Union Tank Car Company 17222 Tank Car

A End

Here is a pic taken by Kirk Warner last Wednesday of the completed lettering on the A End.  Just like an exclamation point at the end of a sentence, finishing the last of the work on this car before winter grips us in its icy fingers - well you get the idea.  A goal set and met.

Work has been continuing even with shorter daylight hours and weather that can best be described as 'challenging'.  Read to the end of this post for a surprise image!

A End

The pattern for the reporting marks (four inch) has been laid out and tape has been applied to ease the task of painting.

A End

A small brush (some would say too small) is used to apply the paint.  See previous entries for the B end work - it is completely lettered.

A End

The reporting marks letters are done - SHARP!

A End

Victor Humphreys helps position a stencil for two lines located lower on the tank end.

A End

We use a technique we developed to apply two coats of the Chrome Yellow paint.

A End

The moment of truth comes when the stencil mask must be removed - CAREFULLY!

A End

With daylight running out, here is the A end as we left it Sunday night.  But by Monday at noon, it was complete!

Builders Photo

For the surprise, here is the builder's photo that was uncovered during the research for this car.  Compare it to the work we have completed.  There have been many challenges to be overcome in working on this restoration, spanning four summers at IRM.  But the team has been persistent, and many members have contributed to the effort.  To see more of the story go to the category tree to right side of these entries, click on the "+" sign for the Freight Car Department, and then click on the category for Union Tank Car Company 17222.

Still Shiny

The day started with seemingly perfect weather for this time of year. Pleasant temperatures and a clear blue sky.  Somewhere between 12:30 and 12:37 (seemed that quick) the sky clouded over and became darker and darker.  However, we got more lettering done on the car using a combination of stenciling and hand painting to add 44 characters to the car before day's end.  Remember, the other side of this car (and the B end) is complete.  Added today to the right side, was the Union Tank Car Co., the Lithcote liner info and the start of the Capacity data.

B End

The weather was not exactly warm, but above average for this time of year and dry!  So this gave us a chance to complete the lettering on the B end of the car.

On the Wye

Following a lunch break the car was taken for a spin.  Well, not quite, but it was turned.  Here the car travels on the wye being pushed by little Joy No. 2.

Returning to Track 40

The crew is returning the car to its work spot, now with the side still needing some lettering facing south.  Hopefully this will buy a few more weeks of work time before hard winter sets in.  Gerry Detloff is riding lead on this switch move, Henry Vincent in the cab at the controls, and John Faulhaber does the ground work.  Thank you one and all.

Also noted was a lot of other activity at Union this day.  Loads of crushed stone were being delivered to the parking lot near the site of the new aerial light tower, Mike Alterio was seen painting signal masts, and one of our stalwart steam department regulars was out painting the cab of GN&A 26.  You already have a report form the track department.

B End

We are still making progress on applying complete lettering to the car.  Here, on the B End you see the reporting marks in 4 inch letters.

Car Numbers

Several different techniques are used depending on the historical accuracy we need to portray and the size and location of the lettering.  Here you see the numbers being applied to the B End painting entirely free hand with a very small brush.  Talk about time consuming!

Done with the Number

The end results are worth it!  And on this car the Chrome Yellow color of the letters makes them really jump out from the black background.  Two more lines of lettering will complete this end.

Right Side

Meanwhile, on the right side, the class and test data are being applied using a sort of pad printing technique.  When completing a line elsewhere on the car, it must be left to dry; so if time is left in the day, we move to a different spot for the the next block of text or numbers.

Builders Logo

This ornate builders logo is historically accurate and has been applied to both sides of the center sill.

Valve Info

This legend was on the center sill near the outlet valve.  These abbreviations may look funny to our eyes but this is what was used to indicate it was a special design patented by Union Tank Lines.

A End

We are starting on the A end also, here laying out the patterns before applying paint.  This time of year the weather is very iffy but at least there is some lettering on all the sides and ends of the car.

A end

And with the paint applied.

Dirty Work

Ray Pollice was helping by being 'volunteered' to begin cleaning decades of oil, grease, and dirt from the wheel faces.  He really is conscientous about doing a good job.  Thank you, Ray

Finished

Two more blocks of lettering were applied to the left side by lunchtime, and ALL the lettering on this side is finished.  Henry Vincent moved the car for a photo op in the afternoon and here is the resulting image.

B End

Here are the first two areas to be lettered on the ends.  The weather was finally near perfect and all together, eight areas on the car received more lettering, two on the end, two on the left side, and four on the right side to begin the process there.