Electric Car Department

Windows

With the first snowflakes falling outside the shop window, Rich Witt has come up with a time saving idea and he is trying it out on the first sash of the day.  IT WORKS!!  Behind him, John Nelligan works to restore an electrical switch for the locomotive, Charles City Western 300.

Production Line

In short order, a production line was set up and many of the sash were successfully cleaned up for this car.  Nancy Ring, Simon Harrison, Lorne Tweed, and Rich Witt turn to the task.

In the Car

Out in the barn, several folks chipped in for the heavy lifting.  A lot of the stored parts inside were moved and organized, and new sheets of plywood installed on the floor for a safer work environment.  Here, Simon Harrison and Lorne Tweed work to be ready to lift and install the first clamshell (rear ceiling headlining) to the ceiling.

We have had to wait about 16 weeks for the new tires to be manufactured for this project.  The waiting is over!  They are done, have been shipped, and are probably on the road north to Illinois as I type.

Coming Out Party

Not exactly a party but a cause to rejoice nevertheless.  The 972 came out of Barn 4 to the east for moving into position for the next stage.  If you think it looks odd, that is due to the right hand end being up in the air on a shop truck.

Set Aside

Then into the pocket on track 40, to allow for the next move in this chess game.  It was a bit tricky getting it to negotiate the diverging side of this track switch, but accomplished without incident.

Going Up

The car is inched east for secure footing on the concrete apron of Track 41. Joel Ahrendt is placing heavy car stands for use after the car is in the air.  I was not able to stay to witness the fact, but it is confirmed that the second original truck is out from under the car and ready to be disassembled.

We are very close to reaching the fundraising goal set at the beginning of this project earlier this year.  Yes, THIS YEAR!  That is really fast progress judged by any preservation or restoration project.  Please help out on this, large or small donation to help us reach the goal, and maybe to provide a little extra, as any unforeseen repairs crop up along the way.  It is not too late to send your help to restricted fund RTMS.

Small Window

Rich Witt started out with one of the small side windows for this car, working by hand to remove dirt, crud, and corrosion.  We are still experimenting to try to make better use of power tools for this job.

Large Window

By Saturday Rich has completed some of the small ones and attacked the first of the larger sash.  This car has two sash for each side window, something that may seem foreign to Chicago natives.  The smaller one fits in the bottom of the window opening and is fixed in place to prevent arms and elbows from hanging outside the car.  The larger one rests on top of that and can be raised and lowered.

Other work continued on the project with drawings prepared and orders let for new sheet metal fabrications needed to complete the side window work and interior trim.  It all goes together like a puzzle, with the bottom wainscotting the first piece to be installed.  Lorne Tweed also did some painting in the front dash area and worked to make jigs and fixtures for installing the first piece of interior headlining.