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Thursday, October 20. 2011GN 70104 Update - October 19, 2011The day proved borderline too cold to risk applying some more paint on the hopper car.  GREAT So we spent some time cutting additional patterns and transfer stencils and then applying them to the car.  NO-T---- In this way the images are already transferred to the car side and ready for paint on the next warmer day. Thursday, October 20. 2011Wood Shop Update - October 19, 2011Today will be a series of short posts - lots going on with MANY projects.  Sign Frame Henry Vincent has designed and is building a substantial frame toward displaying a vintage Pennsylvania photo mural.  Trimming Rich Witt assists Henry in trimming off a ragged edge on the mural. This had been stored and moved for many years at IRM and some damage resulted from the handling. Volunteer Bill Leiter has promised to use his graphic arts experience to help restore some of the damaged areas.  Canvasing I know this is a poor image but a tough environment to get a better one. Tim Peters and Frank Sirinek spent most of the day stretching and tacking down new canvas on the roof of wood car CRT 1979.  Siding Henry Vincent and Gerry Dettloff spent part of the afternoon installing new siding on Lake Shore Electric 810. Tuesday, October 18. 2011GN 70104 Update - October 15-16, 2011It is a 'process'. We finally completed the milestone event of having the carbody repainted and it looks great. Now, on to applying a fairly elaborate lettering scheme. This began years ago researching the scheme, acquiring copies of old photos, tracing what remnants remained of the old lettering, redrawing most of it, some on a computer CAD system, getting that printed full scale, and cutting out transfer patterns and stencils.  It Begins Finally it was time to put the icing on the cake. The first transfer pattern is positioned in place on the car.  Big G And the first letter painted on the car! The bright white lettering provides a marked contrast and snaps out the red. The car remains inside Barn 4 for the time being, so some of these shots will be color challenged in the dim light.  Next Patterns The patterns for the next three letters have been placed on the side. Can you guess what this string will say?  Big N Each letter is painted by hand, in this case with a half inch brush and premium lettering enamel.  The First Four Here is the progress as of Sunday night. It is starting to take shape. Tuesday, October 18. 2011CTS 4223 Update - October 15, 2011Following the recent pattern, there were several volunteers pitching in on the Cleveland PCC  Sandblasting Alex Randow began the day by sandblasting over 100 fasteners to be ready for priming and painting.  Removal Inside the PCC car are two large ceiling panels that some have referred to as 'clamshells'. When the body dismantling was done years ago to make steel repairs, these remained inside the car. Now we are faced with removing old paint and refinishing them INSIDE THE CAR! That is both good news and bad news. Right now they are too large to remove through the door openings, and if they had been removed earlier, they would be too large to get back in. Here, Lorne Tweed is removing old light fixtures and other hardware on the one that goes in the rear of the car ceiling.  Goodbye Paint Alex Randow 'volunteered' to start the old paint removal. Actually he was quite cheerful about it, not needing serious arm twisting. He is doing a fine job as you can see on the upper portion of this panel.  Welding Ed Grzesik returned to continue welding repairs on the front dashboard area. Of course any volunteer usually earns a nickname. In Ed's case his fine work resulted in fellow workers referring to him as "THE WELDER" in a reverent tone.  Side Windows Eric Lorenz has been kept very busy sorting out the next steps and keeping the new volunteers busy. But he managed to start work on the first of the side windows. Here he is installing two of the old extruded aluminum window tracks.  First One Here is the first side window installed as sort of a test to determine fit and any repairs needed to install those many old parts in the car openings. This will be a long process with many parts needing to be cleaned and repaired, holes to be drilled and tapped. But here is a hint of what each window will look like as they are in place. Monday, October 17. 2011ME 28 Update - October 16, 2011 End Roof We are often asked how a curved roof is constructed on the interurban cars. Here, Jeff Brady continues to show us, one thin strip of wood at a time.  Windows It must seem like half of the posts here are about windows. That may be true, but so do windows consume a lot of volunteer hours. Norm Krentel peeks out behind Ray Schmid as they are removing windows from the south side of the car, prepping to have them restored. Monday, October 17. 2011Track 31 Update - October 15-16, 2011There was a lot going on this weekend so I will post a few pics and short report on the project to rebuild 31 Track and some work on the turnouts leading there, to start out the posts this week.  Spiking New Switch Ties There was a large track crew on hand, here seen spiking in new switch ties at the first switch in Yard 3.  Replacing Switch Ties The old ties were pulled out and new ones slid in under the rails.  Tamping On Sunday a mechanized tamper ventured inside the dark confines of Barn 3 to make the first tamp on the new track and gravel. Adam Robillard was at the controls. Friday, October 14. 2011GN 70104 Update - October 14, 2011CHAPTER 3 !!! RED !!! Monday dawned with a clear blue sky and the game was on. This entire project was beset with hurdles to be conquered and in this case the supplier did not have the color mixed or the quantity needed.  B End The underbody and hoppers are done, and started on the end.  B End Frank Sirinek had to shoot an image of me in my paint spattered clothes.  B End  Moving Along The A end has been painted, which you may see toward the far end of the car.  Left Side As they started on the left side, you really had the impact of this color, for the first time.  Closer  Closer Almost done with the left side as we remained in the safe zone, fascinated and unable to stop clicking the shutter.  First Coat Almost Done WOW!  Next Morning The car is being pulled out of the Barn for the next day's work, resplendent in shiny red paint.  Second Coat  Almost Done The second coat really popped out the color and made a big difference. And for those of you asking (many did), we did not paint the inside. I have the specifications for the car as built, and no, the inside was not painted when new from the factory.  Yaremko Photo, Staffan Ehnbom Collection You may ask what is next, so here is a very old faded color image of a car in the same series, fully lettered as we intend to do. Please help out with your donations. Money is needed, and we spend it carefully, this is an active project. Fund R 70104 |
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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. [...]