2005
Monday, January 3 (with Frank)
308:
We installed the C21 controller at the #1 end.
Frank painted the base plate with primer on all sides.
I finished drilling out the hole for the through bolt.
I removed the old wiring from the controller, and taped up the lead to the blowout coil.
Dan Gornstein helped us lift the controller onto the platform.
Frank helped me get the wiring through the hole in the base of the controller.
I installed the bolts and connected all the wiring. I checked with a megger that there are no shorts. The controller cannot actually be tested until the collar piece is installed.
Bruneau left two boxes of hinges and cabinet latches; I was able to find just what we need for the window in the #2 bulkhead (by sector 28). I removed the window, with its bogus plates and screws. Since the right-hand edge was too badly damaged by the various screw holes, I trimmed off the edge, made a new piece ( 3/8” x 5/16”), and glued it onto the window with Epoxy.
I finished installing the 87” molding for the 18½ - 28 side. Several screws were replaced with new #6 1¼” FH, and I straightened out the bend in the old molding at sector 24.
We noticed that Jack had painted over the boards beneath the nickel seats at sectors 14 and 15 with white primer. We had been planning to keep these as evidence of the 1939 interior colors, but failed to tell him about it. [We both agreed it’s obviously not his fault.] This triggered a re-examination of exactly how we’re going to restore the car. Options are:
1939-1949 period: this is what we have been working towards. The exterior is correct. However, based on Ralph Taylor’s paint log book, the interior is incorrect. The walls should be two different shades of brown (“raw umber”) mixed with chrome yellow and black. This may be somewhat orange, based on the fragments in the smoker, now painted over. We just don’t know yet. Also, the ceiling is described as “light tint green”. We have no evidence of what this green looked like; none of the paint chips from the ceiling appeared to be any type of green. The two left-hand side doors need to be replaced (i.e., the ones Buzz is now working on.)
1949-1951 period. The two-tone interior green paint scheme is correct. The outside paint scheme would need to be changed as follows: I-beams and bumpers are blue, not black; there’s no Sunset Lines herald, the words “Do Not Board A Moving Car” are located near the side doors, other minor paint variations. The side doors would remain as at the end of service; we would have to stop Buzz and tell him the doors he made will not be used. This we are reluctant to do, of course.
Our immediate plan is to find whether any surviving cars also had this interior paint scheme applied. If so, we may be able to recover some paint samples. Otherwise, I believe we will need to go with the 1949 period; the new doors would be put in storage until such time as we know exactly what needs to be done to go back to 1939.
Bruneau let us look at the collection of equipment license frames in the jewelry car. They’re all different colors, some natural wood. We took three which offer some hope of recovering “raw umber” (16, 207, 312).
Misc.:
Frank mostly worked on lettering stencils for the 205.
Tuesday, January 4: (Frank)
308:
1. Wire-wheeled and primed grab iron from smoker, end bulkhead doorway.
2. Burned solder out of ground cable lug that came with Johnson's C21 in preparation for reusing it.
Wednesday, January 5: (Frank)
308:
1. Painted aforementioned smoking compartment grab iron black; ready to install.
Saturday, January 8
308:
I closed the contactor boxes and put the loose arc chute (#13) in the car, so it can be moved if necessary.
I checked the operation of the #1 end C21 controller, using the handle I brought from home.
Talked to Kutella about getting wood for building a new third rail beam. There are some planks alongside the 308 which might work, but Bob says they are ash (bought by Glenn Guerra) and are no good – they will rot too quickly.
I started stripping paint at a couple of locations, mostly small patches both above and below the window sill between sectors 18½ and 19. Both upper and lower walls were brown at one time; it’s hard to see any difference between the colors. Also, I noticed a previous grey/possibly green color on the ceiling panel in this sector, between the 80” and 87” moldings. None of these colors are in good enough condition to match reliably, in my opinion.
I started trying to remove the defective drop sash from the #1R side door, but gave up after a while.
I worked on the #1 end transfer circuit; everything’s now OK except that the first light socket (26-27) is shorted. I worked on trying to remove or disassemble it, without success.
309:
I worked in the shop helping Bob Heinlein and Stan W. lap the motorman’s valve from the #2 end.
Misc.:
On Sunday, I went to Ralph Taylor’s house and looked through the paint shop ledger book. Conclusions:
None of the surviving cars or parts (license frames) were ever painted with the mixtures specified for the 308 in 1939.
There was a much greater variety of interior paints used than I had thought. Many cars seemed to have one-of-a-kind paint schemes, based on green, blue, red, pink(!), “English Rose”, cream, or odd combinations including burnt umber and raw sienna, whatever those are.
The exterior blue-grey-red paint scheme was referred to as “Early American”. Neat!
The book reported that the 318 was “wrecked” some time in 1945, and did not leave the shop until 4-4-46. Obviously “wrecked” is a relative term, as a steel car (423?) was similarly listed as wrecked in 1947, but also made it to the end of service. I didn’t notice anything about the 10, presumably since it didn’t need to be painted any more after actually being wrecked in 1948.
I’m still voting for restoring the 308 to the 1949-1951 period.
We also talked about upholstery.
Sunday, January 9:
308:
Lenny Halter brazed up two collars for C-21 controllers.
Tuesday, January 11 (with Frank)
308:
Frank installed a rebuilt collar in the #1 end controller, and moved the handle from the #2 end for testing, so we sequenced it and found everything OK.
I determined, however, that I had reversed the 0/8 connections, so I rewired it.
Talked with Bruneau about the paint scheme options.
I finally managed to disassemble the light fixture at 26-27. Here I had used the original wiring, instead of applying new pigtails the way I usually do, and the old insulation had started to crumble, thus allowing the two leads to short. Started applying pigtails, but ran out of time.
Saturday, January 15 (with Frank)
308:
Frank and I went to Owl and picked out two pieces of white oak for constructing a new third rail beam. I jointed them and cut them to size, then glued them together with Resorcinal. Clamped and left in the shop.
Dick Lukin has delivered the roll of Naugahyde that I had ordered – looks good. I cut off a 44” long piece and cut it in half (28” wide); these pieces can be used for seat cushions with essentially no waste.
I brought out another C-21 controller handle and installed it at the #2 end.
I soldered the new connections for the light fixture at 26-27.
I removed the drop sash at the #1R door and took it home for rebuilding.
I also took home a seat cushion to be recovered.
I sanded down the hinged bulkhead window; ready for primer.
Misc.:
I helped Bob Kutella, Vic, and the others with putting together the Berlin sander, and watched it run a little.
I walked out to the new diamond and viewed the progress there. Too cold to do too much outside. Also helped Frank and Rich with thawing out the 42/43 switch.
Sunday, January 16: (Frank)
308:
1. Wes and Warren Lloyd and I moved the car out of the west berth of Barn track 41 and into the east berth of Barn track 63, swapping it with IT 101.
Joy 2 was used to tow both cars. During the move through Yard 4 the 308's truss rod popped out of the #1L queen post, but I was able to pop it back in very easily; it was pretty loose. I installed a new cotter pin. Jeff Obarek wants to swap 431 (now at the east end of Barn track 84) with the 308 as soon as it's convenient. There are some track carts outside the door on 84; I think it's Jeff's responsibility to get them moved.
2. The holes in the hinged door pocket window were Bondo-ed up and the window was sanded; it is ready to prime.
3. Bruneau is planning to order some new contactor tips for the 1565 and suggests we also order some DB-131 tips for the 308; I think this is an extremely good idea. We need to pick out a good tip to use as a sample and give it to Bruneau.
309:
1. I did some final needle-chipping on, and primed, the rebuilt M15B brake valve. It is ready for blue paint.
321:
1. I put a first coat of spraypaint white on the fifth folding sign leaf. It should either be given a second coat of spraypaint white or simply moved to the 321 so I can give it a second coat at a later date.
Tuesday, January 18
308:
Started working on the new third rail beam:
Removed the clamps, and set up a jig for cutting slots for the 45 degree notch in the top of the beam. I used the department circular saw. Started chiseling out the remains, not yet done.
Cut out the two rabbets in the back (for the mounting plates) on the big bandsaw.
Bruneau had put a second coat of white on the last 321 folding sign; I took it home for safekeeping.
Tuesday, January 25
308:
I loaded the roll of material into my car, so I can transport it to Jessen in Lisle. This is the company I have chosen to start work on reupholstering the seat backs.
I went over the 308, now on track 63, and removed a contactor tip from #1 (parallel) so Bruneau can get some spares made.
I removed the seat cushion at sector 2 to take home, since it needs to be recovered.
Started drilling some holes in the third rail beam. Takes a long time, since the Forstner bits start to heat up and burn the wood.
321:
I went to the 321 to pick up some drills; I also took a folding step from the 321 to use as a sample of the maroon paint for Diamond Paints to match.
Saturday, January 29
308:
We ran one of the door frames that Buzz had made through the Berlin sander – the first assembly of any sort to be tried. Results were very good.
Worked more on the third rail beam. Finished the four big mounting holes at the ends, plus the vertical slot for the scraper.
Dropped the adapter coupler.
Worked some more on the light fixture at 26-27. The circuit is still dead. Ugh.
Tried to sort out the seat frame handles some more – better, but there are still some that don’t seem to fit anywhere.
Painting in the smoker. First finish black on both door frames, plus first upper green on the bulkhead next to sector 11.
I removed the seat back at sector 27 and took it home, so Jessen can have a sample to work from.
Misc.:
I loaded the new tool chest into the 321. Not completely assembled yet.
Later, I went to the 321 with Frank Sirinek to get a hinged bell cord hanger for the 68. In the process, I discovered a metal hook for the buzzer cord that I’d forgotten about. I took it to the 308; not yet installed.
Dave Diamond and his crew demolished the old hot dog stand.
Tuesday, February 1
308:
More work on the third rail beam. I made the 45 degree cuts for the big notch, and drilled two vertical holes for the scraper and one transverse hole for the fuse bolt.
Tuesday, February 8
308:
I attached the metal hook to the buzzer cord and tested it. This required readjusting the other end, etc. Also checked that by unhooking the cord, you can drop any one of the access boards above the doorways to access the wheels for the pocket doors.
Picked out two of worst seat cushions to take home. Looked at seat backs: 6,7,8, and 10 need to be recovered this year.
Misc.:
I partly reassembled the 310 door that was in the shop.
Talked to Mike Stauber and Bob Bruneau.
Saturday, February 12
308:
I essentially finished work on the third rail beam. All holes drilled, plus several mortises chiseled out. Used the belt sander to smooth out the big notch. A couple of mortises may need to be deeper.
Painting in the smoker: white primer on the smoker side of the smoker bulkhead door.
First upper green on the bulkheads next to sectors 14, 15, and 18, also sectors 15-18, complete.
Misc.:
I loaded the new tool chest into the 321. Not completely assembled yet.
Sunday, January 13: (Frank)
308:
1. Put a coat of primer on both ends, top and outboard side of the new third rail beam.
2. Looked at various catalog materials concerning DB-131 contactors with Bruneau.
Saturday, February 19
308:
I finished putting a first coat of primer on the third rail beam.
I made six new pieces for walkover seat cushions. Drilled the large holes for the alignment pins, taken home for completion.
Cleaning and straightening in the smoker, removed everything that wasn’t essential.
