Chicago Great Western X 38 Russell Snow Plow

Saturday saw some work continuing on several smallish aspects of the restoration project and one much larger effort.

Tracing History

The day started by taping up a sheet of mylar to the south side to trace and document some of the lettering.  Who knows what future generations will want with this equipment?  It is important to document and preserve its history at any stage.

In the Shop

In the woodshop, Buzz Morisette volunteered to help me out with both of us fabricating several new pieces of millwork for the project, and Buzz prime painting some of them.  This view shows the remaining stop jambs needed for the south door, and three pieces of drip caps that Buzz made for his work on Milwaukee Road equipment.  We also made two small stop blocks for window framing and two large nailing timbers for the rear two inside corners of the plow.

Rear Wall

A big thank you to Fred Ash who spent virtually all day on the rear wall, on the business end of a needlechipper.  Almost all of the remaining old paint is gone as we race the calendar to get this wall primed and finish painted.

This project is an interesting study in volunteerism at IRM.  In just four short months of summer work, a new crew has made remarkable progress in preserving and restoring this plow.  They have developed new skills, a strong sense of ownership and pride in their work, and made new and lasting friendships.  It shows what can be done with limited financial resources but with a willing and ample supply of volunteer labor.  Wouldn't you like to part of such an effort?

Come on out and join this TEAM, or if you rather, see me about putting together a few of your friends to start work on your favorite car in our collection.  We have plenty to go around!  And do not let the approaching cold weather stop you.  We plan to work indoors throughout the winter fabricating new doors and windows for the plow, and there are several other varied and diverse projects waiting in line.

Wednesday was a very busy day on our snowplow and some major work got accomplished by a very good crew.

In the Bucket

While one crew worked on our B&O boxcar (previously reported) the others made progress on the plow.  Jim Leonard was up in the bucket truck (Thanks Dave Diamond) and was cleaning rust from the underside of the front plow roof.  Dave Rogan was installing the last remaining door threshold on the south side and making plans and measurements for more air piping.

Rare Mileage

As soon as the boxcar work was done, a train was made up that fans would describe as 'rare mileage'.  The consist was certainly rare.  The plow was being moved on Track 41 to the east door of Barn 4.

On Arrival

There it is ready for the repair work.  Several things were accomplished, as we had hoped they would. 

Welding

There was a tear in the heavy sheet metal that comprises the plow wedge as it arrived at IRM.  Due to some mishap lost to history, but there was a three to four inch rip and resulting hole.  The acetylene torch heated the area, and Dave Rogan squeezed his way inside and bent the petals of metal back to close to where they should be.  Then our welder took over, stitching it back together and filling the low spots.

The Old Grind

Dave Rogan (shown) and Jim Leonard took turns grinding down the weld, and finished up the area including adding prime paint by day's end. We also removed an offending piece of steel strapping up near the roofwalk on the west end, finished making a new piece, and got that installed and bolted in.  That allowed us to finish up the last piece of timber framing inside the box, on the west end.  Oh, did I mention we also squared up the last window opening on the north side of the body, fit a new window sill, and started on the stop jambs and trim.  But wait - there is more.

Sheared Rivets

Also as the plow arrived we noted a half dozen rivets on each side of the ramps had the heads sheared off.  There are several ways to suppose how this happened, but it was certainly many years ago.  So the torch was used to heat the rivet stubs from below, and a hefty drift pin and sledge hammer punched them out.  For now the affected areas are securely bolted up and serviceable.

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.