red on clerestory parts)
(8) A slightly lighter red (1920s)
(9) Pullman Green (1906)
The next step is to take a clerestory piece with the red exposed and compare it to layers 7 and 8.
B. 309:
1. The car was switched so it is now behind the IC cars. I removed the heavy adapter coupler and put it on the ground. Everything else seems OK.
2. I put a second coat of galvanized metal primer on the walls of the toilet compartment.
3. I started cleaning and polishing the ventilator from the ceiling of the compartment.
C. 321:
Frank did the herald on the north side ("R") of the car, completing it in about three hours. I helped a little with tracing the template onto the car, but otherwise he did it all himself. It will be necessary to adjust the edges of the background with blue paint.
D. Misc.:
Spoke to Bob Olsen about the GG-1; toured yard 10 and barn 9.
31. Friday, August 29 (with Frank, Esther, and Mary Ellen)
A. 321:
1. We went to Mount Pleasant, Iowa, to examine the progress on the 320 (among other things):
2. George Crawley has not yet gotten to the control group; I will probably need to go out there for a working day sometime in the fall.
3. Steve Conry says they have a glass globe for use in the center ceiling fixtures, which they will have reproduced. He could not find it while we were there, but will send it out sometime with Ted Myers. The actual source of this globe is not certain; I do not believe it actually came from the 320, since the fixtures are similar to those in the 318 and 321, and are no longer set up for a globe, although I will now admit they once may have held one. He will give the name of the glass company.
4. He will also send us the name of the company in Canada they intend to use for linoleum.
B. Misc.:
Rode the 9, 381, etc. Saw a little of everything at the Reunion; bought a picture of the Tuskegee 101, of all things. Spoke to Ted Myers, Jim Levis, et al. On the way back, saw the AT&SF 2913 at Fort Madison and the CB&Q 3003 at Burlington.
32. Monday, September 1 (with Frank)
A. 308:
I got some 318 clerestory parts from the container and found one with a fairly good-sized section of the red paint exposed. We compared this to the maroon on the 308 (layer 7) and decided they are identical. I then gave the clerestory piece to Bob Bruneau to get it matched.
B. 309:
1. Frank painted the third-rail beam black; also he touched up the edges of the trap doors that needed it.
2. He cleaned off the pilots at both ends and spray painted them with black primer.
3. I couldn't find any white paint, so no painting in the toilet compartment.
C. 321:
1. Frank and I inspected the scrapbook photos of the 321 and related cars for details on the coffee and cream paint scheme.
2. I adjusted the edges of the herald on the north side with blue.
3. Frank did the number on the north side (#2R corner) and on the #1 end (#1R).
4. Frank connected the "equal signs" on both heralds (this car only).
D. Misc.:
5. Spoke to Bob Bruneau about switching yard 8 ("imminent", he says, but we've heard this for a while); operating the 354 (OK! - call Jim Nauer); painting the TM M1 (OK).
6. Mary Dresdow gave us a nice photo album with pictures she took of the 309 and 431 on July 3rd and 5th.
7. We examined the M1 in more detail and even cleaned it off a little.
33. Saturday, September 6 (with Frank)
A. 309:
1. We (mostly Frank) painted the finish white on the toilet compartment; also the top half of the inside of the door to the compartment.
2. Frank painted a finish black on both pilots, and touched up the third rail beam at the #1 end.
B. 321:
1. Frank painted the number on the SW side (#1R).
2. I touched up most of the older numbers with blue, as we decided that the "1" in particular was slightly too wide.
C. M1:
1. Judging from the M15, the ends (anticlimbers, etc.) plus two steps in the middle should be black, so I started by doing some scraping and brushing off on both ends.
2. Frank then painted all surfaces black.
3. I got a piece of Masonite 8' long by about 10" wide to cover up the missing bottoms of the side doors more effectively.