Painting in the smoker: First lower green on the sliding door to the main compartment, bulkheads near sectors 11, 18, and 15, and sectors 15-18.
I installed the rebuilt hinged window in the end bulkhead at sector 28. Need to drill holes to attach the spring latches.
Misc.:
Took home the four folding signs that were in the 308, and removed the one from the 321, for painting at home.
Monday, February 21
308:
Painting in the smoker: first white primer on the door to the #1 vestibule.
First lower green on sectors 11-14, and the bulkhead. (First lower green everywhere except the end door.)
Second upper green on the bulkheads at 11 and 18, and sectors 15-18.
Since sectors 11-14 don’t appear to need more upper green, I installed the ticket clips, match strikers, and baggage racks. Need some more RH screws for the baggage racks.
Removed seat backs at sectors 4 and 6 to take to Jessen.
Misc.:
Talked to Jeff Brady a little.
Tuesday, February 22
308:
First lower green on the door to the #1 vestibule.
I installed the spring latches for the hinged window at sector 28.
Saturday, March 12
308:
I went to Jessen and picked up the four seat backs which they had finished recovering. They look great. Later stored in the 321. Showed them to the only available passers-by, Bob Heinlein and Stan Wikowski, who were suitably impressed.
308 is now on track 84 again, at the east end; revised the AC extension cord system.
Painting in the smoker: Second (or third) upper green on sectors 15-18, plus the bulkheads at 14-15. Second lower green on both sliding doors.
I installed baggage racks and ticket clips in sectors 15-18.
A bolt was loose for some reason on the seat frame at sector 13; I had to remove the arm rest to fix it.
Removed seat backs at sectors 8 and 10 to take to Jessen, along with two nickel seat cushions from the smoker.
Note: Walkover cushions 44”x27”; nickel cushions 32”x27”.
Tuesday, March 15
308:
I brought out four recovered seat cushions and stored them in the 321.
Took home two more cushions for recovering.
Saturday, March 19
308:
I worked on the third rail beam; cut out some shims for mounting the sleet scraper cylinder.
Painting in the smoker: gloss black. I painted the pattern on both doors (around the handles), plus I repainted all of the window sills in the smoker, and touched up the door frames where needed.
Installed a couple of ticket clips still remaining, plus the spring clips and bar on the window in the smoker bulkhead.
I cleaned up and swept the smoker; unfortunately, I had again forgotten to bring my camera.
I rasped down the frame and installed the final ventilator in the clerestory at 19-20.
Worked a little at installing new screws for the seat frame handles.
Sunday, March 20: (Frank)
308:
1. I located the contact shoe for the third rail beam and put it with the rest of the parts.
309:
1. I put a first coat of blue on the M15B motorman's valve. It is now ready to install, after which it should get a second coat.
321:
1. I put a second coat of maroon on the backs of all six metal signs. These should now be ready to letter with the exception of the one already lettered, which needs to be sanded smooth, repainted white and then lettered. However, all signs also need the "hinges" touched up with maroon with a lettering brush.
Misc:
1. I polished up an end window frame for IR 205 and also brought that car's trolley pole towers into the shop; unfortunately I didn't get around to doing anything on them.
2. I painted a couple of D22 wood parts yellow.
3. I also put a first coat of Tile Red on the last two side windows for LSE 150.
Tuesday, March 22
308:
I brought out the fire extinguisher and installed it in the smoker, for pictures.
I removed seat backs 19 and 20 and took them home for recovering.
321:
I took home the six folding signs which Frank had painted, so I can letter them.
Spent some time cleaning up the smoker and sorting screws.
Saturday, March 26 (with Frank)
308:
I cleaned up and swept most of the main compartment. I removed the three pieces of tack molding and placed them on the scaffold by the 321. Resorted many of the seat cushions.
Installed a new piece of veneer for the lower ceiling panel, sectors 1-2. Painted with first white primer. I cut out a piece for sector 3-4, but I was running out of contact cement.
Second white primer on the lower ceiling, sectors 18½ to 22.
New piece of veneer on the wall, sector 19. Later primed.
I applied Bondo to all of the (new) screw holes in the 87” molding, sectors 18½ to 28, and sanded them down.
Frank drilled out the holes slightly and installed new bolts to hold the #2R step securely.
Frank traced the letterboard for the entire side 15-28.
I brought out two recovered nickel seat cushions and put them in the 321.
309:
Frank installed the rebuilt motorman’s valve at the #2 end, and it appears to work perfectly. Thanks to Bob Heinlein and Stan Wikowski.
The operating department cleaning crew washed the windows and vacuumed out the car. Thanks to (I believe) Jim Nauer, John Myhre, Ray Schmid, Stan Zoller, and Andy Strong.
Tuesday, March 29
308:
I installed another section of veneer in the lower ceiling, sectors 3-4. Left a note for Jack.
Wednesday, March 30: (Jack)
308:
Second lower green on the walls in the smoker.
More white primer as needed on the new ceiling panels in the main compartment.
Saturday, April 2
308:
Bad news department: I found that the truss rod on the “R” side of the car is broken near the end of the rod where it attaches to the frame over the #2 truck. (About sector 27). Gerry Detloff looked at it; he believes it can be welded back together. I tried pounding on the pin which holds the end of the rod, without success. It will have to be heated. Removing this half of the rod from the turnbuckle will be no problem.
Update: Bruneau thinks it was due to the truck hitting the rod while turning on the curve into track 41. If that’s true, at least we can be sure it won’t happen again.
I used some chemical stripper to loosen up the two remaining light fixtures that Frank had painted shut. I then finished wiring up the one remaining light circuit, but it still doesn’t work. There are two problems: the circuit is dead between the supply and the transfer switch, and the sign light doesn’t work (the dome light is removed.) May be due to bad bulbs, I don’t really know. Fixtures need to be painted.
Did a lot of cleaning and straightening in the main compartment, since the cleaning crew wasn’t around today. Vacuumed out the car.
Misc.:
I took the stinger cable from the 321 and unrolled it, then tried different ways of inserting it into the third rail beam on the 308. Took some pictures.
Asked Johnson for the remaining dash light casting for the 321, and the end photos for the 309.
Tuesday, April 5
308:
I used the ringer to check out the new circuit, and found the two problems: the socket at sector 10 is defective and will have to be replaced; the problem with the sign light was a bad bulb. Left a note for Jack.
321:
I brought out a repainted set of three folding signs. I was going to install them at the #2 end, but I found that they don’t fold up and down properly. If I can get a length of 5/16” rod that might solve the problem; otherwise, I’m afraid the tabs will break off. Stored in the car for now.
Wednesday, April 6: (Jack)
308:
Black on the pilot and other parts at the #2 end, as requested.
More white primer as needed on the new ceiling panels in the main compartment.
Saturday, April 9 (with Frank)
308:
I brought out four recovered seat backs from Jessen and put them in the 321.
I took the drop sash frame (which Bob Kutella had helped Frank make a year or two ago) to the shop, and had it sanded down on the Berlin sander. Frank later took it back to the shop for further work.
We lettered the letterboard on the 15-28 side in black. I did “CHICAGO AURORA” and “ELGI”; Frank did “AND” and “N”. Looks OK.
I worked on the light circuits some more. I rewired the fixture at 26-27 and got the #1 end transfer circuit working again. I replaced a light socket at sector 10 for the other transfer circuit. It still didn’t work; I finally realized I never connected the new wire for the gauge light at the #2 end in the attic. However, the ringer indicates it should be OK once this is done. Do this Tuesday. Bob Heinlein got down a set of 6 more 36W bulbs for me.
321:
I replaced the steel rods in the folding signs with 5/16” rod; works OK. The rods are still loose in the brackets; should probably be tacked to them.
Misc.:
The ARM mini-convention was going on; several visitors from other places, including Steve Becker from Arden.
Tuesday, April 12
308:
I brought out two new rolls of birch veneer for use on the ceiling, and unrolled them in the 321.
I soldered the connections to the wire to the gauge light in the #2 attic, and installed all bulbs. However, the circuit still doesn’t work. But I’m getting closer.
Removed the seat backs at sectors 2 and 9 to take to Jessen.
Left a note for Jack.
Wednesday, April 13: (Jack)
308:
First finish yellow on ceiling panels in the main compartment.
Also a coat of paint on the 87” molding strips for 1-5 and 5-9.
Primer on one side of the new drop sash frame in the shop.
Tuesday, April 19
308:
I glued three of the short molding strips in place in the lower ceiling at 18½-19, 20-21, and 24-25.
I planed a piece of poplar to the correct thickness (5/16) for making some replacement molding strips for the ceiling, and a piece of mahogany for fixing seat cushion frames.
I nailed in the nickel seat backs at sectors 15 and 18.
I cut out a circular piece of sheet metal and installed it over the hole in the bulkhead near sector 18. Needs to be painted.
Left a note for Jack.
Wednesday, April 20: (Jack)
308:
First primer on the vestibule side of the sliding door, #2 end.
Finished putting primer on the new drop sash.
Tuesday, April 26
308:
I cut out two pieces of veneer and glued them into place in the lower ceiling, sectors 5-8.
I attached the 87” molding strip in sectors 1-5.
I put the (last) new window I made in the 321. Needs to be painted.
Left a note for Jack.
Saturday, April 30 (with Frank)
308:
I lettered the north side in yellow: “CHICAGO AURORA”. Then I had to leave to go to the Safety Meeting. Later the temperature had dropped quite a bit, so no more progress.
I got a piece of rubber from Bruneau for the drip rail on the bottom of the #2 train door and installed it.
Frank helped me install the 87” molding in sectors 5-9, thus completing this task.
I installed the cross pieces in three of the four locations on the 1-10 side. The last one will need to be bent.
I installed the elevated license on the wall of the toilet compartment.
Misc.:
I went to the Safety Meeting; in the evening, Frank and I went to the Annual Meeting.
Sunday, May 1 (with Frank)
308:
I installed a recovered seat back at sector 16, and put in a recovered cushion. Looks good.
Worked on window shades. I managed to install one, at sector 2; other attempts failed. I also taped up ripped leader on one of them with the help of Barb Lanphier.
I fixed the brass rod to hold the squirt gun in place and installed it with new washers. I also soldered the nuts on to the threaded rod.
I cut out some pieces of veneer to cover places in the upper ceiling between the 80” and 87” mouldings that cannot be easily sanded down or smoothed. The plan is to paint these pieces, then use the metal straps to cover up the joints. They should not need to be glued in place. Frank took them to the shop and painted them with primer.
Frank put white primer on the new drip rail on the train door, some bare wood at the top of the frame for that door, and the two blocks for the flag brackets.
Frank and I removed the cover frame from the wreck tool box so we could replace the strap for the sledge hammer. The strap had been broken since we got the car, and it appeared that the hammer was resting on the frame, if not the glass. We got some new leather from Bruneau, and replaced the strap. It still needs to be painted, so I put the glass frame in the 321, since the 308 needs to move over to the shop this week for truss rod work.
Installed one blue metal sign on the #1 end train door.
Tuesday, May 3
308:
Car has been moved over the pit; Gerry and those guys had removed the parts of the truss rod and the pin.
I put white primer on the new cross pieces in the ceiling.
