URTX 26640 Insulated Boxcar

We were very lucky to have Kirk Warner back for a short visit from the South.  Kirk is very good at taking pics which can sometimes be problematic for me while I am doing the work.

Layout

Victor Humphreys assists while Bob Kutella applies a transfer pattern to the A end of the car.

Tracing

The next step is for me to trace the layout lines onto the car end, to be followed by taping and masking much of that.

Painting

Next is to get out the paint.  In this case after the sun had moved enough to cool the area down from when it was in direct sun.

Done

The number and end reporting marks are done on the A end.  This completes all lettering on the A end.  We will probably have to move the car a bit east to have enough room to set up scaffolding for the B end lettering.

Touch Up

Buzz Morisette touches up the newly applied MILW heralds.

South Side

And here is a shot of the south side with all lettering done there, the MILW herald, and only some minor paint work remaining.

A End

We must be in the monsoon season since it seems there are deluges every day, at least on the days I have available to get out to IRM.  Nevertheless, Victor Humphreys continues to add paintwork and finishing touches to this restoration project.  And in between downpours, I have started to apply lettering to the A end of the car.

Today it was the 'Buzz Morisette Show' as he worked to remove the masks and taping on the new MILW heralds.

North side Starting

North Side Done

The above two images show the start of the removal process and the result.  There is still a lot of touch up to be done, but doesn't that look NICE?

South Side Removal

On to the south side for the start of tape removal.

The End

And we end the photo documentary as Buzz removes the last bit of mask from the second herald completed this day.

Door

Let's start this entry focusing on the plug door on the north side.  Roger Hugg is back in the area and helped with placement of some of the patterns for the lettering on the plug door

Door

Of course we managed to paint all this black lettering.  How does it look?

MILW Herald

Newly uncovered photo evidence made us decide to add a MILW herald to each side.  Buzz Morisette and Victor Humphreys are laying out the masks for the north side.

MILW

MILW

Buzz has started to apply the first coat of red for the herald on the north side.

MILW

The masks are applied to the south side of the car and Victor is lightly sanding/scuffing the white area which will soon see red paint.

MILW

It doesn't take long for Buzz to move to the south side and begin painting the red areas.

Black Trim

Victor Humphreys worked to add more paint to contrast areas shown on a recently discovered photo.  Here is the black 'wear area' below the doors on the south side of the car.  On the north side that has also been painted, along with a drip eave.  Two costs of white paint were applied to the MILW herald areas - all this done during fairly warm and humid oppressive conditions.

Pocket Repairs

Thanks to a member/welder who has a truck mounted welding unit, the needed repairs were completed on Tuesday.

Hang It

Then, on to re-install the coupler and related mechanism.  Gerry Dettloff provided the heavy lifting (in the Bobcat) while John Faulhaber and Victor Humphreys wrestled the shank into submission.  It does not look THAT HEAVY!

Stubborn

It shouldn't be that hard but a lot of things have to fit and be in alignment all at once.

Done

The smiling crew shows off the finished product.  With their dedication and experience, it made short work of a heavy job that has been in the works for several weeks.  Good job guys!

Corrections

Victor Humphreys is repainting the letterboard or fascia strip black to conform to recently discovered prototype data.  A small thing like that makes a big visual impact.  Hot and humid until the thunderstorms formed, but at least this is on the shady side of the car.

Layout Work

Victor snapped of pic of me while doing the measurements and layout for the MILW herald on the second car side.  Look closely and you will see the black outline of the logo.

Thanks to Pete Pedersen for supplying and sharing some additional images.

Lettering

On good weather days we need to take advantage of working in the Freight Department Car Shop - outdoors that is.  In the morning we laid out the herald for the Milwaukee Road which is to be applied to this car.  Rich Witt is double checking the size and shape. 

Pete Pedersen Photo

Here is a rare shot of me working, starting to apply the first white paint in the field for the herald.  By the end of the day we had applied two coats of white background paint here.  Meanwhile Victor Humphreys continued the herculean effort of cleaning and repainting the entire roof single handed! 

Last Sunday, the coupler on the east end was removed to repair the area.  Victor is also spearheading this with a lot of prep work, and grinding and fitting today.  The goal is to weld up the hanger frame where cracked, and to install a new wear plate.  All the tools and machines were dragged out to do the welding but hopes were dashed when it was determined that the electrical welding cables would not reach.  It seems someone last January or February removed the receptacles and plugs from two of these heavy cables, with the aim that they should be upgraded and replaced.  Then walked away with nothing done, (where are the old parts?) to be discovered now when we need them!

I joked that we could move the car closer to the electrical service to do the job, except that there is no coupler there - that is the point of the work!  Not so far fetched, as moving this car with no coupler may be one of the more attractive options left to us - not that it is easy at all.