Entries by Robert Kutella

We will have a lot of news and pics to report in this entry and the one following.  Part of that was the on and off rain all day driving projects inside to the shop areas, and freeing me up somewhat to grab some pics.

Panels Above Windows

Lorne Tweed and Eric Lorenz started the day by installing the panels above the passenger windows on the left side of the car interior on Cleveland Transit System 4223.  Weeks of prep work have been involved and all of sudden they almost flew into place.  Even that may be a simplification since there are adjustments to be made and many holes to be drilled and tapped, screws to be driven.

Window Tracks

Dick Cubbage was on hand and he promptly went to work cleaning more window tracks for the 4223, so that the left side windows may go in.

PM Progress

By the afternoon Lorne and Eric had many of the earlier panels in pic one set and anchored and then they moved to a sort of fabricated zee section rail which mounts above the standee windows.  This view from the front of the car shows almost all of those in place!  Compare the pics in this entry.  I have been told these blog entries are the greatest collection of backside photos for Lorne and Eric, but it is their own fault for always working when I come by.

Grid Boxes

For many months the crew working on Charles City Western 300 have been rebuilding the seven grid boxes.  I bet it seemed like it would ever end to them, and so also to many of us watching on the sidelines.  Here you see them all in place mounted on the running board along one side of the engine hood.  John Faulhaber helped Pete Galayda and John Nelligan who are proudly smiling at this accomplishment.

Jointing

Rich Witt plows along almost unaided in his work to construct replica First Aid Boxes for our fleet of Chicago Aurora & Elgin cars.  The stock was jointed and planed today.

Steel

Major progress was seen on the northwest platform knee on Chicago Rapid Transit 1024 rapid transit car.  After much fussing, engineering, and fitting the revised new support steel has been welded in place.

The Torpedo

Gerry Dettloff and John Faulhaber are working to fabricate what looks like an undersea torpedo.  At least that is what we thought after considering John's years of service in the Navy.  It is actually a chamber to immerse new tack molding for the end of the car in a soaking solution to make it possible to bend it around the car end.

Sanding

It will take some time for the results of the soaking to bear results but Gerry is up on the scaffold and sanding the roof, both the new wood repairs and smoothing and sculpting the boards that are to remain.

We had a very busy day watching the skies for scattered storms, expecting them, and planning to dodge the raindrops.  Nonetheless a lot of work got done on our Chicago Great Western X 38 Russell snow plow.  Let's start there.

Saw Them All

Bill Peterson is sawing up "old stock" car lining to be used on the plow.  We had some in the shop and finally had to go out to the storage car to retrieve more.  Generally, no one is waiting in line, clamoring to be part of this crew.  But Victor Humphreys, John Faulhaber, Bill Peterson, and Buzz Morisette joined the odyssey and before lunch we had more materials on hand in the shop.

The Lining

You can see where a lot of this lining wood has been installed.  Here, Victor is nailing in the final trim to finish out one of the side door openings.

Framing

Buzz has fitted the new framing for one of the four cupola walls, primed them, fitted them in place again to mark for drilling - which he is now doing.  They got installed.  We had a good crew working on several aspects of the project.  Jim Leonard was up on the roof needle scaling and wire brushing, then priming the cupola roof and some of the posts.  Bill was in the shop and also out in the carbody working on floor repairs.  Victor and I all over the place taking on one more thing at a time.

Window Posts

Tim Peters was out continuing the repairs to two of the rotted window posts on Chicago Rapid Transit 1024, while Bill Wulfert offers support.  It is a remarkable transformation, watching century old wood siding being removed, for example.  As the work continues I may have to stop referring to the car as CRT 1024 and instead it will become Northwestern Elevated 24.

At the Platform

Tim had made new steel and had it bolted and welded into place to reinforce some of the car framing extending out to form the platform.  Some of that is in very poor shape, yet still served the purpose while in service.  Each of the four corners is in a different state of repair (or disrepair) and Tim has started on the second corner in the series.

Interior

Lorne Tweed is busy installing the last of the window post caps on the left side, while Eric Lorenz is adding interior panels above the line of passenger windows on the right side.  Quite a contrast as the right side is rapidly taking on a finished appearance.

Inspections

What?  Freight Cars on Track 41?  Yes!!  Dave Rogan is shown by four of our cars as they underwent inspections and maintenance.  A large dose of "thank you" is needed for Rod Turner, Jim West, and Gerry Dettloff who went out of their way to move the cars, some from deep in Yard 14, to this track where we have the air supply, tools, and records for this annual task.

The Boss

I am usually the one lurking in the background and trying to catch a pic of the work.  In this case Norm Krentel provided the candid image of me during the car inspections.  Victor Humphreys and Paul Cronin also played a big part in the chores.  The cars now released for operations are SHPX 42, GN X1390, BFIX 520, and GN 70104.

Window Post Caps

Lorne Tweed is hard at work installing more of the window post caps inside Cleveland Transit System 4223.  Only two remain on the left side of the car.  Those on the right side are installed, as are all the window tracks on the right side, and most of the window sash.

Welcome Back

We were all delighted to welcome Al Reinschmidt back to the fold of the Wednesday volunteers.  He is still in the recovery stage following a serious illness, but all those get well cards may have had some effect.  Here, Al is straightening and making repairs to the window tracks, many more needed for the left side of the 4223.

A New Face

Russ Prince joined us for a day of FUN.  He quickly took up the banner and is shown here cleaning up some of the needed window tracks.

Relief Man

Al provided a break for Russ, he is well qualified for this task, having processed many many pieces, most of which are now installed in the 4223.

Chemist

Norm Krental resembles a mad chemist at work on the bench.  He and Jeff Brady were on hand to continue the work on the new roof for Michigan Electric 28.

Interior Wood

Dave Rogan squeezed in some time to paint new wood parts for the Chicago Great Western X 38 snowplow.  We pitched in to take the measurements and cut the wood, and before the sawdust settled the primer was going on.  Many of these were installed later in the afternoon.  Lorne Tweed looks on in the background - is he giving instructions, or just fascinated by the smell of fresh paint?

Cab Cupola

Buzz Morisette continues to make progress in the restoration of the many deteriorated wood parts in the cupola of the X 38.  Framing and corner posts are made and being fitted into place.

A Change of Pace

John Nelligan is priming a steel panel destined for the inside of Charles City Western 300.  He has spent weeks on the resistor grid work, and now finally gets some variety in his work.

Planning

Rich Witt continues on a batch of First Aid Boxes for our Chicago Aurora and Elgin cars.  The drawings have been made and now Rich is laying out the needed cuts to optimize use of the boards on hand.  Good planning makes for good work, and of course, less surprises along the way.

Priming

Paul Cronin is priming the many new boards for the interior lining, cut and sized in the shop last Wednesday.

The Flanger

It did not matter that the skies were gray and promised some drizzle.  Ray Pollice is sheltered from it as he operates a needle scaler attacking the flanger blade.

Will It Fit

Over the winter season we constructed two new doors for the plow.  Victor Humphreys and Jim Leonard are checking to see how it fits.

Yes It Does

There were a few trims and cuts to perfect the door into the opening, but minor really, in the scheme of things.  Victor and Jim hoisted it up into the plow body more than once and here are enjoying the view out the window.