4. We also examined the inside of the car.
D. Misc.:
1. Frank picked up his nameplate; I bought the Interstate book.
2. I brought the tongue and groove siding we made a couple of months ago from home and put it into the 321.
34. Sunday, September 7
A. 309:
1. I painted the black section of the inside walls in the toilet, including the lower half of the inside of the door; I then sanded down the toilet seat parts and repainted them with gloss black also.
2. I cleaned up the ventilator cover for the toilet, then sprayed it with a clear acrylic to keep it from tarnishing. Not yet reinstalled.
3. While I was working in the car, (mostly using just the small circuit group, since it lights the toilet), the fuse blew when I turned on the big circuit group. This was worrisome, but no problem could be found; I installed a new fuse and reactivated the five light circuits one by one, but everything worked fine (including the transfer switches and the gauge lights.) Perhaps it was just a defective fuse; in any case, the lights should not be left on if no one's on the car, in case there actually is a problem.
B. M1:
Searching for the correct green: I went into the M15 to look for any paint sticks or other parts left over from the paint job (which was sprayed, using automotive enamel), but couldn't find any. Bob Kutella suggested I get a sample of the IC green he had mixed for Doug Geren. Call Diamond Paints on Oakton in Des Plaines for matching paint. I also asked Bob Bruneau to look at yellows.
C. Misc.:
1. I helped a little with figuring out the lighting circuits in the 763, which is hopefully being prepared for service, also looked at the truck/wheel problems.
2. Got a copy of the CB&Q S-4 book.
35. Tuesday, September 9
A. 309:
1. The porcelain hopper was taken over to the hot dog stand and thoroughly cleaned. I scraped the old tan paint off both edges of the 310 toilet door. Finally, the entire toilet compartment was reassembled, including the door.
2. Three of the four clerestory window latches from the 318 were cleaned off on the wire wheel; the fourth is for possible use in matching the maroon.
B. 321:
1. I brought out the ½" poplar and made the molding strips under the outer belt rail (four sections, each about 10' long). Glenn Guerra helped with the setup on the table saw. These moldings were then painted with primer. Later, I started installing them. It turns out that in several places the original siding has been pushed out from the subsiding, and as a result there is insufficient space between it and the lip of the belt rail, where the molding was missing (sectors 21-28). In general, it cannot be forced back in. Nevertheless, I completed two sections at sectors 23-28. There is about 4' left to do, but this section will be more difficult; the back of the strip will have to be planed down.
2. Using the table saw again, I made the chamfers on the pieces of tongue and groove siding which Frank and I had started back in April. Not yet painted.
C. M1:
1. Bruneau gave me two quarts of yellow for use on the M1; these I put into the car.
2. I cut out a piece of sheet metal, 16" x 20", to cover the side door at the east end.
D. Misc.:
Roger Hewitt and Glenn Guerra were working on the lobster trap for the west end of the 749. Dave Dote was working on the 1518. I asked Bruneau about switching places between the 309 and 354 on Members' Day; he says it's OK, but isn't sure the IC cars will be moving, so I should talk to Doug.
36. Saturday, September 20 (with Frank)
A. 309:
We installed the second new (repro) car card: "That, my friend, was a '48 Ford".
B. M1:
1. Frank scraped and wire brushed the letterboard, then painted the yellow on the south side plus both ends. On the M15 the yellow extends down 9" from the bottom of the letterboard, but Frank was able to find where the M1 had been painted originally, and he determined it's 10" from the bottom of the letterboard, so that's what we'll do. For today, however, he painted down at least 11", not bothering to mask the bottom edge, since it will be covered by green next time. Basically looks good, but we plan to put on another coat of yellow, since it's a light color and doesn't cover completely.
2. I scraped down the wood parts on both ends, and painted them with primer.
3. I drilled some holes and attached the piece of Masonite which covers the bottom of the side doors with carriage bolts; the nuts were put on only finger tight, so that it can be removed if it's necessary to open the side doors.
4. For the green, we checked a paint chip from the IC green against the M15. We agreed it's close enough, and I'll ask Bruneau on Monday to approve getting two gallons.
