Freight Car Department

Kind of an odd weather day so we danced around the conditions and still got some work done.  There were a few hours of much needed rain and drizzle, except when I got home and found a dry bottom in my rain bucket.  It started hot, we got some 'liquid sunshine' and then it got REALLY HOT and STEAMY.

Old Floor

I spent some time inside chopping four mortises by hand for four new doorposts and then thought I could do some work inside the X 38 carbody, rain or shine.  Of course once I got set up and the tools out, it was only shine and the inside was more of an oven. 

Late in its career the C&NW installed some sheets of very cheap OSB over the floor.  Some were already gone so I attacked the next one.  I suppose it was not totally unexpected but under that one, where the oil stove sat, we uncovered evidence of a small fire, three floor boards charred and two holes about the size of tennis balls burned completely through the decking.  We have the opportunity to make the repairs now, so on balance, a good thing to make the discovery.