I got wood screws from Bruneau and inserted all the screws necessary in the 87” moldings on both sides of the main compartment, plus filled in most or all of the baggage racks.
Left a note for Jack.
Tuesday, May 10
308:
Sorted out the seat cushions; only two of the 32” ones still in the car are really bad, so I took them home. Will also want to do two stationary cushions (1 and 28), and then the long one for sector 18½ and the back for sector 1.
I put the pieces of veneer which Jack had painted with first finish yellow in place, at sectors 10, 18½, and 19-20. They look pretty good.
Installed the baggage rack at sector 19-20, since Jack had finished the wall section at 18½ - 19, at least to white primer. Need more screws.
309:
I finally picked up the display photo for the end of the car which had been wrecked last year, and took it home. It’s even worse than I had feared, but I’ll see what can be done with it. At least I can start on new frames.
Misc.:
Viewed progress on the junkyard connector track. Picked up calendars and brochures.
Saturday, May 14
308:
I checked the compressor, and ran the car over to the pit for annual inspection. Stan W. helped by hopping the pole, since we’re still missing a retriever (stolen by the 749 gang).
Inspection, helped greatly by Rich Schauer and Scott Greig. Results:
Motor hatches removed; everything looks basically OK. Armature on #3 motor isn’t quite uniform in color; need to check brush holders. Pole clearance OK.
Installed new castle nut and cotter pin on the bolt for the brake rigging connection to the #2 truck.
Reverser checked, lubricated, tested. Several screws tightened down, and Rich replaced a bad crimp lug.
Checked contactors, tightened connections and screws, etc. Loose metal plate at the left end must be fixed.
Tried testing the safety valve. Ran pressure to 115, it didn’t open. Looks rusty, probably ought to be replaced.
Compressor armature looks rough, brushes aren’t wearing smoothly. Commutation isn’t pretty. Lubricated.
Controllers examined. At #1 end, Rich used my Dremel tool to improve the contour of the collar which engages the cam to run the throttle mechanism, etc. Fingers all OK. At #2 end, collar doesn’t depress as far as it should because it hits the box for the throttle arc chutes. Maybe the box is the wrong type?
321:
I picked up a dash light casting from Johnson, and looked briefly at the CTC boards and work being done in the tower.
Frank:
Sunday: took 308 over to Barn 8 and brought 309 over to Barn 4 with Bruneau's assistance; began work on 309 inspection.
Monday: continued 309 inspection with Bruneau's assistance.
Monday, May 16 (with Frank)
309:
Stopped by to help Frank with inspection. 309 is now on the pit.
We looked at motors, the reverser, and the contactors. No serious problems; talked about what to look for, etc.
Frank:
Tuesday: Did some work on 309 inspection; Jim Heinlein vacuumed out the 308; installed all but two reupholstered seat backs in the 308
Tuesday, May 17 (with Frank)
309:
Stopped by again to help Frank with inspection. Looked at the string banding on a couple of the contactor coils.
Bruneau gave us some bulkhead advertising cards.
308:
Frank started lettering the number on the #1 end. I worked on seats for a while.
Jim Heinlein helped by cleaning and straightening up the car – good job!
I dropped off the molding strips for the drop sash.
Frank:
Wednesday: Henry Vincent towed 309 out of the barn with Joy 2; did lubrication on 309 with the help of John Nelligan; Henry pushed 309 back into the barn; discovered problem with axle cap on #2 axle
(Frank also finished lettering the letterboard on the 15-28 side: AND ELGIN)
Saturday, May 21
309:
Checked that everything was ready to move. I moved the control pipe hose from the east end to the west. Because there was a train stored on the west wye, the 309 could not be turned around. Helped by Stan W., I then ran it over to Barn 8, coupled onto the 308, made up the train, and ran the two cars outside.
Bob Heinlein changed out the insert on the #1 end pole for me. Both poles on this car now have new inserts.
I inspected the motors; no problems found.
308:
Installed the retriever at the #1 end.
Everything seemed to work OK in MU with the 309.
Lubrication: I did the armature bearings (helped again by Stan), axle caps, and main journals. Gears checked, didn’t need more crater.
Still needed for service, ordered by priority: (309 is essentially ready)
Remove rest of tools, paint cans, vacuum cleaner, etc.
Install last two seat backs, all cushions.
First finish red on all white primer on the #2 end.
Spray gloss black on the truss rod repair.
Finish the drop sash.
Misc.:
Scout day: we had hundreds of Boy Scouts wandering around.
Tuesday, May 24
308:
I removed all of the tools, paint, loose screws and parts, etc. from the 308 (also the 309, just a couple of things).
I installed the seat backs at 19 and 29, and put all seat cushions in place. This includes one I brought back from home without recovering it; ran out of time. One cushion is still in the basement, since it needs some woodwork.
Brought out two new flags Maggie made, and sorted them out so we have two reds and two whites at each end of the train.
Saturday, May 28 (with Frank)
308:
I installed the final repaired seat cushion at 27.
309:
Monitored bearing temperatures with the laser thermometer; motor #2 runs slightly hotter than the others, but only by a couple of degrees. Probably not a problem.
Brake pipe hose at #1 end adjusted due to leak; new gaskets installed in gladhands between cars.
308/309:
Operated for six trips on the mainline, usually full. Randy Allegrezza, trainman.
Dave Diamond brought a VIP from IDOT along on our last ride; they had the 308 to themselves and apparently enjoyed the ride greatly. He said we are "a class act."
Sunday 29 May 2005
*308-309 in revenue operation, made two trips before being put away at about 12:30pm due to rain sprinkles; Dennis Matl and Steve Jirsa motormen/conductors, no trainman?
309:
1. Replacement dog leashes permanently installed on L side contactor box covers
2. The L-shaped piece of bar stock that goes around the edge of the trap well at the #2R corner had come loose, making it nearly impossible to close the trap, so I fastened it into the edge of the floorboards with some more screws
3. A replacement U-bolt hasp was found for the L side contactor box closest to the #1 end; the original had been lost at some point in the car's history. This was sand-blasted and primed; once it is installed the dog leash will have something to be hooked onto.
Monday, May 30 (with Maggie and Frank)
308:
I tightened up the connection to the clock at the #2 end to stop the leak. Needs a metal bracket to hold it steady.
We looked at floor colors; none of the samples I had matched very closely. Need to try again.
Frank:
*308-309 in revenue operation, made unknown number of trips but were in service from 10:15am to 5:15pm; Jim Nauer motorman, Jim Windmeier conductor, I can't remember the trainman's name
309:
1. Tested axle cap bearing temperature; all of the bearings tested were within four degrees of each other in the upper 70's (F)
2. After the cars were put away I checked in on them and found the whistles were still on them, the tanks hadn't been drained and the #2 train door of the 309 (the one at the end of the train) was unlocked. Hmm.
Tuesday, May 31
308:
I painted first finish yellow on sector 1 below the 87” molding, and on the new piece of leather in the wrecking tool box.
I looked at some new paint samples I got; inside the barn it’s hard to be sure. I also found one piece of wood from the platform of the 308 that has some brown paint still on it; it looks like a lighter shade than inside the car.
I worked on the flap for the #2R corner. I decided I had to turn the flap over, and switch the two hinges. The flap still needs to be straightened out, but it could be removed while the car’s in service.
Saturday, June 4 (with Frank and Esther)
308:
Operated for one trip. Dan Buck, motorman; Frank, conductor; Stan W., trainman.
309:
Operated for four trips.
Looked at floor color samples some more, still no decision.
321:
Esther lettered the number ‘321’ in black, first on the Masonite panel on the #1 end for practice, then on the siding at sector 13.
I sanded down and swept all surfaces still in grey above the window sill in sectors 15-24. Then we started painting them with brown primer; I did sector 15 and much of 16; Esther finished 16, 17, and 18.
She also painted the new dash light casting with primer.
Misc.:
In the morning, we used the two blue cars to pull the 321 outside the barn for painting before they went into service. About 1pm, it appeared rain was imminent, so we put all cars away. About 3pm, the rain had passed, so we broke the train and Dan and Frank operated the 309 alone for three trips. Esther and I rode one of them.
Monday, June 6
308:
I swapped the retrievers, so the one we actually use in service holds the rope more or less tight when the pole’s down. I also tied down the ropes at either end of the two-car train.
309:
I fixed the loose screws holding the spring clip onto the bulkhead door at the #1 end.
321:
Started drilling holes so I can cut out the siding at the #1 end for mounting the new dash light casting.
Misc.:
I removed the whistles and stored them (Stan had tightened them down with a wrench.)
I left instructions for Jack, and set out the new window frame and a piece of molding for him to paint.
Frank:
Saturday 11 June 2005:
308:
1. The 308 and 309 were moved outside the barn and the new tack molding (R side, from the midpoint of the car to the #2 end) was painted black. The cars were moved because of the oppressive heat. He also worked on the 205.
Saturday, June 18
308/309:
Operated in revenue service. Jeff Obarek, motorman; Tom Disch, conductor.
321:
Car was pulled outside on 84 for inspection and painting.
Inspection: I examined the compressor, all OK. Brake system was retested, works fine. I opened the cocks under the floor so the brake hoses can be connected at the #2 end (we’ve never used them before.)
Need a 2¼” U bolt for this end to hold one of the pipes to the bracket.
I got a dummy coupling from Bill W.
Inspected all motors from the top; brushes and commutators checked.
Lubrication: did all axle caps and main bearings. Did all armature bearings, helped by Bob Sunderlin.
Examined the contactors and reverser; look OK.
Painting: finished painting the windows on the 15-28 side with brown primer: sectors 18-24.
First maroon on the windows and trim painted with primer last time, sectors 15-17.
Misc.:
I gave three trolley inserts to Bob Heinlein for rebuilding.
Tuesday, June 21
321:
I installed a U bolt for holding the brake pipe to the bracket under the coupler at the #2 end.
I got two North Shore control pipe hoses with glad hands from Bruneau. Not yet installed.
I finished cutting out the hole in the #1 end siding for the dash light. Needs some more trimming with a chisel.
Thursday, June 23
309:
Installed a North Shore control pipe hose at the #2 end.
321:
Installed a North Shore control pipe hose at the #2 end. The old one was badly worn; placed in 4001.
Trimmed the hole and installed the dash light. I also installed the two little brackets at either side. Still need to fabricate some sort of clamp at the top.
Sunday, June 26
308/309:
I locked up the two cars. They were operated on Saturday: Dan Buck, motorman, Steve Jirsa, conductor. Not locked up properly.
321:
Installed a round block of wood in the dash light casting.
Tuesday, June 28
321:
I found the primer and painted the screw heads, brackets, and some bare wood on the #1 end door frame.
Cleaning and straightening inside the car; threw out several paint cans no longer usable, etc. I also replaced the wood covering the missing trap door at the #1R step well.
Saturday, July 2 (with Esther and Frank)
308/309:
Operated in revenue service. Henry Vincent, motorman; Steve Jirsa, conductor; T. J. Miller, trainman.
321:
Car was pulled outside on 84 for painting. Esther painted the dash light and other parts on the #1 end with maroon, and then finished all sections on the south side (sectors 18-24) with maroon. Looks great!
She lettered one of the folding signs with the word “LOCAL”; it was later installed at the #1 end.
