Chicago Great Western X 38 Russell Snow Plow

Artwork

My personal goal for the day was to see about applying the first lettering to the north side.  During the week, I pored over photographs, worked hours at the computer using a drafting program, and resolved font and sizing issues.  I printed out the needed art patchwork on my small home printer and proceeded to tape and stitch it together.  This paper 'stencil' merely serves to transfer the pattern to the side of the equipment.  After tracing on to the car side, the stencil is removed and we use a fairly small brush to apply special white lettering enamel.

Halfway

We are halfway there and you can see it taking shape.  I do this very slowly, slower with each passing year.  I am sure a professional sign painter would have long completed these three characters by now.

Done

But we muddled through it and now the plow carries its proper CGW number after an absence of such identification of over 40 years.

South Side

Work began on the south side of the plow with Jim Leonard placing a half dozen new carriage bolts to anchor internal timbers to the steel sides.  This included removal of the old bolts, cleaning and priming the areas around the bolts, and then installing the new ones and tightening everything up.  Jim made some more progress on the south door threshhold and fit issues are resolved, with the cast plate in for machine shop work.

North Window

Jim moved on the new framing for the north window.  Each piece had to be squared, adjusted to fit, and bolted firmly in place.  It looks good, now we better get some maroon paint on those shiny boltheads and new wood.

Bonus Work

Long time volunteers Ray Pollice and Gerry McGonigal were on hand and pitched in.  They are removing the old paint and rust from areas of the front nose and plow faces.  Little by little, a patch at a time, a substantial amount of the surfaces have been cleaned and primed.

As mentioned previously, the weather was good, and we had a good sized crew for the project.

Sanding

Dave Rogan and Jim Leonard started the day by setting up the scaffold and sanding down the maroon paint applied two weeks ago.  Just one of the necessary steps before applying the second coat of the finish paint.

Painting

Victor Humphreys took over and we now have smoother shiny maroon on all that area.

Rear Window

The new rear window sill was installed, and new molding added for stop jambs on the top and each side of the opening.  Jim Leonard is adding the last one here.  The temporary plywood blank was cut down and installed and for now this opening will live that way through the winter.

South Door

Dave Rogan needlechipped below the south door opening.  It got primed and then they moved on to fitting the steel threshold.  That may involve a little more than we first thought.  Dave did some more neddlechipping on the rear wall and Fred Ash also helped out there for awhile.

A Frame Up

Jim Leonard is fitting into place and bolting in new framing timber for the window on the north side.  The rough timbers had been planed and sized previously, now to make them conform to the exact needs.  Rich Witt helped manning the shop drill presses and boring and counterboring the needed holes 'on demand'.  All four were installed at the end of the day.

The Nose

As soon as one task was done, the volunteers were ready and eager to move to the next.  Soon, we hope to finish cleaning the rear wall and some work got done on that today.  But as soon as the finish paint was being applied to the north side, we did not think it was a good idea to work right next to that operation.  So, the crew moved forward to the nose and began more needlechipping and wire brushing on the wedge face and knife metal.  It also helped reduce the noise in the rear areas where other work was being done on the plow.

SHOWCASE SHOW

We had very good weather for our annual Museum Showcase events.  On Saturday, the team working on the CGW snowplow planned to demonstrate the operation of the wings as they rotated out from the plow body to push snow wider from the right-of way.

A Gathering

Despite being announced only on various websites, a crowd began gathering well before the appointed hour of 1:30 PM.  It got larger and perhaps over 100 visitors watched the show.  And then we invited them to go inside the plow in a sort of OPEN HOUSE, and to try their hand at the controls so THEY could engage the wings and make them move.

Bob Vaughan Photo

In the cab, Dave Rogan took over instructing and guiding the visitors through the maze of piping and levers.  Many took advantage of this opportunity for the next hour.  Thanks to all who attended and who also were very generous in adding a donation to further the work of the project.  It all went as planned, and was very satisfying to see an entire summer's of work appreciated.

Bob Vaughan Photo

We are always reluctant to waste any time on a good weather day.  While last minute preparations for the demo were underway, Bob Kutella and Jim Leonard installed a cast steel door threshhold on the north side.  And then we added the trim molding to serve as stop jambs.