C. Misc.:
1. We looked at other possibilities for painting, in particular the CUT 4-wheeler, now lettered "West Chicago Street Railway" #4. We went inside #4 and the Knoxville #419.
2. We tried out the doors on the 354 in preparation for Members' Day.
37. Wednesday, September 24 (with Frank)
A. 309:
I went to Owl and got a piece of oak for the end floor, and mahogany for the molding strip in the toilet compartment.
B. M1:
1. Surface prep on the side of the car, then Frank painted the west end and the south side with the new Pullman Green; I painted the east end.
2. I installed the metal plate over the door at the southeast corner. Painted without primer.
3. I took several pictures of the painting in progress, and the final results.
38. Saturday, September 27 (with Frank)
A. Misc.:
4. We decided not to operate the 354 for Members' Day, and ran the 415 instead. 12 trips around the car line during the day; three more at night, plus one speed run on the main line, with Charlie King and Frank as motormen.
5. Rode the 65. Talked to Greg Heier, Larry Moore, Dave Shore, et al.
39. Sunday, October 5 (Frank)
A. 309:
The 309 was switched out to the easternmost berth on track 73, since track 61 is about to be ballasted. Presumably this is only a temporary reassignment. Frank picked up the two motor covers which still need to be reinstalled on the #2 truck, and put them by the 321 so they won't be buried in ballast.
B. Misc.:
1. He helped Norm Krentel and Jeff Brady for a while with the bolster of the ME 28.
2. He rode the 504 during a switch move; the window guards have been installed on one side, etc...
40. Saturday, October 11 (with Frank, Esther, and Mary Ellen)
A. 309:
1. We went to North Freedom to examine the two Hicks cars there, and took many pictures. We checked the builder's heralds on the inside of the doors of the 64; they are evidently identical to those on the V&T car which I traced.
2. Talked to Glenn Guerra, Ray Buhrmaster, et al.
41. Monday, October 13 (with Frank)
A. 309:
1. We removed the whistles and returned them to the 321's locker.
2. I installed some brackets to hold the brooms and the sleet scraper in place in the toilet compartment.
3. Started cutting out the piece of oak for the #1 end external floor; needs more adjustment.
4. Frank and I planed a piece of mahogany to 3/8", then cut it to width and started making the trim pieces for the doorway inside the toilet. Taken home for staining and varnishing.
B. 321:
1. I measured the car for new pieces of poplar; also took home an inside arched window for making patterns for the exterior arches. We held the window up against the outside of the car, and decided that the outer edge of the arched sash should be nearly perfect for the inner edge of the arched strip I will make for the outside.
2. The present trim pieces on either side of each double window are 3/8" thick; the siding pieces above the belt rail are 44" long.
C. Misc.:
1. We put a piece of plastic over the east end of the #4, since the barn roof was leaking onto the car.
2. Put everything back into the 354 that I had taken out.
3. Looked at car cards in the 9020.
42. Sunday, October 19 (with Frank)
A. M1:
1. Frank put a second coat of yellow on the letterboard.
2. We did a little touch-up of the black at each end.
3. We got two trolley poles from the junk pile and mounted them on the roof with pipe clamps. Frank painted the one on the west end black, but not the east end, where access is more difficult.
4. Now all that remains to be done on this car is to get some (non-working) retrievers from Bob Bruneau, paint them black, and mount them on each end. Also the lettering, if we ever get the templates from Jim Johnson (who wasn't out today).
B. 321:
1. I brought out the pieces of poplar I bought for the arched trim and the replacement siding.
2. I sanded down the exterior siding and trim at sector 1-2, which is where we will start the maroon and coffee paint scheme. The vertical trim to either side of the double window was removed. Frank later painted this section with primer (brown on the maroon parts, white on the cream parts) with the exception of the siding which needs to be replaced, and the windows.
3. I cut out a template for the arched pieces from a piece of Masonite, and took it home for trimming and duplicating.
C. Misc.:
Frank received some more rosters from Bruneau.
