Illinois Railway Museum Blog

This entry will be picture heavy - we accomplished something with the reinvigorated and larger project team that has been in the works for some time.  Inside the car body is a large sheet metal ceiling panel for the rear end of the car.  We have been tripping over it, moving it, and even cleaning and priming it.  But it is too large to remove from the car for storage elsewhere, so the logical step is to install it where it belongs.

Up in the Air

Here the so called 'clamshell' is already up in the air.  Shown is Frank Sirinek fastening new screws into the rear margin while Dave Rogan mans a brace to keep it in position.  The exciting part was getting six guys into a cramped space to do the heavy lifting and wrestle the ungainly piece into place.  Lorne Tweed, Dave Rogan, Frank Sirinek, Buzz Morisette, Victor Humphreys, and Bob Kutella helped.

Screwed

There are a precious few screws holding the rear edge into place, while Dave Rogan and Lorne Tweed try to align and place some fasteners along the front edge.

Advice

Lorne is adding more screws while Frank Sirinek offers advice.  Frank might justifiably be nicknamed "Mr PCC" on site and he cheerfully stopped what he was working on and joined the crew.

Almost There

I said I took too many pics, this one from the outside through a window while Frank, Lorne and Dave add more screws.

Priming

In the shop, Simon Harrison was applying new primer to some of the panels cleaned last weekend and is explaining the finer points to Dave Rogan.

Done

So here it is, looking for all the world like it has been there all along.  But a milestone nevertheless as the restoration moves forward.  NEXT?  There is another 'clamshell' waiting for attention, to be installed in the front end.