A Closer Look

By the end of the day Sunday, the doorway area was complete, the new molding glistening in fresh maroon paint and the threshold plate shiny black.  While the actual work was interrupted for the weekend to some extent, it was a good way to demonstrate work on an active project.  We also got some unexpected benefits as Bob Vaughan was visiting from downstate, and he donated a copy of original CGW artwork for the CORN BELT HERALD.  Another unexpected benefit was Mark Secco delivering the original air pressure gauge for our plow.  We know the plow was scheduled to be scrapped before we acquired it, and a lot of the air piping had been dismantled.  A fan got the gauge, perhaps as a sort of keepsake, but returned it this weekend to resume its correct place.  What are the odds of that happening after an intermission of seven months?

A good crew continued on the job today, much of the time preparing for Showcase Weekend.  Please stop by.

These Will Grab You

The grab irons, steps, and handrails have received their first coat of finish black on the northwest corner of the plow.  Inside work today included repairing and cleaning, prime painting of the two cast threshold plates, and priming of custom made moldings done last week.

Chipping Away At It

Dave Rogan was on the job all day, and here is chipping old paint and rust from the back wall of the plow.  We moved around a lot and tried to make best use of the nice weather today, although some said it was too hot.  Some needlechipping and wire brushing was done on the sloping nose of the plow up front, testing the access we have to reach some of those areas.

Paint

Saving the best image to last.  Victor Humphreys sanded and repainted a second coat of black on the plow wings and the side of the nose wedge.  It is really spiffy clean and shiny.  Come out and see for yourself!  That is really a deep, rich maroon.

These BLOG entries are delayed this week due to some largely self induced problems.  Special Thanks to Rod Turner for helping to resolve the issue.

This new acquisition has seen remarkable progress on several fronts since arriving at IRM earlier this year.  The volunteer team set some goals at the beginning of the season and most of those have been achieved!  The north side has been needle chipped, primed, and painted with its first finish coat of paint.  Chicago Great Western in 1950 lives on.  New wood framing has been fabricated and installed inside the box, air piping restored and the pneumatic plow wings are operational!  Floor areas are replaced and repaired, grab irons and handrails replaced and installed, and a steel wall panel that had been torched out has been welded in and replaced.  All in all, an aggressive plan achieved through the hard work and teamwork of many dedicated volunteers who have contributed a day or many days of regular work.  We never turn away anyone at any skill level.  You meet and enjoy like minded individuals, and can learn the workings of the equipment and gain new skill sets, yourself.

New Floors

Buzz Morisette has completed restoration of two floor areas, one which had a lot of rot, one which lived under the oil stove and had been burned through in a fire mishap years ago.  It is now much safer to climb aboard and explore the plow interior.

North Doorway

Jim Leonard is installing new sheet metal below the doorway, the piece had been fabricated by Victor Humphreys.

Maroon Paint

This is the first view of new dark maroon paint on the plow body, carefully matched to CGW color samples.  This pic is spoiled by a sun flash (also in my eyes), but shows that for now, not all the areas behind the plow wings can be so treated.  But with the plow wings retracted, the finished appearance will be correct and complete, and with the wings open you will see circa 1965 CGW orange paint.

First Maroon

This was a really exciting MILESTONE restoration day with six volunteers turning to the task of applying the first coat of maroon paint.  Weeks of needlechipping, wire brushing and priming were the basis for being ready to paint. Victor Humphreys is up in the air and attacking the side of the box.  Yes, it is a dark maroon, and in the shadows, with the sun low in your eyes, you have to look closely to appreciate it. 

Welcome Visitor

Gary Baker was visiting from the Orange Empire Museum in southern California and he quickly pitched in.  Here he is using the needlechipper to scale off many layers of dirt, rust and old paint on the nose of the plow wedge.

Marooned

Victor Humphreys and Jim Leonard are nearing the end of the painting work in the late afternoon, on the north side.

Black Also

Tom Bernacki was out to help, and he pitched in on many tasks.  He got a brush and some black paint and applied it to many areas primed and needing that treatment.  It is all about the details.

As mentioned elsewhere, the plow restoration is ready to show off this weekend at Museum Showcase.  At 1:30 PM Saturday please join us on Track 40 at the east end of Barn 4.  You will see the Russell Plow spread its wings, and be able to participate if you so wish.  If you enjoy the experience, a once in a lifetime rare opportunity, you may help by feeding a donation can with paper money or checks, to help keep the momentum going and the project ON TRACK.

