Today had a lot of interesting things going on, with pictures I'm sure you'll enjoy. Apart from the interesting things, I worked some more on one of the bearings for the 309 which needs to be remachined. I wound up taking it home. But let's see what other people were doing, as that will be a lot more exciting!
First of all, Dave wanted me to show the amazing work that is in progress in the Central Diner. Contractors (one of whom is seen below) were hired to reproduce the corrugated metal panels behind the counter as seen here, and they have now been installed. It looks fabulous! Of course, there's lots more to be done, but this will eventually be a central part of our Main Street city.
Next, Phil and Gerry continue their thorough restoration of the 306's interior. Here we see Phil installing molding strips in the ceiling. When he ran out of the correct screws, I was able to help with some of the right type that were left over from the last interior job I did.
And the wiring for the (single) interior light circuit is nearly complete.
Also, the floor of the smoker has been primed.
As Frank mentioned before, the horse car is now in Barn 4 temporarily, which gave me the opportunity to get some good pictures of the interior.
A Stephenson pedestal bearing.
And here's the artistic interior, with its hand-painted scenery. I'm certainly glad we don't need to restore this:
The metal channels are for collecting coins from the passengers:
This car is in incredible condition for something built in 1859. It will be a stunning centerpiece for our new Visitor Center, when that gets built.
Finally, I'm afraid that vandalism is a constant concern in this business. While I was in Barn 4, some miscreant with a portable jackhammer drove in and started breaking up the concrete floor near the pit, as seen here. It went quickly, and before I could get his picture for the FBI, he drove away and made a clean break of it.
Well, I guess there's nothing to be done now but to shovel out the fragments and pour new concrete. That may actually be an improvement. But I hate it when people get away with things like that!
Be that as it may, you'll want to buy your tickets for Day Out With Thomas soon, before we're sold out!
8 comments:
I have been in several horse cars; but never like one like that! It is an amazing
survivor from long ago. Thank you for a look at it! TM IRM Member
To bad Dobbin is not available for a few trips down Main street. He looks so handsome in his straw hat.
How about electroburgers in the central diner?
C Kronenwetter
I don't believe we will actually be able to use the historic diner for serving food because the original fixtures don't meet modern standards, and the county is very strict about these things, of course. But I could be wrong.
Don't have to cook them there,. only deliver them from the adjacent cafeteria.
C Kronenwetter
The operator platform on the horsecar doesn't look quite right in the picture. Is it bent up for some reason?
That's for mounting the rubber tires under the car, and the ones in front need to be steerable.
Also, I should point out that there's a good picture of our horse car in 1926 in a post on the Trolley Dodger: https://thetrolleydodger.com/2015/03/29/chicago-streetcars-in-black-and-white-part-3/
As far as I can see its condition was the same then as it is now, except perhaps for the rubber tire attachments.
It was fun to ride the horsecar in a loop over the gravel roads that circled barn 8 (10 now). O. Anderson
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