Trolley Bus Painting Update

Thanks to Richard Schauer, who on Wednesday sent this update of the recent rapid progress on Milwaukee trolley bus 441, which is off-site for exterior restoration and painting.

441 is in the home stretch at the body shop.  I met today with the foreman and painter and discussed the remaining tasks and the finish painting arrangements.  As you will see in the pictures, the windows are all masked and the plan is to prime the entire bus tomorrow.  There are still a couple small items on the punch list for them to take care of before priming, including edge-welding the new front sheet into the old sheet.  This is planned for tomorrow morning.  After this, the prime coat will be sanded smooth, any imperfections fixed and spot-primed, and then when it gets a paint booth time slot, in it goes.  The painter plans to paint the roof color first, in contrast to 9631, to avoid any chance of overspray on the detailed striping and lettering.  It is still possible that 441 will leave the body shop before the end of the month.