I made up another temporary latch piece for the signs at the #1 end and installed it.
I did more cleaning and straightening inside the car.
I measured the length needed for the final piece of replacement letterboard, sectors 5-6, and cut it to length on the radial saw, then brought it out and stored it in the barn.
Misc.:
Frank mostly worked on the 205. We watched Dave Diamond painting the new shelter structure.
I contributed some money to the 309 Motor Fund.
Since we had to leave before revenue service ended, and the barn leads were blocked with L cars, Bob Heinlein promised to help the operating crews put the 321 away. Thanks.
Sunday, July 3 (with Maggie)
308/309:
Operated in revenue service. Jim Nauer, motorman; T. J. Miller, conductor.
Maggie and I rode one of the trips. Need to write a report to Jim.
321:
I brought out my handle bag and two whistles and put them in the car, for use in making up the three-car train. Also a padlock for my tool chest.
Misc.:
Frank was a conductor on the 144 jazz car.
Maggie and I rode the Zephyr dinner train. In the evening it rained, so no progress on switching the cars.
Monday, July 4 (with Frank)
308/309/321:
In the morning, we switched out the cars and put them back together with the 321 in the middle. However, we had great difficulty in making up the hoses. Helped a lot by Dan Gornstein.
Once this was done, reports came in that a storm front was approaching, so we put the train away. Got no farther from the barn than the Central Avenue crossing.
In the afternoon, I was told that Nick wanted the train in the pageant, which was finally taking place. However, it was still raining lightly, and looked like it might get worse, so I turned around and put the train away again.
321:
Frank and I examined the hinge for the trap door at the #2L corner (the one with the padlock). I drilled out the hole and inserted a new bolt with a lock washer – should be much more reliable. I vacuumed out the car, and sorted parts in the smoker for a while.
I removed the letterboard for sectors 7-10 and took it to the shop for eventual trimming – it’s too thick.
Misc.:
Gave a few tours to visitors standing around in the barn, due to the rain. Visited by Chuck Kumpas from Rockhill. I showed him through the cars, and we talked about how to reassemble the washroom in the 315.
There was a slow leak in the barn roof, about 50’ east of the sidewalk, so it’s usually about between the first two cars. However, by moving the train as far west as possible, I was able to get a place to stand. I put some silicone caulk around the leak, and hope that this has fixed it.
Helped Bob a little with switching the 68 into Barn 4.
Tuesday, July 5
309:
I replaced the wires which had been holding seat backs 7-8 and 21-22 together with black leather straps, held with black electrical tape. I think it’s an improvement.
321:
Installed a shade track at sector 7, so the window can be raised.
Misc.:
I removed the whistle from the 308, and found the one left inside the 309, and returned them to the wall locker. I also found where Frank had hidden the padlock, so I got the master key from Bruneau, removed the 7565, returned it to him, etc.
Saturday, July 9 (with Frank)
308/309/321:
We inspected the train, pulled it out, ran it around the car line, wyed it, switched the cars, and put them all back in the barn. Now from east to west: 308, 309, 321. I believe all #1 ends are to the west. The main reason was so that the good side of the 321 is towards the sidewalk so I can work on it.
Also took some pictures along the way.
308:
Frank cut out a piece of Masonite to block up the side door at the #2R corner. I need to finish the drop sash.
321:
Relocated the AC wiring.
I cut out, trimmed, and installed the (inner) molding strip for the narrow post at sector 19-20, and the corner molding block at sector 15. Painted with brown primer.
I cut out and installed the final vertical molding strips (matching the arches) at sectors 15 and 16. Painted with primer.
Worked some more on trimming and installing a new piece of belt rail at sectors 27-28.
Misc.:
Watched the roof being put on “McCormick Place”. Frank worked on the 205 some more, and took department progress photos.
Sunday, 10 July 2005: (Frank)
309:
1. I found that the door with the lock, which is now on the visitor aisle side, was ajar. I looked in the car and at first glance it did not appear anything had been stolen or disturbed; it's possible no one even went in the car. I locked it correctly and jiggled it but it appeared to be secure.
2. I took a control pipe hose off the 431 and Rod put one of his modified Chicago gaskets into it; we then installed the two hoses with new gaskets on the inner ends of the train, i.e. #1-309 and #2-308. After pumping up the cars I found that the gaskets were leaking slightly (this was more-or-less suspected as the mating surfaces were thought a little low) but there were much larger leaks around the access caps on the gladhands. Next weekend I'll work with Rod to remove these, seal up the caps and maybe swap in more modified gaskets that aren't cut down as much. The modified hoses are still on the cars.
3. Andy Sunderland is going to be out next weekend (we think) so I'll call him and try and persuade him to run the forklift and put two, if not all four, of our motors into the container. I took a quick look and found that the 318/McHenry Electric motors (the ones with the pinions removed) are east of the 309's two and are sitting on half-ties. It was dark so I can't be sure, but it didn't look like the pinions were with the motors. Where are they?
Tuesday, July 12
308:
I brought out the (more or less) finished drop sash, and painted the molding strips with brown primer. Left in the 321 for Jack to paint blue.
321:
I did two sets of Bondo on the letterboard, approximately sectors 18½ - 23, to smooth over the patch piece. Not yet sanded down. I also brought out the outer vertical molding strips and cut two of them to length, for posts 17-18 and 19-20.
Misc.:
Spent some time checking the locks and mounting all of the signs correctly. Left instructions for Jack.
Wednesday, July 13: Jack appears to have done everything I asked him to:
308:
First primer on the (final) replacement side window.
Painted the drop sash blue where needed.
Cut out three 5” pieces of siding for under the retriever, and painted with primer.
Saturday, July 16 (with Frank)
308:
I drilled the required holes and installed the spring latch on the drop sash, which Jack had painted. I finally found some screws and reattached the two vertical metal plates to hold it in place. Works well.
I took the metal plate for the #1R door to the shop, so it can be stripped and repainted.
308/309:
I showed Dan Gornstein where everything is, and declared him qualified. We talked about letting Jack Franklin run the cars next Saturday, when Frank and I won’t be there.
I moved the control hoses as needed and made up the two-car train. The control hose coupling seemed to be OK, but the brake pipe glad hands are now leaking! Ugh. Installed the jumpers anyway.
321:
I sanded down the Bondo on the letterboard from last time, and applied more to fill all of the holes and gaps in sectors 15-18½.
I nailed in the three sections of tack molding left over from the 308 in sectors 21-28.
Painted all new Bondo and sanded sections with white primer.
Got a supply of #14 FH wood screws for attaching the tack molding permanently, but no action yet.
Misc.:
I helped Frank with repairing and reinforcing a couple of pallets for use in storing our spare motors.
Frank was a conductor on the 4391 for most of the day. Too hot to do very much.
Tuesday, July 19
308:
I left some instructions for Jack in the 321, and posted a note for the motorman next Saturday in the 308.
321:
I put a new belt in the department belt sander and sanded down the back of the section of letterboard in the shop to bare wood. I then ran it through the planer to get it down to 7/8” thickness.
Misc.:
Checked on locks on the cars. Two cut-out cocks needed to be opened to train the brakes.
Wednesday, July 20: Jack appears to have:
308:
Repainted hand rails.
Painted inside of #1R side door.
Friday, July 22
Misc.:
Oops, I had forgotten that no whistles were readily available if the cars are to operate tomorrow. I got the two that used to be in Bruneau’s office (the steel one and the paint drip one) and put them in the toilet compartment of the 309. We have a total of seven, it appears.
Frank:
Friday, 29 July 2005:
308-309:
1. The national Garden Railway convention held a side-trip to IRM attended by about 600 conventioneers in the evening. The 308-309 made two trips, running between 5:00pm and 6:30pm after which they were put away. Cars were packed both trips, est. around 175 people were carried total. Jim Nauer and Henry Vincent traded off as motormen and trainmen, Frank Hicks was conductor. It was a great success.
2. On the second trip a man offered to build us one, or maybe even two, step boxes for use with the cars since the steps are so steep. He offered to build them out of white oak and asks only that we give him a tax write-off receipt in return. I have no idea whether he'll actually follow through but we should definitely follow up on this. He asked us to send him dimensions for a typical step box, which we should be able to find. This is an immediate action item!
308:
1. There is a noticeable leak under the #2 platform that we should look at. Also, one of the hoses under the platform is wearing badly on the end of the truck frame and looks likely to burst one of these days. Could it be replaced with a shorter one that won't hang down so much?
Saturday, 30 July 2005:
308:
1. Car ran one trip in service with 309; I arrived at about 11:30, after this trip, and took the car out of service. I broke the train and ran the 308 to Yard 8. The reason was to work on the air leak under the #2 platform.
2. The leak under the platform is where the coupler shank brake pipe hose screws into the pipe elbow underneath the car. It's quite loose but can't effectively be tightened because the hose tends to spring it back. The hose will need to be replaced itself because it is wearing against the truck frame; this work should be done on the pit, the sooner the better.
3. The union that leads to the brake pipe line to the #2 air gauge was leaking badly so I took it off. It turns out the gasket that the union originally had was totally dissolved, so I cut a new gasket and reinstalled it. It doesn't leak anymore. Now the cut-out cock right below it leaks instead... I guess it never ends.
4. I noticed the #2R trap was very precariously hung from the bulkhead: each of the two "barn door" hinges was held in by only one screw, and one of those had stripped its hole. I shoved a bunch of splinters into some of the other holes and put an extra two screws in each hinge. The problem is that now the trap, though securely attached, is mounted maybe 1/16-1/8" too high: it won't latch up and the door scrapes along the metal trap edge when you open it (which also makes the door very hard to latch open). So we need to do something, but I'm not exactly sure what.
309:
1. This car ran in service all day; Dan Buck was motorman, Dennis Matl conductor. The first trip was run MU'd with 308, remaining trips were run solo. The train was made up when the cars were put in the barn at the end of the day.
2. Mid-afternoon the crew alerted me that the bolts holding up the #2L stepwell were loose, so I tightened all four; all four were either loose or only finger-tight.
3. This car has been dewiring a LOT. We need to bring it over to the pit and inspect the poles to make sure they're vertical (I think that one or both is
cocked).
Sunday, 31 July 2005:
308-309:
1. The cars were in service all day and ran four trips. Andy Sunderland motorman, Frank Hicks conductor, Tom Disch trainman.
2. I wrote down dimensions for an Illinois Terminal step box Bruneau had and Joe Stupar took a couple of digital pictures of it to send me so I can send them to Burt Zielinski, the Garden Railway guy who offered to build us a step box.
308:
1. Since the cars won't be running again until Sept 10th this is a good opportunity to fix some problems. These include:
a. The pole at the #2 end of the 308 is cocked to the side and should be straightened.
b. One of the seat pedestals has almost completely pulled out from the floor, which means that by reversing the seat we risk damaging the frame. It needs to be screwed back into the floor.
c. The brake pipe hose under the #2 platform needs to be replaced; that's the only way we will be able to fix that leak, and we ought to replace it before it bursts out on the road anyway.
d. We need to figure out a way to fix the trap at the #2R corner; we also need to shave off the bottom of the #2L side door at some point.
e. The inside metal plate for the #1R side door needs to be reinstalled.
f. A couple of the seat cushions need more duct tape.
