Freight Car Department

Sorry for no pics but little opportunity to tote a camera around with the work being done.

This was a GRUELING weekend in high heat and humidity but a substantial amount of work done in many departments.  For the Freight Department there were 26 pieces of equipment inspected.  Passed - 3 cabooses and 21 freight cars.  Failed - two freight cars.  So STAY TUNED for some real work during some of the planned Diesel Days operations next weekend.

I would be remiss if it was not recognized that this could not have been done without the cooperation and active participation of the Internal Combustion Department.  During the preceeding week, an enormous amount of switching and shuffling of cars was needed to get them out of the Barns and yards and into position.  On both Saturday and Sunday they also supplied a locomotive, operator, and two to four additional volunteers to help as inspectors, car knockers, and gophers.  Thank you all.

We are also putting plans into place for July 24 to have a dedication of the CHEVRON financed restoration of tank car IRCX 1277 and thanks to Dan Fenlaciki for giving this a quick wash job last night.  A special train will operate and that will include the unveiling of UTLX 17222 in its newly completed restoration, and a rider caboose, CGW 601.

As we note in other planning, any number of things can go wrong or cause a delay, but that is a peek under the tent as things stand now.

There was additional lettering applied to URTX 26640, several windows glazed and painted for the CA&E cars, a motor and truck swap on the CTA single cars, a massive barn reorganization switch move for the Electric Car Department - lots of cars to see and photograph in their rare few hours exposure to daylight and fresh air, restoration progress on the Vera Cruz 19, painting on the CTS 4223, CTA 1797 door work, re-upholstered seats unpacked for the TM 972, the list goes on and on.  Oh, did we mention that the Steam Department re-installed the fifth driver set under the decapod in a MARATHON Saturday work session?

A very long and very hot weekend.  They had predicted rain Sunday afternoon and most of Monday , but none of that happened during our operating hours.  Much ado and activity regarding the Trolley Parade and we also hosted a Large Scale Trolley modeling event as has been our custom in recent years.  Not too much time for me to lug around the camera and snap images, burning electrons along the way, but here is one of the modelers group.

Modelers Group

There was also a lot of other activity in many areas.

John Frett has been working hard to do some maintenance and painting on the Thrall Door car, and trust me, painting on the roof in the recent hot weather is no picnic.

We finally had a chance to begin maintenance and inspections Saturday, for our freight car and caboose fleet.  Time was cut short due to an Electric Car Department meeting so we did not manage to complete even one car in good working order.  Thanks to Victor Humphreys, Gerry Dettloff, and 'visiting fireman' David Johnston from California for the fine work.  By way of example, there was accumulated water in some of the journal boxes requiring they be pumped out and refilled with fresh oil.  A crack in the coupler on the UP caboose, meaning a change in the wind there.  Two bad angle cocks, stuck hand brakes, missing brake shoes, one bad journal box cover, and the list goes on.

For the Sand Springs 68, the final ceiling light fixture has been repaired and installed.

I also managed to continue applying lettering on the URTX 26640.  Forty five characters, which seemed little enough, placed in the context of how much goes on the side of that car.

The wood shop crew took the bait and we now have four newly glazed drop sash windows for the CA&E 409 and they are installed.  Thanks in large measure to Rich Witt and Kirk Warner!

By Monday afternoon I started tackling some of the work needed to remove the defective coupler from UP 3786.  I had a very able assistant in the person of Gwyn Stupar.  Heavy wrenches, stuck bolts, and broken parts.

We were very lucky to have Kirk Warner back for a short visit from the South.  Kirk is very good at taking pics which can sometimes be problematic for me while I am doing the work.

Layout

Victor Humphreys assists while Bob Kutella applies a transfer pattern to the A end of the car.

Tracing

The next step is for me to trace the layout lines onto the car end, to be followed by taping and masking much of that.

Painting

Next is to get out the paint.  In this case after the sun had moved enough to cool the area down from when it was in direct sun.

Done

The number and end reporting marks are done on the A end.  This completes all lettering on the A end.  We will probably have to move the car a bit east to have enough room to set up scaffolding for the B end lettering.

Touch Up

Buzz Morisette touches up the newly applied MILW heralds.

South Side

And here is a shot of the south side with all lettering done there, the MILW herald, and only some minor paint work remaining.