Alex Randow continued removing paint from the rear ceiling liner, now down from the ceiling and leaning inside the car. Sort of dusty in there, or a soft mood shot by my camera.
Part of the process to install the side windows is the needed window post cap in the interior. There are many of the originals that have been saved, but among them all, we only found one in decent shape. Various degrees of rust out and corrosion made most of the rest good candidates for repair or replacement. Ed Grzesik is eyeballing one.
Eric Lorenz was able to produce many fabrication and detail drawings for these very pieces. Frank Sirinek, Ed, Eric Lorenz, and Lorne Tweed are checking them out.
The decision was made to try to repair them, fitting and welding in new metal where needed. But they are not exactly one straight piece. There is a bend of a few degrees near the bottom, reflecting the shape of the car side and framing. Lorne and Ed are discussing ways to create a fixture to hold the alignment while welding is done.
Ed is a great practitioner of the dark art of metal fabricating, but clearly seems at a loss while Lorne makes sawdust, cutting some parts for the above fixture.
Ed has the fixture standing up at a welding bench near the east doors of Barn 4, marking and planning the first cuts. Next, he begins surgery to remove the bad areas on one of the post caps.
With the wheelsets out of one truck, the bearing surfaces were being cleaned up and wrapped to protect them during the next steps at the machine shop.
Then it was time for a SWITCH MOVE!! This can either inspire terror in the hearts of the crew assigned to do this, or awe and lots of pics snapped by the bystanders. We needed TM 972 back in Barn 4, behind three cars at the west end of Track 41. And it started the day four cars deep on Track 83.
About 4 PM here it came, heading east into Barn 4. I cannot remember the last time this car may have been on this track; and it was moved here to pull the remaining original truck from beneath the car, then to remove the wheelsets on that.
One of the byproducts of any such planned string of moves is the appearance outdoors of cars that seldom see daylight. Here, SS 68 rests on track 43 to the west of Barn 4. Later it motored under its own power to a new spot inside Barn 8 for the coming winter months.
Comments
Thu, 05-16-2013 21:52
Looking good Bob! I hope to come out soon once I'm done with school.
Wed, 05-15-2013 21:28
I was not around at the time. General discussion suggests that it was "pretty marginal" in a number of areas. Nigel
Mon, 05-13-2013 11:08
"THUMBS UP!"
Fri, 05-10-2013 02:15
No, it will not be necessary to hold any of the work waiting for the plow to be turned, end for end. Weather will be the major factor, but there will [...]
Thu, 05-09-2013 19:54
The CGW X-38 plow is really coming to life. Bob Kutella and Vic and crew need to be very proud of your collective efforts. I am very appreciative of [...]
Thu, 05-09-2013 15:20
The snowplow looks great! Are you going to apply the door and upper windows befor it is turned to continue work?
Thu, 05-09-2013 09:09
Max, Is there any progress to report yet, in regards to the installation of the poles and overhead wires? Have a good day, sir.
Wed, 05-08-2013 18:40
Thanks for the update! I still don't understand why Commonwealth #5 was removed from service. Do you know why?
Tue, 05-07-2013 09:28
Mr. Kolanowski.....I was just wondering if the Spaulding webcam will be up and running soon for us stay-at-homes. Thanks!2FP
Mon, 05-06-2013 23:04
Max, Has work begun yet on the construction phase of erecting the poles and putting up the wire? Wish I could be there to watch it happen.
Mon, 05-06-2013 23:02
Keep up the good work, Bob. Wish I could be there to help!!!!!!!
Sun, 05-05-2013 18:53
Ah yes, I have made such Jibs myself. If it were me, I would add in each corner an angled piece from the base to the Jib to act as sway bracing. [...]