3. Future action item: we still need to make a bracket for the air gauge at the #2 end; some of the joints in that system leak, but everything is so flexible (since the gauge is supported solely by the piping) that it's pointless to fix leaks until the bracket is put in place.
4. It looks like the paint is peeling off the roof at the #2 end right over the train door a little bit (???).
5. The buzzer cord broke today during normal use; it parted about 2' from the #1 end of the car. This was actually a trolley rope, if memory serves; we should probably replace it with a wire-center rope.
6. Tom Disch noticed that the brake shoe on the #3 axle, R side was pretty worn down; Andy and I both took a look at it and we agreed that it will last through this year but should definitely be replaced during spring inspection.
309:
1. Two of the seats are pulling out of the floor; these were noted on the car report card (I used the 308 numbering system where the lav window is #26; I couldn't remember how the 309's numbering system worked).
Misc:
1. I ran the 3142 three trips around the car line to give Henry Vincent a break around lunchtime. This was the first time I ever ran a car in revenue service without a pilot.
Tuesday, August 2
308:
I started working on replacing bad siding directly under the retriever bracket at the #1 end.
Window #9.
Misc.:
Too hot to do very much.
Saturday, August 6 (with Frank)
308:
We pulled the 308 onto the apron. I looked at the bad hose under the #2 end. After some work, we were finally able to disconnect it at the union, and remove the entire pipe assembly.
Frank (and I) sanded down the lower siding on the 1-14 side, including the numbers and herald, since we are going to repaint it as the 1950 version (no herald, outlined numbers, and eventually the new “Do Not Board A Moving Car”.
We ran it over to the pit lead so Frank could get compressed air to blow off all the dust. Meanwhile, I found a new hose, disassembled the old one, and put the new one together. However, the new hose leaked around the fittings at each end. Frank also made a new gasket for the union, which had gone bad.
I went on top of the car and adjusted the pole at the #2 end; it needed to be rotated. Helped by Bob Heinlein. We also checked the tension on the #1 pole; it’s only 28 lbs, within the acceptable limits. Everybody thought it was too stiff, but the adjusting screw is all the way out, so there’s nothing I can do (other than replace the springs, ugh.)
Ran the car back to the barn.
Frank put spot primer on all the parts that had been sanded down to bare wood.
Frank:
Sunday, 7 August 2005:
308:
1. I was able to tighten the hose clamps on the coupler anchor hose from the #2 end with the help of George Clark and successfully tested the assembly. I then installed the hose and the pipe (with brake hose) on the car and tested the entire system. It appears that we fixed the leak, but a new leak has shown up in the #2 brake pipe angle cock. I'm hoping that leak may disappear when the car is coupled to the 309 and the cock is open, but sooner or later we'll need to lap that angle cock.
2. I painted blue over all of the places on the north (R) side of the car that I had primed, plus the spots where we had sanded down to primer; I also put a first coat of blue on the side sill on the R side. We also have to remember to repaint our retrievers blue in addition to the side sills and anticlimbers, plus we should probably bring the #1 end retriever into the shop over the winter and have someone look at it.
Misc:
1. It was Vintage Transport Day; nothing particularly unusual happened.
Tuesday, August 9
309:
I mixed up some epoxy and permanently attached whistles at each end of the 309. Need to be stress tested after the glue has had time to cure completely.
I inserted some new screws and fastened down the seat frames at sectors 17 and 19, which were loose.
Saturday, 13 August 2005:
308:
1. Painted siding on the whole of the R side below the belt rail blue; also put a second coat of blue on about a third of the R side I-beam starting from
the #1 end.
2. Began cutting out a "DO NOT BOARD A MOVING CAR" stencil.
3. Painted whistle pipe elbow at #2 end blue.
309:
1. I finally installed that hasp on the contactor box cover that was missing its.
2. I tested the whistles; they seemed tight, though I couldn't get a good angle on the wrench (I suppose no one else will be able to either).
Sunday, 14 August 2005:
308:
1. I painted the rest of the R side I-beam with a second coat of blue and also did a little miscellaneous touch-up (key shield, retriever bracket bolt heads, etc). This used up the last of our blue paint, so we will have to get more.
2. I cut short the bolts holding up the #2L and #2R stepwells; these had been sticking down below the floor about a foot and looked stupid. I also tightened the nuts holding up the #2L stepwell, which were loose.
3. With Frank Sirinek's help I spliced the bell cord as a temporary measure. Bruneau will order some 1/4" trolley rope we can use to replace it, and when it arrives we can dye it red and use it as a final replacement.
4. I removed the incorrect "split strap" we had fabricated for the vestibule bell cord and asked Bruneau to order a 6' length of 1" leather strap so we can make three correct loop-style bell cord grabs for the 308 and 309.
5. I finished cutting out the "DO NOT BOARD A MOVING CAR" stencil and painted it on the #1R corner of the car in Imitation Gold. I decided, judging from the photo of #311 in Lloyd's color book, that it is generally centered under the siding panel between the doorway and the first window. NOTE: in this stencil the word "MOVING" is NOT centered, and must be manually centered when laying out the stencil but before painting the lettering on the car.
6. Painted "308" on the side of the car, #1R corner, in black.
7. I took a hose and washed off the anticlimbers and the L side I-beam in preparation for painting them blue.
8. At the end of the day I put the 308 on the pit, which allowed me to inspect the underside. I came to some interesting conclusions:
-The triple valve was originally mounted inside the car in essentially the same location as the 309's; the holes are still in the sub-floor (the upper floor layer was replaced at some point, which we already knew because the car is missing its motor traps). Norm Krentel suggested earlier in the day that these cars may originally have been fitted with R-type triple valves because AMM wasn't developed until 1906 or 1907, so this is an intriguing possibility.
-There's a hole in the sub-floor under the lavatory which makes it look like the 308 originally had the same gizmo mounted in the toilet compartment that the 309 still has.
-The toilet chute is almost certainly an IMOTAC installation. Its galvanized finish is in good shape, it is poorly painted, and - most convincing of all -
it has virtually no build-up of dirt or grime on either in the inside or the outside.
-The original #1 reverser may have been located where the small air tank is now, but I'm not certain. It may have also been located where the headlight resistor box is currently. If it was located mirrored from the other end of the car, it would be under or directly behind the toilet chute!
-The original #1 switch group was torched off the car; the remnants of the bolts holding it up are still there.
-One of the remaining support brackets for the #1 grid bank, a bracket which now supports a clamp for the 600V shoe cable, has come off at one end because the bolt rusted through. This should probably be fixed at some point, since we don't want it to fall off altogether, catch on a switch and rip the 600V cable out of the bottom of the car.
9. Still no trace of the #2 end control pipe dummy hose coupling.
Monday, 15 August 2005
308:
1. I needle chipped the #1L stepwell and primed it.
2. I sanded off the L side "SUNSET LINES" herald and primed the boards it had formerly covered.
3. Bruneau gave me three "WATCH YOUR STEP" enameled signs along with a packing slip proving they were originally delivered to the CA&E at 400 W. Liberty! They were never used, though, so they were apparently bought/stolen from CA&E stock. I installed one at the #2L corner and removed the #1L original from the car. It's rusty but we can still use it if we have to.
4. I painted the number "308" onto the R side of the car towards the #2 end in black.
5. I painted the number "308" onto the R side of the car towards the #1 end in Imitation Gold.
6. I painted "DO NOT BOARD A MOVING CAR" onto the #2R corner of the car.
7. Bruneau bought us a can of Rustoleum black spray paint, which I used to touch up the air compressor.
Tuesday, 16 August 2005
308:
1. After picking up the new gallon of blue paint in Elgin I painted the herald area on the L side with a first coat of blue, and also put a first coat on the L-side I-beam and on both bumpers.
2. I painted the belt rail stripe on the R side red.
3. I painted the number "308" onto the R side of the car towards the #2 end in Imitation Gold. I also painted "308" on the inside of the #2 train door and put the "DO NOT PASS FROM CAR TO CAR" on the #2 train door.
4. Bruneau and I cleaned off the car's original "WATCH YOUR STEP" enamel sign from the #1R corner using Scotch-Brite pads; it will need to be touched up with white and black paint where the enamel popped off.
Tuesday, August 16
308:
I looked at what Frank has been doing. We looked at pictures and studied what needs to be done on the underbody equipment.
Wrapped some rubber electrical tape around the truss rod next to the fuse box.
I went to an art supply store in Wheaton to get some One Shot enamel for lettering.
Wednesday, 17 August 2005
308:
1. Jack was out; he installed the inside metal panel on the #1R side door, which had previously been stripped, primed and given one coat of blue. He then painted the entire inside of that door with another coat of blue (the door frame also only had one coat).
2. Jack sanded and primed the wood and metal framing around the stepwells at the #1L, #1R and #2R corners.
3. I put a second coat of blue on the entire L side and on the L-side I-beam. There were a LOT of places where the paint was very thin, so it will be good to have another coat on there. I painted around the numbers, since they looked good; hopefully this fact will not be too noticeable.
4. I used black paint to touch up the R side truss rod where I had absent-mindedly and erroneously painted parts of the truss rod anchor blue.
5. The new leather strap that Bruneau ordered arrived, so I used a 2'-odd section to make a vestibule bell cord strap for the #2 end of the
308. I installed it; it looks pretty good.
6. I moved the 308 over to Barn 8 (since Friday is a Thomas day, we don't have to worry about blowing the demand) and buried it behind the 309 since we'll need the 309 for my Take The Throttle day tomorrow. I let Jack run the 308 and 309 for parts of their respective switch moves; he had never gotten to run either. Unfortunately when moving the 308 onto the tail track the pole dewired on a frog, went into retrieve and yanked the #2 end trolley pole out of the base and dumped it on the ground. I shoved the pole into the car through the train door and after putting the car away red-tagged it. We will need to inspect the roof canvas for damage and re-install the pole.
7. Still no sign of the missing dummy coupling, and after looking in the air brake car Bruneau and I failed to find a spare (it's an undersize GE type, pretty rare stuff).
8. A few priority things that we really ought to do before Labor Day on the 308:
-reinstall the pole
-fasten down that seat pedestal to the floor
-fix the #2R trap so that it can be latched in the up position
Friday, August 19
Misc.:
I worked all day on the Thomas train.
I put the signs back on the 308 and 309; one must still be in the car.
Saturday, August 20
Misc.:
I worked all day for Thomas, as conductor on the 4391.
Tuesday, August 23
308:
I found a dummy coupling in the junk yard which might be usable for the control pipe gladhand.
321:
I brought out the poplar I bought yesterday, and made three sections of tack molding to complete the 15-28 side. Pieces were jointed, sawn, and routered. Not yet painted.
Saturday, August 27
308:
I removed the retriever from the #2 end and carried it to the shop, for rewinding (and repainting).
Misc.:
I worked again all day for Thomas, as conductor on the 4391.
Tuesday, August 30
308:
I put a first coat of blue on the retriever in the shop.
321:
First primer on all sides of the three new pieces of tack molding.
Misc.:
The dummy coupling won’t work on control pipe gladhands. Spoke to Tom Hunter and Adam a little.
Wednesday, Aug 31: Jack appears to have:
308:
Painted the stepwells at the #2 end black.
Fixed the hinges for the #2R trap door.
Put a second coat of blue on the retriever in the shop.
