Freight Car Department

First I want to start out talking a bit about the "Wednesday Guys".  This group of stalwarts have faithfully been out at Union almost every Wednesday year around, and have accomplished a LOT of restoration work.  But since they are present mid-week, they are virtually invisible and many of the regular weekend volunteers are not even aware of them.  One of their current projects is a steel Union Pacific caboose - see the separate blog CATEGORY for more detail on that.  Over the last few years they are largely responsible for the following restorations, working under the wing of the Freight Car Department, and adding other projects, to support their own work, and the Used Bookstore Operation.  THANKS GUYS!!

Illinois Central 9792 Caboose

How about this job on the Illinois Central 9792 caboose?

Milwaukee Road 01984 Caboose

Don't forget one of their first, the Milwaukee Road 01984 caboose.

Belt Railway of Chicago 223 Caboose

And the Belt Railway of Chicago 223 caboose.

Milwaukee Road 1307 Baggage Car

Passenger car work included Milwaukee Road 1307 baggage car for use as the Used Book Store.

CB and Q 6166 in MOW Dress

And the ex-CB&Q 6166 car now restored as BN 968398 MWX.  Inside it is used as a shop area and has several small bench level power tools and supplies.

Norfolk and Western 1459 Storage Mail Car

Which brings us to one of the current projects, Norfolk & Western 1459.  The car is an 82 foot long storage mail car built by Pullman in 1910.

Roof Restored

Here it is in October 2007 with the roof sandblasted and repainted and the car side in primer.

Good in Green

Now it is almost all repainted N&W green.

June 4, 2008

Dont Forget the Ends

Lee Regione is finishing the green paint on the west end.

And the Trucks

Blake Johanson has the dirty job of attacking the grime on the trucks, which soon will sport shiny new paint.

The Finishing Touch

Here, Bill Leider has begun placement of the letterboard NORFOLK AND WESTERN graphic.  This is done the hard way, one letter at a time.