If you cannot attend, please consider mailing in a donation to restricted fund R X 38.

Thanks!

As we set to work in the morning it was raining so we moved into the wood shop.  Dave Rogan, Rich Witt, and I manufactured about 50 feet of special profile molding (two different shapes) to act as stop jambs for the window and door openings.  The rain stopped so everyone shifted gears and went to our 'outdoors' shop space.

Floored

Buzz Morrisette was fastest on duty and he continues to cut out damaged flooring and to replace the heavy boards.

Visitor

Mr. Hans Bolt was visiting IRM from Switzerland and we showed him the plow work in progress.  Dave Rogan is explaining the mechanism for moving the plow wings.

Priming

Victor Humphreys set up ladders to work in tight places once we opened the plow wing.  He wirebrushed all the areas needlechipped of many layers of old paint, and then set about applying primer.

The Edge

It is pretty easy to see large flat areas of the side that are cleaned and ready for paint.  But there are a lot of odd details still needing attention.  Dave steadies the ladder while Victor gets to the upper rear edge of the wing.

Working not Watching

There is always some task ready for attention.  When Victor did not need a ground man for the high painting, Dave Rogan set up a needle chipper and began to attack the steps under the rear door.  Dave also did some work chipping the cast steel door threshholds during 'intermissions'.

QUIZ

Here is your quiz for the day.  The rear truck has casting marks indicating it was originally for the New York Central.  Interesting, but not unheard of for rail equipment to have had their trucks swapped for any number of reasons or maintenance.  But look at this image.  To the right of the bolster pocket there is a raised part of the casting, with a hole in it, and a slot behind that hole with a sheet metal retainer of some sort.  There is one on each side of the bolster pocket.  Does anyone have an idea what their purpose was??

We considered that these are freight car trucks.  Parts of the NYC ran from third rail but no reason to attach any kind of device to pick up current for a freight car, and unlikely there could have been any need for an inductance box or other device to be hung there, to trigger signal indications.

This will be a relatively short update.  We did not have a lot of volunteers, and many probably chose to spend the unofficial end of summer, Labor Day Weekend, with family or other pursuits.  But we did get a lot done.

Rear Wall

This is the rear wall, now nearly done.  Saturday we did some blacksmith work and straightened the metal above the rear window.  It had bowed inward about a half inch and there were sledgehammers swinging and some new words invented.  With the wall straight, we fabricated remaining window framing, primed it, and installed it, as seen here.  You can also see some of the bodywork and filler that has been applied to smooth out weld areas, where the missing metal panel was welded in below the window.

North Side

On the north side the goal is to have some finish paint applied very soon.  But needlechipping remained to be done in some fairly inaccessible areas.  Maybe that is why it was saved until last.  Look up under the small roof overhang behind the plow wing, half is cleaned up.  By days end, all had been chipped as well as the short notch wall behind the plow.  Of course that meant we got to charge up the air system and move the wing out, and then back in.  Obviously a railfan effort of fun, but we 'needed' to do it.

Front Anchor

On the front nose of the plow is a massive anchor casting and that is used to mount a front coupler when needed for ferry moves.  There really is no springing or draft gear in the traditional sense, merely a very stout pin to hold the coupler in place.  What you see could interfere with good snow removal and the air pipe and hangers often got damaged or bent in severe situations.  So it was made largely removable for winter operations.  There is also a train air pipe down to the coupler mounts, and when the coupler was removed, that pipe has a universal joint and the drop leg is swung back and over the plow roof, to rest upon it, in front of the cab cupola.  In the background, note the passenger department roof repairs underway on DM&IR 84.

Surely you modelers will want to include this detail on your masterpiece.  Walthers made a model of the Russell Plow in HO scale and while out of stock, they can be found on E bay.  This detail is not included on the model.  A little kitbashing and adding details and you will have a very credible model of the real thing, only found at IRM in Union IL.

Rare Visitor

I will digress strictly from the snow plow report, here, to show a rare visitor to Barn 4.  The Nebraska Zephyr is receiving a detailed inspection and some repairs in preparation for the upcoming excursion trip.

And in the Freight Car Department we completed a two and one half week blitz to repaint our Borden's Milk Car, BFIX 520.  We sanded, primed, and applied two coats of finish enamel to the top half of the car, as well a some washing and cleaning, and a repaint of the black handrails and grab irons.