Saturday, September 3 (with Frank)
308:
Fixed the pole. First we ran the 309 out onto track 82. Then we back-poled the 308 out of the barn, to about the 83/84 switch. Since the pole was noticeably bent in the horizontal plane, we took it to Barn 4 and straightened it. Frank wire-wheeled the end of the pole down to bare metal. Acting on suggestions from Bob Heinlein, I removed the upper plate from the base; Frank wire-wheeled it also, then we got Ed Woytula to weld some little ridges on the plate so it grips the pole securely. We then managed to get the pole onto the car, and I tightened it down with the recommended socket wrench and cheater bar. I also wound up the rope so it has no slack.
I noticed that Jack had worked on the trap door hinge at the #2 end. I repositioned the latch to hold the trap up properly. Needs to be touched up with blue.
We then reassembled the train with the 309 to the west; this puts the #1 end of the 308 on the outside. Train was pulled back part way into the barn, so Frank could do the two new stencils on the 15-28 side.
321:
I nailed the three sections of new tack molding in place in sectors 15-21, completing this side. I then painted the lower half and all bottom surfaces of all tack molding with gloss black.
Painted the letterboard with a first/second coat of cream, sectors 15-23, thus covering all white primer.
Misc.:
The
Frank:
Sunday, 4 September 2005:
308:
1. Used blue paint to touch up a spot at the #1R corner where Jack had accidentally got black paint on the car's siding.
205:
1. Sanded down the Bondo on the letterboard drip rail, did a little more Bondo-ing, sanded that down, and primed most of the letterboard and the last
section of the side below the belt rail. I still need to Bondo up the end of the drip rail, then I can paint the remainder of the letterboard between the doors.
Misc:
1. I told Nick about the idea of a calendar photo with several 1906 cars on it; he enthusiastically endorsed it and said he'd do what he could to help set it up.
Monday, September 5 (with Frank)
308/309:
We operated the two-car train in revenue service for Labor Day. Randy Allegrezza, trainman. Five main-line trips. J. Johnson was a guest motorman part way for the last of these trips.
Smoke scare.
After putting the cars away, we uncoupled them so only the 309 will be used next weekend.
Misc.:
Frank talked to Nick, Barb, Dave Diamond, etc. Plan on having the 308 dedication ceremony next year on Sunday, July 2nd.
Tuesday, September 6
308:
I removed the whistle and put it in the wall locker. I also picked up the trim piece which had fallen from the ceiling and put it in the 321.
321:
Straightened up and locked up tools in preparation for service on Member’s Day. Also put the signs on all cars correctly.
Saturday, Sept. 11:
309:
Bob Heinlein and Rich Block ran the car. On one trip, one of the poles pulled out of the base; car was run back to the station, where they fastened it in again. Otherwise worked OK.
Car was not run on Sunday.
Saturday, September 17 (with Frank)
308/309/321:
We operated the three-car train in revenue service for Labor Day. Frank (helped by Stan) put the train together in the morning. He also tightened down all bolts on the trolley bases. Dan Buck was the motorman for five trips during the day. Randy Allegrezza, trainman. In the evening, I was the motorman for one trip. We then cut off the 308 and 321 (due mostly to substation problems) and Randy and I put them back in the barn and closed up. Meanwhile, Frank ran the 309 for another trip.
Main problem was that the newly-repainted retriever on the 308 went into “lunch” mode during the second trip; it was replaced with one from the 251. Placed in the 321 for eventual repair.
Frank:
Sunday, September 18, 2005:
308:
1. Andy Sunderland and I swapped 308 and 309's places in the barn; 308 is now at the door. None of the three cars are coupled. This will make it easy to take 308 out for the calendar photo.
2. I took the whistle off the east end and set it on the motorman's stool, which is inside the car.
3. The following is VERY important to do before the calendar shot is taken next Saturday:
-paint east end retriever blue (east end only; west end belongs to 251!)
-paint headlight bracket at east end silver (not vital)
-paint steps at southeast corner silver (at least the front edges of the steps)
Misc:
1. I spent most of the day working on switching. The entirety of track 62 was drilled and the "Talisman" moved from the west end to the east end; Stan Wdowikowski, Mike Farrell, and Wes Lloyd helped with this. I also helped with drilling track 63 before I had to leave; Stan helped with this as well. Andy ran the L7 for this job and we actually got to use the L7's "extension cord" for the first time ever at IRM to push the "Peoria" past the end of wire on track 63! That was pretty neat. The reason for these switch moves was to put FW&WV 504 and IT 233 at their respective doors for the "1906 cars" calendar photo shoot scheduled for next Saturday.
Tuesday, September 20
308:
I put a 309 retriever on the east end of the 308, and moved the 308’s black retriever, as well as the defective one, and put them on a step of the 309 for Jack to take to the shop.
I masked around the headlight brackets for Jack to paint. I wrote him a note and put it in the car, along with the silver paint.
Misc.:
I collected all of the jumper cables and put them in the 321.
I put all the signs on the cars and straightened up. I arranged the extension cords for the 321, since it’s now reversed again.
I went to the container, emptied out the water bin, looked at parts, swept, etc.
Wednesday, Sept. 21: Jack appears to have:
308:
Painted both headlight brackets silver. They will probably need a second coat at some point.
Painted the step silver, as requested.
Took the two retrievers to the shop; one was painted blue. The other is due to be fixed; no action yet.
Saturday, September 24
Switching:
Spent most of the day switching for calendar picture taking, and miscellaneous purposes.
When I arrived at 8 am, Stan was the only person there. We stood around for a while wondering where the others were, then decided to get to work. Stan pumped up the 4290-4410 on track 72, and I ran them out and put them on 82. Then we pumped up the 4412 and pushed the 2872 out onto the lead. Pumped up the 4 and ran it outside. Then things started to happen. Jim Nauer complained that “junk” was blocking service cars (160-714), so we pulled the 233 out of track 63 and put it on 64, where it stayed. Bob Heinlein came along to move the 6000s on 71, so we pulled the 504 out of Barn 6 and moved it over to 71. Then we had to move the 4391 and 415 down to the tail track. Finally Frank could put the 1374 on 74, and I ran the 308 out and put it on 73. Nick and the photographer showed up and everybody took pictures for a while. Mostly overcast, but there were moments of sun. This was about 11 am.
I then put the 308 away; with the 4, we put the 504 and 233 away. Pictures of the 233 alone were also taken. Then Nick wanted to pull the PFE reefer off track 73 so Kutella could unload some machinery, so we had to pull the Kansas City car with another drawbar out onto 74. More pictures. I then pulled the reefer out to the road. At this point, Kutella wasn’t available due to insulin, so Nick suggested we all have lunch. After half an hour, nobody had returned, and it started to rain, so Kutella didn’t want to unload the car after all. Nick didn’t show up, so I got Rich Schauer to help me put the reefer and PCC back in the barn. I then put the 4 back on 61. Everything else could run itself back in. By now it was 2 pm.
308:
I started on replacement of the bad veneer, sectors 22-23. Removed the baggage rack at 21-22 and then cut out all of the bad veneer, mostly both layers. A new piece was brought from the 4001, where the veneer is now stored on the couch, and cut to shape. Attached with contact cement.
I noticed the 308 is missing the little tin box in the #1 compartment “For Bad Fuses Only”. Luckily I have at least one spare in the container. Will need to be repainted.
Misc.:
This was the first rain since July 4th, so I checked that the barn roof does not appear to be leaking where I caulked it.
Put windows back in the 321, rearranged the extension cords to supply the 308, etc.
Sunday, September 25
308:
Sectors 22-23: A second layer was trimmed to shape and installed with contact cement. I then applied Bondo and sanded it down. Now needs first primer, and probably a little more filler of some sort to make it smooth.
Sectors 6-7: I removed all of the bad veneer, mostly only the top layer needed to be removed. A first layer was cut out and installed with contact cement for the seam between 5-6.
I installed the last two seat back handles; these both required removing some of the trim strip over the seams. Also some more screws on other handles.
I found the molding strip for the exterior body post, #2R corner. It was trimmed to fit around the horizontal trim, painted with primer on the back, and installed. Then all remaining surfaces painted with primer.
I drilled a hole through the end door post on the #2 end for the headlight circuit.
I cut out a piece of metal for a bracket for the #2 end clock; bent to shape and holes drilled. Needs to be stripped and painted.
I took home a seat cushion for recovering.
I stripped all of the grey paint from one of the whistles; still needs a little more polishing.
Tuesday, September 27
Misc.:
I put the 310 platform door and one of the door frames Buzz made earlier this year in my car, and also moved the third rail beams into the barn, to clear out the shop for Kutella’s woodworking class. I then took the doors to the container and stored them there. I picked up a metal box “For Scrap Fuses Only” for the 308, and some trays of screws and parts.
308:
I left a note for Jack, with the clock bracket and the little tin box for him to work on.
I measured the first aid box in the 309 so I can make a replica for the 308. Later I picked up some wood in the shop to start making the cover.
309:
While I was in the car to measure the first aid box, I started disassembling the parts in sectors 19-20, so new arched trim pieces can be made. I removed the outer window shade tracks, the shade box, and the vertical strip at 20.
321:
Worked a little on removing wood from the #2 end roof. The carlines may be in better condition than I had feared.
Wednesday, Sept. 28: Jack appears to have:
308:
Worked on patching the veneer in sectors 5-6. He installed a couple more pieces of veneer himself. Not yet painted.
Painted the new vertical trim piece at the #2R corner with blue, grey, and red.
Painted the clock bracket with primer.
Painted the tin box with primer.
Saturday, October 1
308:
I made some molding strips in the shop to complete the door stops on all side doors (including the 309). I then cut them to length, trimmed as needed, and installed them with glue and nails - #1R, #2R, #2L. Also they were all painted with brown primer.
I trimmed a piece of mahogany for the last section of interior trim near the #2L door. Taken home to be planed by hand.
I installed the repainted bracket to hold the #2 clock.
First white primer on the patched veneer in sector 22-23.
I worked for a while to install a window shade at sector 2, then while adjusting it, it fell out. Pretty annoying.
I looked for a piece of 3/8” OD thick wall brass tubing for use as the second contact for the #2 end headlight, but without success.
309:
I cut, trimmed, and installed the door stop quarter-round on the #2L corner. Not yet painted. Also, I had to remove the hand rail at this corner. Unfortunately, now the metal flap on the trap door can’t be folded out, so the car isn’t quite locked up correctly.
Misc.:
While I was in the shop, Rod Turner asked me about retrievers. He was thinking about trying to fix it, but I don’t know enough to supervise such a project. I suggested he wait – we’ve got until May to get it working.
Tuesday, October 4
308:
I applied Bondo to the new molding strips along both doors at the #2 end. (The #1 end door strip should be OK as is.) Sanded down somewhat, but not yet painted due to inadequate light.
I worked on fitting the trim piece for the interior at the #2L door.
Removed the baggage rack at 5-6 so I can finish patching the new veneer in sector 6-7.
Scraped away at the white paint on the metal parts in the smoker, without much success. Brown primer might be a better answer.
309:
Trimmed the new molding strip so the metal flap can be lowered, and the car can be properly locked.
Misc.:
Jeff Obarek said he wants his control pipe hose back – seems fair enough.