43. Sunday, November 2 (with Frank)
A. M1:
During the week, Bob Bruneau painted two retrievers black and mounted them on the car. We got some rope from him and attached them to the poles.
B. 309:
Frank got five reproduction car cards from Bruneau; we then installed them in the car in the 1-10 section. This required moving some of the ones already there. Sectors 1-10 are now full except for one 27" blank spot. We also rearranged the 19-28 side a little.
C. 321:
1. Frank touch sanded the exterior windows 1-2 and painted them with primer.
2. I chopped out the siding pieces above the belt rail between window 1 and the door post. I noted that the lower sections here were installed left-handed, which I have not seen anywhere else tongue and groove siding has been installed on any car. I also removed the vertical trim piece which covers the joint between the siding and the body post. The structural posts and spacers are in good shape here; Frank put primer on them also.
3. We took the new 4/4 poplar to the shop, and I made six new pieces of siding for above the belt rail. Frank later painted the backs, grooves, and tongues with white primer, and they were put in the "clean room" to dry.
D. Misc.:
1. Asked Bruneau about getting an air compressor.
2. Book Reference: In The Twilight of Steam Locomotives by Ron Ziel, on p. 70 there is a picture of the 318 being pulled by an 0-4-0T at the Indiana Railroad Museum, which was then at Westport.
44. Saturday, November 15 (with Frank)
A. 309:
I noticed that the car had been moved west slightly; I removed the adapter coupler and put it on the ground again.
B. 321:
1. We planed down the two wide pieces of ½" poplar to 3/8".
2. Frank painted the backs and grooves of the tongue and groove siding for the #1 end (which we have been working on since April), and put them all in the clean room to dry.
3. I cut out two arched curves for over the windows, using the Masonite template. The curves are 13/8" wide on the backs, with the canonical 25o angle bevel on each side. We then cut the second piece of ½" poplar into six lengths of straight molding for the sides of the double windows. Two of these were cut to length, including the bevel on the end, where they lap onto the belt rail, but were not installed.
4. I also cut four of the six new pieces of tongue and groove siding to length for installation to the right of window #1, and painted the ends with primer. Not yet installed; they were put back in the 321.
5. I bought a new tube of siliconized sealant, and installed the two arched pieces over windows 1 and 2. Seems to have worked very well. I used the hardened 4p finishing nails, with predrilled pilot holes. The arches match the plane of the letterboard exactly. Frank then painted them with Rustoleum primer.
C. Misc.:
We went to look at the trolley bus barn, but the lights would not turn on.
45. Friday, November 28 (with Frank)
A. 309:
I checked on the car and got a couple of tools.
B. 321:
1. I installed the two vertical pieces of trim on either side of the double window 1-2.
2. Frank wire-brushed the grab iron on the right side of the train door. This will be painted black.
3. I filled the holes and cracks in the letterboard, sectors 1-2, with Bondo (two applications.) Also, some of the more obvious places in the siding above the belt rail.
4. I started installing the vertical siding to the right of window #1; 3 of the 4 were placed.
5. We removed the two inside windows at sectors 1 and 2 and took them to the shop. Frank touch sanded them, then gave them a coat of the new maroon, our first use of it. Put in the "clean room" to dry.
46. Saturday, November 29 (with Frank)
A. 321:
1. I installed the last piece of siding to the right of window #1, which had to be wedged in place, after the back of the groove had been removed.
2. I sanded down the Bondo on the letterboard, and on a few pieces of the siding.
3. Frank repainted the entire 1-2 section with primer; white primer on the letterboard, belt rail, and molding, and Rustoleum brown primer on the rest of the wood. (Not needed below the belt rail.) He also did the next two sections (3-6) below the belt rail with brown primer.
4. Both grab irons on the train door frame were removed and taken to the shop for thorough wire brushing, along with a grab iron from the 318.
