Before we get to Jewell Road, we'll look at some other current projects. I'm working on trying to reproduce the finish on the insides of the 18's windows. Here we start with a new bottom rail, which as you can see is poplar.
After staining it dark mahogany and dabbing black paint onto it, the rail looks more like the original finish on the stiles and top rail. Among other things, I probably will try flat black next time. Gloss black was all I had on hand.
And here's what the above window looks like when installed.
I also replaced two of the remaining 318 windows with recently repainted ones. We now have only one 318 window in the car, which I'll need to keep moving around as the originals get refinished one by one. Here's the next one to be a guinea pig.
Meanwhile, Gerry continues work on the 306, installing electrical parts on the roof. Holding onto the trolley wire to steady yourself is safer than it looks -- the wire inside the barn has been disconnected for a while.
And inside the 1808 cocoon, Tim continues to install light fixtures and molding strips.
And then, outside, blocking the street, Jeff, Gregg, and Tim were busy stringing lights on this locomotive. That ought to make people happy!
Monday was unseasonably warm and sunny, so it was a not-to-be-missed opportunity to continue painting the Jewell Road shelter before winter sets in. I finished scraping down the siding on the front (south) side and applied white primer. Several boards need to be replaced, so it would be a waste of time to paint them. I will also be replacing the door frame. Otherwise, it looks pretty good.
I carefully measured the vertical spacing of the boards. The spacing varies quite a bit, and in many cases the boards are not even parallel, but it comes out to usually between 7 1/2" and 8". The 1x8 boards that are generally available nowadays are 7 1/4" wide, so I'll have to buy 1x10s and rip them. Anyway, making new siding should be fun.
The paint cans tell you not to paint in direct sun, but follow the shade around the house. That doesn't work on the south side, of course, but after lunch I put some more finish paint, both blue and red, on the east side of the shelter -- as high as I could reach.
And some blue on the right side of the front.
So for now, painting is complete on both the north and east sides of the building. Some of the boards on the east side will also need to be replaced.
7 comments:
Randy, with all these layers, you are becoming an excellent Trolley Mottle Builder. The results are looking pretty good.
Had you considered restoring the old siding on the shelter with Abatron? It will be hard to replicate the patina, randomness and warpage of the old boards of that primitive shelter. Is it possible that a few pieces of good wood might stick out as odd? Only half kidding. Glad to see it coming along and looking better.
O. Anderson
A wire brush might help roughen up the look of the wood
I had thought about this issue, of course. Most of the siding is actually in pretty good shape, and only a few boards are badly split enough to replace. And once it's all painted I don't believe anyone will notice. Have you ever looked closely at the siding on the Marengo depot, for instance? No, I didn't think so.
Randy,
Please remind us about the history of this building? What railway was Jewell Road on. Where was the shelter before it came to Union?
Ted Miles, long time reader
OK, Ted, I'll be glad to. This is a waiting shelter from the CA&E that was located at the Jewell Road crossing on the north side of Wheaton. We don't know exactly when it was built. After the line was abandoned, it was acquired by Jim Johnson and moved to his property. After he died, it was donated along with all the rest of his vast holdings to IRM and moved to the museum. I hope that answers most of your questions.
Randy,
Thanks for the information; it is what I thought it was. A old issue of Rail & Wire showed them moving artifacts from the Jewlie Johnson home including this item. I am glad you are giving another small piece of the C, A & E some tender loving care. It looks better each week.
TM IRM Member
I just looked that up, it's issue 231. The thing that strikes me is that the picture of the shelter being moved from the Johnson estate in 2012 shows it with brand new paint, it appears. That's eleven years ago, so that paint job went bad in a hurry, at least compared to the paint on our wooden cars stored inside. I don't know how or by whom it was painted. I can only hope the paint I'm putting on now will last a little better.
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