Tuesday, October 11
308:
I took the repainted retriever from the shop to the 308. The retriever that had been on the #1 end I put back on the 309. After installing the repainted retriever, however, it didn’t take up the rope very well, so I put it into retrieve. Then I couldn’t get it out of retrieve by myself no matter how hard I tried. What a nuisance.
I looked for pieces of wood from the vestibule floor to take for Diamond to match; I finally settled on taking one of the trap doors, which has several large areas of brown paint in good condition.
Sorting and straightening in the 321.
Monday, October 17
308:
I worked on window shades for a while. Got good ones installed in sectors 2 and 4, then failed at 10. Very frustrating. At sector 7, the old roller cannot be removed. Pheugh.
Also, could not find any good ones for the motorman’s window at either end. I note that they seem to be mounted backwards from everything else. Installed one on the #2 end of the 321, however.
Finally got the #1 end retriever out of retrieve.
I picked out a piece of metal to be used as the bottom strip for one of the side doors.
309:
Finished removing the trim pieces in sectors 19-20, so new arched pieces can be made.
Misc.:
I dropped the trap door off at Diamond for paint matching.
Left a note for Jack.
Saturday, October 22
308:
Painting the floor: I removed the seat cushions from the smoker, swept and vacuumed it out, then applied a first coat of brown primer, using a brush for edging, and the rest with a long-handled applicator. I then put a second coat of primer on the floor of the #1 vestibule. Appears to have worked well.
I worked on window shades some more. Got good ones installed in sectors 10 and 23. This included changing out the roller on an otherwise good shade. At sector 7, I finally got the old roller out.
I installed the metal strip which Jack had cut to length and painted on the #2L side door.
I moved all seat cushions from the main compartment to the 309; the 40” one from sector 18½ and the last 32” one that needs recovering were taken home.
I found the can of ceiling yellow and put a last coat on the new leather strap in the wrecking tool box. I retrieved the glass front from the 4001, but still can’t find the screws that held it in place. Also, I painted the headlight switch handle gloss white at the #2 end.
Misc.:
Three visitors from the Czech Republic.
Tuesday, October 25
308:
I brought out the new can of floor brown finish paint, a gallon of brown primer, and a new applicator for Jack to use. And I wrote him a note.
Took some measurements of the frame for the first aid box I’m making.
Found a box of pan head wood screws to use in holding the window shades in place, so they cannot be lowered. We decided this was the best way to keep them from being damaged or pulled out. I installed screws in the sectors which are complete, i.e. have working windows and good shades. Did sectors 1-4, 6, and 8; sectors 5 and 10 have windows that cannot be raised, 7 doesn’t have a window shade yet, and at 9 there’s still a replacement window.
Saturday, October 29 (with Randy Allegrezza and Frank)
308:
Randy Allegrezza came out to help today; we looked briefly at removing one of the poles and having the clamp modified to hold the pole better, but decided against it. The car will have to be pulled outside to remove the pole.
I had him start finding and installing the OH wood screws in the window shade tracks in the main compartment. He did all but a few of the sectors that aren’t complete. He then went around and touched up all screw heads with green paint.
I removed the window at sector 5 and planed it down until it worked properly; at sector 7 I had to plane down the window shade track a little.
I went to the container and got an armload of window shades. I then installed window shades in all remaining slots in the main compartment. I’ve finally decided that the best way to do it is solely by touch. I also installed wood screws in the remaining good sectors to hold the shades in place. This now drops the list of problems quite a bit: window 9 is still a dummy, window 10 can’t be raised, window 24 needs a spring latch, and the shade at 27 is ripped. And having all the shades in place helps the appearance greatly!
I put a second coat of brown primer on the floor of the smoker.
Randy helped me reinstall the cover for the wrecking tools box.
I made a test mounting of the replacement first aid box, then painted it dark green.
I put Bondo over the screw holes in the drip rail on the #1 train door, then sanded it down and painted it with white primer.
Misc.:
Talked to Jeff Brady, visited some of the other projects.
Frank:
Saturday:
Misc:
1. Jeff Hakner (from Branford), Joe Nuara (also from Branford), Rich Schauer and myself moved the 3T test rack from the Steam Shop into the car shop. We then replaced a gasket, cleaned a couple of valves and successfully tested it.
2. Bob Kutella hosted a fantrip on the 68 which Jeff, Joe, Rich and I rode on.
Sunday:
308:
1. I showed Jeff Hakner, Joe Nuara, Rich Schauer and a relatively new volunteer named Mark in the 308. Rich is interested in removing the buzzer "coffee can" from the #2 end (this one is not loud at all) and trying to clean it up to make it louder. He also floated the idea of putting another resistor in series with the ones currently used in the interruptor to raise the voltage and eliminate the problem of the buzzers dropping out when we're pulling motor current.
2. I removed the triple valve from the 308 and we tested it using the 3T rack. The following was determined:
a. The feed groove is obstructed, increasing the time needed to charge the aux res.
b. The charging check valve leaks
c. There is leakage through the slide valve to the exhaust when in "service lap."
d. The emergency valve is not seating properly, and (perhaps connected), does not seem to be operating at full capacity. Emergency applications seem to have an effect closer to a fast service application.
e. The piston ring leaks.
f. When in release, air is leaking into the brake cylinder.
Despite this litany of problems, none are terribly serious with the possible exception of (d) and Hakner was of the opinion that the triple valve actually
did quite well considering we never really serviced it. He didn't seem to think that the less-than-stellar performance of the emergency portion was really a problem, but I'm not certain I agree. I installed the valve back on the car at the end of the day.
3. Jeff Obarek wants his control pipe hose from the 431 back because the car looks weird without it. I told him that Rod was rebuilding our hose gladhands this winter, so we'd give him his back; he seemed satisfied.
4. I looked at the interior photo of the 308 taken at IMOTAC c1960's-1970's and it does indeed appear that the first aid kit box takes up virtually the entire width of the frame. It was also located vertically at the bottom of the frame, not centered between bottom and top. We should note the location of the tabs on the 309's box before installing them on the 308's.
Misc:
1. I gave Bruneau a proof copy of my book to look at.
2. Dennis Storczak was visiting, but, never having met him before, I didn't realize who it was until he had already left.
Monday, October 31
308:
I measured the glass for the first aid box frame and submitted a request to Bruneau. (10” x 12½” x 1/8”)
Put the repainted replica first aid box in its place.
Went to the container and picked up several more window shades. After rejecting a few, I was able to install good ones in the remaining good sectors in the smoker: 12, 15, and 16. This leaves only 17 and 18, where the windows need to be removed so latches can be installed. I then drilled holes and installed pan-head screws in sectors 11-14 and 15-16.
Left a note for Jack.
Wednesday, Nov. 2: Jack appears to have:
308:
Finished installing new veneer and filling on the walls; all sections are painted with white primer.
Painted the buzzer cord hangers and the wreck tool box.
Painted the drip rail on the train door red, as asked.
Saturday, November 5
308:
After vacuuming, I put a first coat of the new brown paint on the floor of the #1 vestibule and the smoker.
Added some strips of Naugahyde to the hinge on the folding stick so it won’t scratch the floor, I hope.
Checked that the new piece of glass will fit in the first aid box frame.
I then made new strips of wood to hold the glass, fit them in place, and drilled holes. I later painted them. Glass not yet installed, since the box needs to be lettered.
I removed the seat backs at 24 and 25; taken home for reupholstering. Two recovered cushions were stored in the 309.
I put a coat of dark green on the frame for the elevated license.
I fixed the window frame at sector 10, reassembled everything, and installed pan head screws in the shade tracks.
I painted most of the toilet door with the old grey-green paint we originally matched to the lower walls as a test. I will need to see how it looks after drying.
Tuesday, November 8
308:
The new brown on the floor looks very good. The grey paint on the toilet door matches fairly well; I now think a mixture of two parts (new) lower green and one part older grey-green will match the door perfectly, and be fairly close to the wall color. I also tried to clean up the green sections on the bulkhead door, but it’s still pretty bad and will need repainting.
Started working on rewiring in the #2 vestibule. I removed the old wires from the conduit which runs down beside the controller; one is the ground connection for everything in the attic, the other goes to the headlight plug. I inserted new wires and hooked up the ground wire; still needs to be soldered and taped in the attic.
Left a note for Jack.
Wednesday, Nov. 9: Jack has:
Put a first coat of upper green on all patched sections. He would like to put another coat on the entire upper walls in the main compartment, but he won’t be back until sometime in December.
Painted the footrests with brown primer, as asked.
Tuesday, November 15
308:
I went to the container and found some window latches and other spare parts I might need, and took them to the 321.
Put the seat cushions back in the smoker; looks good!
I found a flashlight and wrench which had been left on the 309’s step and took them back to Bruneau, and asked him about the availability of spare angle cocks.
Started cleaning up the main compartment; I removed everything back to sectors 1-2-27-28. Then blew out the dust and vacuumed most of it. Probably needs another pass.
Removed seat back at sector 21, moved to 321. Started on back at sector 7, but I will need a bigger screwdriver. These are the last two that will need to be recovered.
I replaced some screws to hold the seat frame at sector 5 to the floor.
Saturday, November 19 (with Frank)
308:
I vacuumed out the car again, then started painting the floor in the main compartment with a first coat of brown primer. Finished sectors 6-10 and 18½-23.
Frank scraped all of the white primer from the heater covers in the smoker.
I removed the flag brackets from the #1 end, in preparation for moving them down to the post-1949 position.
Frank did sanding on the side door posts at the #2R and #1L corners.
We pumped up the car and tested for leaks. All four angle cocks for the hoses are more or less defective. At the #2 end, the brake pipe cock also leaks. Also, there is a leaking union under the car, for the pipe which runs from the main reservoir tank to the feed valve. Frank will start looking for replacement parts. And while the car was pumped up, I used it to push the blue cars west about three feet so the 309 is next to the 321.
I made a test installation of the metal strap for the trap door at the #2R corner. However, the trap door itself will need to be modified. Not yet finished.
Frank:
Sunday, 20 November 2005:
308:
1. I removed both angle cocks from the #1 end and brought them into the shop. I got a number of spares from the air brake car, tested them and picked out several that were pretty good. I'll get to work on those, try and improve them to the point of little/no leakage, and install them as soon as they're okayed.
2. Mark Engelbrecht stopped out again. He primed the weatherstripping I had taken off the #1L side door yesterday, and we looked through the 308 for a little. He is interested in helping with these cars on a continuing basis and expressed a particular interest in two things, painting and wiring. Since there's little wiring to be done on the 308 I told him I'd set up some things (window frames, mainly) for him to paint in the shop next Sunday, which is the next time he's planning to be out. I'll e-mail him with specifics once I know them.
3. Norm Krentel found the photos he had from the Niles Historical Society, but the interior picture of the 308 taken in the 1960's/1970's at IMOTAC isn't among them which means he never requested it from them. Oh well.
4. Rich Block disassembled the B.O. retriever from the 308 and found it had a spring that was no good; Bruneau will supply him with a replacement.
Monday, 21 November 2005
Misc:
1. I worked with Wes Lloyd and Roger Broms to switch the first six cars into Barn 10, those being IC&W 102 and CTA 6461-6462 (track 104 west-to-east) and THI&E 58 and CTA 6655-6656 (103 W-to-E). This will hopefully make it possible to eventually clear the spam cans off 83 and put them on 71 (6655-56's former home) instead, which will operations out of 84 safer.
