Milwaukee Road 649

We have completed, in 2020, the installation of all the window frames in the 649. 20 frames have been painted and installed with new window gaskets and new glass window panes. Our Lead restorationist on the project, Steve Dobberfuhl, along with Howard Geier, have done a marvelous job getting this coach back into operational shape. Two items yet to be resolved before it is released for operation is the repair of the trucks and the air conditioning system. That will be the job for 2021.

Please consider stopping by and viewing all our progress in the museum's Freight car and Coach barn 10 shop.  Thanks, Roger.

The Milwaukee Road coach project is slow but is receiving some attention recently. We finally measured and cut new steel panels to replace the ones that did not meet our standards for restoration. Our welder installed the new panels this January and February of this year.

Howard came out to begin the future prepping of the just welded two panels. On a somewhat warm March day he began applying bondo to the panels and sanding them for April priming.

On a rare warm spring day Steve was out applying Spar urethane varnish to the new oak trim made especially for the inside window trim. Another job that was completed last fall was the repair and installation of new florescent lighting tubes in the fixtures. We now have all the lights operating in the 649. Its quite an impressive site.

Before Howard and Steve can finish painting the coach we need to resolve the issue of replacing the old window glass. We need ten sets of glass plus new gasket material to replace the old cracked ones. At a estimated price of $300 ea they are some what expensive. Please consider a donation to cover the cost of at least one set. That would surely help us with placing this coach in service at your museum.       Thanks  Roger 

Here is the current update on the Milwaukee 649.  Steve has removed many of the window frames on the south side.   In doing so he has also cleaned the car body frame, primed and  top coated each opening.  He also manufactured eleven new white oak lower wood frames in the museums wood shop.  They were made because many of the old pieces were badly rotted and discolored.  He then took them home sanded and applied clear spar urethane to them.    The next two weeks were devoted to gluing them in the interior  of each affected window.   That phase of work is now completed and we are waiting for new glass for the window frames.  New glass will be purchased in the next budgeting period of 2019.   Then the process of reinserting new gasket  material into each frame can begin.         Thanks  Roger

The picture views speak for themselves and are very impressive.  Howard, Mary and I finished spray painting one side of the Milwaukee coach in early September.  Steve, unfortunately, was not at the museum this day, but since then has been working on the exterior windows.   That project along with the repair of interior fluorescent  lightening will be covered in the next blog report.   Meanwhile with all these changes the new look of the 649 gives you an idea what the coach will eventual look like when completed next year. If you want to help us preparing this coach for next season we are here every Wednesday and Saturday.   Why not come out and join us.    Thanks   Roger  

We are still proceeding on the goal of having the 649 ready for the Happy Holiday Railroad this Christmas Season.  The work has been slow and somewhat tedious but progress has been made on all sides of the coach.  With a small and dedicated crew of three, to five, we have made real inroads.   The project was progressing slowly when a new volunteer joined the coach department and began working on the 649.  Steve Dobberfuhl is the newest member of the coach department.   He has shown us what working on a project two or three days a  week can do.  Welcome to the Passenger Car Department, Steve! After prepping the car body it was ready for priming.   Howard was on vacation so inorder to continue the progress I decided to prime the coach.  With the help of Steve, I applied two coats of Sherwin Williams grey primer to the  body.  Helping us on this project would greatly be appreciated.  The small team meets every Wednesday and Saturday.   Come on down and join us.                            Thanks    Roger