Trolley Bus 441 Update

It's been a while since we've had an update on our Milwaukee Marmon-Herrington trolley bus, 441, which is off-site for professional exterior restoration and painting. This is because the body shop has been unusually busy, so a less urgent project like ours gets delayed. But work has resumed, and Richard Schauer has sent along the latest news.

Work continues at a more normal speed on 441, with the curb side now nearing completion of the sanding and leveling step.  The picture which just shows the side was taken on Thursday the 6th, and the picture showing the entire side and part of the front was taken a week later on the 13th.  No unexpected problems were found; in fact the body on this side was in excellent condition.

The remaining steps include metal replacement and sanding/leveling on the front, welding, straightening, and re-chroming the front bumper, test priming and filling any remaining problem spots, final priming, and painting.  For the lettering, masks will be used to "letter under" the paint, so that will be done at the body shop instead of at IRM after it is returned.  (9631 was "lettered over," so I took care of that at IRM.  We replicate whatever the transit company did, in both cases.)

Remember, we can do more of these relatively turn-key bus/trolley bus restorations by contracting the work out to the body shop - just pick your favorite bus and have your checkbook ready!