Details, Details

I spent all day Wednesday working on various details of the 319, which will be in operation for Vintage Transport.  Some of these details are important, others are more cosmetic.

On Sunday Frank discovered that the coupler pin on the #1 end of the 309 doesn't fit into the angled hole.  It does fit into the center hole, but that's rather limiting.  I really can't explain why we never noticed this before -- I guess we have seldom coupled anything onto this end of the 309.

After looking in the material yard for spare pins that might work, the solution turned out to be simple.  I swapped pins with the 319, which was about three feet away.  Now all the oval pegs fit into the oval holes.

Then both of the 319 motorman's window shades needed adjustment, which is pretty straightforward.  You just wouldn't want to be running a Sunset Lines train without working shades.

Next, the thermostat was loose.  We don't actually use it, but it's embarrassing to have loose parts, and it could be a hazard.  It's been fixed.

Since the 319 has been wyed, a different set of grab irons is on the south side where passengers and crew will be using them.   One of them was loose and had to be fixed.   Yes, yes, maybe this isn't as exciting as stretching canvas, but somebody's got to do it.

The biggest project was fixing some of the exterior weatherstripping.  You can see here that at the #1 end it was partly rusted out and looking bad.

Luckily we have a parts car.  I went to the 321 and removed a few pieces of weatherstripping.  The interior weatherstripping is all in pretty good condition.  After cleaning off the old paint with a wire wheel and repainting it, it was installed on the 319.  It still needs some touch-up, but looks much better.

Finally, I coupled the 319 up to the 309 and 36 and tested the brakes on the three-car train.  There were no leaks at the gladhands or anywhere else, so everything seems to be operating OK.  

While strolling out to the 321, I noticed that the Zephyr was stored outside.

And that reminds me: you DO NOT want to miss Vintage Transport this year!  We are planning to have in operation:

Two three-car electric trains of wooden cars (CA&E and CRT)

Two steam trains (coach and caboose)

The Nebraska Zephyr, as seen above

(I suspect they'll find a matching locomotive somewhere on the property)

Three Chicago streetcars

Plus, of course, the largest antique car, bus, and truck show in Illinois!

You will not find anything like this anywhere else.  Or your money back.

So mark your calendar for Sunday, August 7th.  See you there!