2. I removed windows 14, 16, 21 and 24(T), all of which need their exteriors stripped and repainted, and took them into the shop. Window 14 was VERY hard to remove, however if I remember right, I think it was in the wrong hole!! That may be why I could barely get it squeezed out. We should check on which window is in space 14; if a couple are swapped we should swap them back.
3. I spent two or three hours lapping spare 3/4" angle cocks. I got one to a point where it leaks only slightly, and not audibly at all, so I will install that one at the #2 end and hope that it doesn't start leaking after we use it for a while. I also got a second 3/4" angle cock to seal fairly well, so we'll put that in storage in case the 309 or 321 needs one swapped out.
4. I installed the good spare 3/4" angle cock that we got out of storage at the #1 end.
Tuesday, 22 November 2005
308:
1. I took the #1L side door off and brought it into the shop. The inside steel plate is rusted entirely through at the bottom, so a new piece of steel will have to be riveted on (the bottom 6" or so is a separate piece riveted to the rest of the steel plate). The door frame will also have to be sanded and
the drop sash removed, stripped and repainted. The steel plates ought to be needle-chipped but probably no one will be willing to do that. A new piece of weatherstripping also has to be fitted to the inside along the bottom edge; part of the original in that spot has rotted away.
2. I spent a couple of hours lapping a 1" angle cock from storage. It was pretty bad and will need quite a bit more lapping work. Ugh! I hope it's
worth it, and we get a good angle cock out of this!
3. I stripped the paint off of the outside of window #21.
Tuesday, November 22 (with Frank)
308:
I helped Frank remove the #1L side door.
I removed the seat cushions at sectors at 1 and 28, and the back at 1, and took them home to be recovered.
I moved all the tools and parts to the #2 vestibule and cleaned out the rest of the main compartment.
Wednesday, 23 November 2005
1. I stripped the paint off the outside of windows #14 and #16.
2. I removed the patterned milk glass from window #24(T) and put it in the toilet compartment of the 308.
3. (add window 24(T) to list of windows I stripped the outside of)
4. I removed the drop sash from the 1L side door, took the glass out and stripped the outside of the frame. I think the inside of the frame will also
need to be stripped. I put the glass on the bench in the paint room and labeled it with masking tape.
5. After looking at the car, I noted that the four slots I removed 14, 16, 21 and 24(T) from were actually slots 15, 19, 21 and 24(T). Yikes! It appears
obvious that the window numbering/placement system is FUBAR. We should definitely go through and relocate all windows to their correct slots; this
ought to help considerably with the problem of windows sticking closed.
6. I took the repaired 3/4" angle cock over to the car and set it on the #2 anticlimber; it can be installed. The angle cock currently at the #2 end
should be put in storage, as it is not in terrible shape and could probably be lapped very nicely without too much trouble in case we need to do so for the 309 or 321. The other angle cocks I've been working on I put on our shelf.
These are:
-1 x 1" cutout cock, complete (we may want to replace the BAD train line angle cock at the #1 end with this one)
-1 x 1" cutout cock, disassembled (I'm working on lapping this one)
-4 x 3/4" cutout cocks, complete (one or two of these will be lapped at a later time to replace the cutout cock under the #1 brake stand)
-1 x 3/4" cutout cock, disassembled (this is incomplete and an organ donor)
7. I stole a piece of weather stripping from the bucket of miscellaneous parts we found in the 4001, wire-wheeled it and put it on our shelf for the
purpose of replacing the half-rotted-away piece on the inside bottom of the #1L side door.
8. I found the old bicycle chain (with 7575 lock) and locked the #1 end sliding door so that only the platform is now unsecured.
Misc:
1. I took our two-wheeler, which I had used to take the 1L side door over to the shop, back to Barn 8.
Sunday, November 27 (Mark Engelbrecht)
I took care of those windows off the 308. Bob showed me how to use the power sander, and I got them nice and smooth before putting a nice coat of primer on them.
Tuesday, November 29
308:
I drilled out the last screw holding seat back 6 in place, which took a long time.
I brought the back and cushions for sectors 1 and 28 from home and stored them in the 309, and took the final two seat backs to be recovered at Jessen.
Miscellaneous sorting of parts in the 321.
Tuesday, December 6
308:
I looked at the windows which Mark had worked on. I put Bondo on a couple of them which had gaps.
I brought the third rail beam into the shop and installed some more bolts; attached the third rail assembly.
Sunday, November 27 (Mark Engelbrecht):
I sanded down the two frames with the Bondo, and "re-Bondoed"a few crevices on one frame and sanded it down some more. I then put a second coat of primer on both frames and let them dry on the northwest corner of the shop.
Tuesday, December 13
308:
I went to the barn to check the cars, and got a can of Fleet Grey from the 321for Mark to use.
I removed the two sheet metal pieces for holding the fuse from the old third rail beam, wire-brushed them, and installed them on the new beam.
I made a new piece of metal for holding the bolt head and installed it. May need to be adjusted somewhat.
Monday, 19 December 2005
308:
1. All metal parts were removed from the #1L side door (now in the shop) and needle-chipped.
2. The inside of the #1L side door frame was sanded.
3. I inspected the windows Mark was working on. All were primed, and that looks good. One of them he tried painting Fleet Grey. The side and top rails are fine, but along the bottom the paint won't dry and I can't sand or scrape it. I'll have to heat-strip the bottom rail and re-sand and repaint it. Oh well.
Misc:
1. Wes Lloyd and I took the tarp off THI&E 50 and visually inspected the car prior to commencement of cosmetic restoration work.
2. There's been a lot of talk about Brookins. At Saturday's board meeting it was decided to send a "letter of interest" in 319, 409, 453 and 458, the four cars Brookins has preliminarily deemed non-core. The general consensus is that if we get 319, 321 will be deaccessed.
Tuesday, 20 December 2005
308:
1. I wire-wheeled and primed all of the #1L side door metal strips and the exterior plate.
2. I stripped the #1L door frame, sanded and Bondo'd it.
3. I sanded and primed the interior side of the #1L door drop sash; the exterior was previously primed by Mark.
4. I primed the toilet window sticks and put a second coat of primer on the exterior of the toilet window frame itself.
5. I Bondo'd the repro first aid kit.
6. Gerry Dettloff and I put two C6 controllers into THI&E 50. One of them was the controller out of the #1 end of the 308.
Tuesday, December 20
308:
I stopped by to check on progress; talked with Bruneau about the third rail beam.
Looked at the 50 with Frank.
Dropped off a piece of material for possible use as door sweeps.
Wednesday, 21 December 2005 [Frank]
308:
1. Sanded Bondo on first aid kit and 1L side door and primed both
2. Obtained rubber for bottom of 1L side door from Bruneau
Misc:
1. With Gerry Dettloff and Jim Heinlein, installed new anchor casting on LSE 150
Friday, December 23
308:
I put spare 318/321 windows in all the blank spaces to close up the car.
I vacuumed out the main compartment, then applied a coat of brown primer to the entire floor of the main compartment.
I worked some more on the trap door for the #2R corner; after installing the metal strip, I got the trap to fit in place. Hinges not yet installed completely.
I brought the last four recovered seat backs from home and put them in the 309 for storage.
Worked on the third rail beam in the shop. I widened out the mortises for the two metal safety washers and got them to fit; painted with primer. New lock washers installed to hold the third rail bracket, since one of the old ones broke. Also installed the bolt for holding the fuse.
Selected a piece of wood to finish the new ceiling piece in the #2 vestibule; not yet cut to shape.
Monday:
308:
1. Second coat of primer on inside of #1L door frame; touched up primer on #1L ext. door plate
2. First coat of Fleet Grey on one of the previously primed side windows
3. Sanded and primed first aid kit
4. First coat of blue on #1L door metal trim strips and on int. side of #1L door drop sash
THI&E 50:
1. Worked with Andy Sunderland to remove almost all homeowner-installed sheet metal from side of THI&E 50.
Tuesday:
308:
1. Painted #1L ext. door plate blue
2. Removed grab from body corner post at #1L corner and sanded bottom half of that post (until I ran out of 150-grit sandpaper). Wire-wheeled
end castings of grab; tube will have to be lightly sanded prior to repainting grey.
3. Removed weatherstripping from inboard half of #1L door frame and brought into shop for wire-wheeling and repainting.
IR 205:
1. Needle-chipped and primed two of the trolley base stands for IR 205.
THI&E 50:
1. Removed rotten siding and sub-siding from THI&E 50.
2. Removed a side window from THI&E 50 for use as a pattern for possibly making new ones
Misc:
1. The gallons of paint we had stored in the shop are now in the new fireproof cabinet.
Tuesday, December 27
308:
Worked on the third rail beam in the shop. The bolts holding the sleet scraper mechanism had to be reversed. I planed a piece of poplar to ½” and cut out two pieces for the top of the beam, to cover the bolts. Painted with primer and installed.
I cut the piece of wood for the vestibule ceiling to shape.
Misc.:
Talked to Frank, talked to Bruneau about Brookins, looked at the 50 (“Clinton”) again.
Friday, December 30
308:
I modified the mortises for the hinges and re-installed the trap door at the #2R corner. The metal strap on the platform needs the rest of the screws installed.
I worked on the last non-functional light circuit, and finally got all of the lights in the car working for the first time.
I started painting the floor in the main compartment with a first finish brown – sectors 9-10 and 18½ -20. Includes the foot rests.
I cut down the piece of wood for the vestibule ceiling a little and put it in place. Not yet painted.
321:
I used the router and sander to round off the edges on the window sill piece for sectors 27-28.
Saturday, 31 December 2005:
308:
1. Bob Heinlein and Rich Schauer finished repairing the #2 end retriever, which had failed in September, and Rich and I reinstalled it on the car in place of the one from CNS&M 251.
2. The #1 end retriever, which was not taking up the rope, was removed and brought into the shop. Bob Heinlein and Rich Schauer disassembled
the take-up portion and determined the spring was broken. Dan Gornstein ground a bolt for use in winding the spring and removed it, at which point it was found to be riveted at the end. Dan was working on finding rivets to re-rivet the spring when I left at 5:15.
3. I spot-primed the inside of the #1L door frame.
4. I reinstalled the glass in the #1L door drop sash and put a first coat of blue on the inside of the sash.
5. I sanded the #1L body corner post as far up as the lead strip. I also stripped the paint off of the #1L platform corner post, which had never been done.
THI&E 50:
1. I took a section of the sub-siding into the shop. It is 13/16" thick and the lengths of sub-siding are 10" high. It should not be a problem to replace them with either 3/4" plywood or milled boards, if we choose to do that.
2. I talked with Kutella about belt rail replacement and he agreed that combining 1-1/2" diameter half-rounds with angle-cut 2x4's should provide a fair replacement. He talked with Bruneau about making new windows; Bruneau wanted them pine but Kutella suggested Poplar instead.
Misc:
1. Nick is at Brookins today looking over the "non-core collection" (i.e. CA&E 319, 409, 453 and 458). Dan Gornstein, who has been talking with Nick, is fairly certain that we will get these cars.
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