Shaker Sunday

Frank writes...

Both of our Shaker Heights cars got some attention on Sunday. (Yes, yes, I know we have four ex-Shaker Heights cars, but two of them are being restored to previous lives. So there.)

The first job was to install the new steel U-channel that we had fabricated for the rear coupler on the 18. Success! It fits perfectly, so between this and the wear plate we made and installed a few weeks ago, the rear coupler is now "in service."

I don't think we really intend to make much use of it, though in theory we can mechanically couple to the 63 and tow it if we want to. But it's no longer drooping, which is a noticeable improvement, and the coupler shank is no longer trying to crush the control cables.

After some time in the afternoon working in Decatur Shop, which I'll get to in a moment, I masked and primed the stripe along the roof line all around the 63. Next, this will get maroon paint, and that should conclude the striping work on the car. I still need to touch up the grey around the edges of the roof, and paint the middle of the roof grey where I couldn't reach from a ladder, but the end of this paint job is in sight.

Brian was working on the Class B, and in addition to some air work, he is rebuilding a grid box and fixing up some of the interior equipment covers. I was happy to trace the original lettering off the cover shown above, after which Richard was able to hunt down the old set of brass letter stencils that Bruneau used to trot out occasionally. Success - they match almost perfectly. Who knows? It's even possible Bruneau got these from the IT, or from an IT employee who lunch-boxed them home or something.

That aforementioned air brake work involved replacing a small air tank inside the locomotive which had sprung a leak. A new tank was found in storage and taken over to the Steam Shop to be hydro tested. Here, a dour Jimmy plays the part of Slim Pickens while Brian L and a visiting Brian D from the Steam Team ride up front. Many thanks to Brian D for helping with this project!

Finally, GB&W 109 is still in Barn 4, and it's positively turning green with envy for the passenger cars that get to live in the nice, posh surroundings of Barn 3! But don't worry, it will make it back home to the barn next door sooner or later.