5. We brought the two repainted windows, 1 and 2, from the shop and put them in place.
6. I carried the repainted siding back from the shop; I had planned to start installing it at sector 14, but there are too many problems. I removed some more of the rotten body post at this location; it will be pieced in about one foot from the bottom. Also, the belt rail itself is in bad shape, and should be patched at the end. I cut it off about in the middle of window 14; some more cutting to make a good ship lap will be needed. The old rail here was checked, rotten along the bottom, and warped.
47. Saturday, December 13 (with Frank)
A. 321:
7. Frank removed the folding signs and their brackets at the #2 end. He also removed the metal step on the door post and wire-brushed it; later, he painted it with primer. We also removed the flag bracket at the #2L corner, since it needs to be relocated. He wire-brushed it also.
8. We removed the brake stand from the #2 end and carried it to the shop, where Frank wire-brushed it while I was doing woodwork. Then he carried it back to the 321. We also removed the controller handle and took it home for stripping, as we believe it should be unpainted brass.
9. Frank sanded down the siding on the #2 end of the car, at least the sections which are now blue and which will be maroon. He also did sector 28 below the belt rail. He put a second coat of primer on the new siding to the right of window #1.
10. I removed all of the drip rail over the windows on the 15-28 side, which I installed several years ago. After removal, these pieces were taken, along with a few which had been made for the 1-14 side but never installed, to the shop, where I planed them down to 3/8" thick. I then beveled the bottom edge on the table saw. I also cut them to length (well, more than enough), so that I have 14 pieces for installation over all of the double windows.
11. I chiseled out rotten sections at the bottom of two pieces of the thin siding over window #2, and put in some new filler blocks. Then one of the new drip rail pieces was installed over windows 1-2; not yet painted because I didn't have time to finish cleaning up the sealer. Looks good.
Note: The drip rail must be horizontal, of course, but the lower edge of the siding over the windows is typically uneven. The best way to align the drip rail is to make it parallel to the letterboard; with an average ½" of siding exposed below the drip rail, the top edge of the face of the drip rail should be 11¾" from the bottom edge of the letterboard.
12. One of the grab irons by the #2L door was taken home for stripping also.
B. Misc.:
1. Joe Reuter gave Frank a Xerox copy of a nationwide roster by Andy Young.
2. New Rail & Wire has an article about the July 3rd CA&E day, with pictures of the 309.
48. Saturday, December 27 (with Frank)
A. 321:
1. We sanded down all of the siding above and below the window sills in sectors 25-28, then painted it with brown primer.
2. I cut out two more arches in the shop; Frank painted the backs with primer, and they were later installed over windows 27-28, with caulk. Not yet painted.
B. Misc.:
1. Letter from Russia about producing a model of the 4001.
49. Monday, December 29
A. 321:
1. I cut out two more arches in the shop, for windows 25-26. I later installed them.
2. Drip rail pieces for both sectors 27-28 and 25-26 were caulked and installed. They appear to line up perfectly.
Note: Due to slight differences in the alignment, the drip rail on the 15-28 side must be placed with the top edge of the face of the drip rail 12" rather than 11¾" from the bottom edge of the letterboard.
3. Bruneau gave me a toilet hopper, with attached seat and lid, from the jewelry car. I put it in place and found that it seems to fit perfectly. Also, I received a vestibule window shade and a five-bulb light fixture for the ceiling (a spare).
B. 309:
1. I started fitting the curved piece of oak for the floor at the #1 end. Not quite complete.
50. Saturday, December 30 (with Frank)
A. 321:
1. We sanded down the siding above and below the window sills in sectors 23-24, then Frank painted it with brown primer. He also did the trim pieces in sectors 25-28 which had not yet been painted.
2. I cut out two more arches in the shop and then painted the backs with primer. Not yet installed.
3. Frank stripped two more grab irons for the vestibule on the shop's wire wheel.
4. I removed the two inside windows at 27 and 28 and took them to the shop. Frank touch sanded them, then I painted them with a coat of brown primer on all of the previously grey sections. Left in the "clean room" to dry.
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