URTX 26640 Insulated Boxcar

On the Roof

For every clear day with decent weather, Victor Humphreys is up on the roof, today rolling out black paint.  No, he did not grow a mustache overnight.  Blame it on the photograper who perhaps pressed the shutter button at the wrong instant.

Roof Work

I had mentioned that work has resumed on this car, weather permitting, in some earlier BLOG entries.  Yesterday I managed to hoist myself up on the roof to see what Victor Humphreys is accomplishing.  A lot of this roof has been cleaned, primed, and painted, and he was busy with the power wire wheel at the time of this pic.

URTX 26628

This is a shot taken December 18, 1960 in Dallas, Texas.  It is clearly a shot of a sister car in the same series with all details matching our car.  We really nailed the lettering as all major items match what we have applied.  There are a few details regarding paint separation lines which will be easy enough to touch up.

BUT - there is always a 'but' - this car displays a MILWAUKEE ROAD herald on the right side indicating they leased it from URTX.  There was no evidence of any such herald on our car but after 40 years outdoors, that could have easily disappeared.  So, what say you all?  Apply the herald as shown (painted on, not a medallion) to our car?

Staining

Earlier in the day we finished machining four boards destined for URTX 26640.  In this case the wood is being stained by Victor with a custom formula black.

The Results

The results speak for themselves as the boards are laid out overnight for drying.  Finally - a project that did not take weeks or months to complete!

Trucks

Hardworking volunteer Ray Pollice is buried under the car working on cleaning grunge from the wheels and trucks.  This might not be everyone's idea of an ideal volunteer task, but Ray cheerfully and ambitiously takes on these jobs.  Thanks Ray!

Roof Edge

Victor Humphreys is up on the ladder cleaning and priming on the metal car roof.  Another month of good weather would have this done before winter, but I expect much of the remaining cleaning and paintwork will wait for next spring.

A End

The A end ladders are now mounted back on the car, the work done last Sunday.

More Painting

Victor Humphreys continues with touch up painting of finished areas.  He also applied black paint to the left side sill, located below the wood siding boards.

Corner Bolts

Seems like everything is slower in the colder weather.  We even observed a few snow flakes Saturday PM.  Kirk Warner is finishing up those annoying details passed by previously.  Here are the results of drilling and adding some anchor blots on the left side, A end.  Kirk also managed to apply the first coat of black paint to the A end.