Freight Car Department

There was good weather yesterday so much of the work outdoors resumed, on several fronts.

Just a Trace

John Faulhaber is tracing data for the GN hopper before we remove all evidence of the existing with sandblasting.  We are reviewing all data documented so far, and scouring through layers of existing paint and crud to reveal old paint and letterring.

Reporting Marks

The first solid evidence of the reporting marks and numbers are starting to show through.

Reporting Marks

Victor Humprheys and John Faulhaber stand proudly before the area defining GN and 70104.  There was no trace of this before their hard work and careful sanding.  You need to be part detective, part research specialist, and part archeologist to suceed here.

Brake Hose

We have been working on caboose ICG 199458 to maintain it and return it to train service.  This is one end of a flexible train line hose which is failing and needs to be replaced.  The fairly unusual (for IRM) arrangement is necessitated by a cushion underframe on the canoose and the train line needs some flex and give as the coupler and draft gear silde in or out.

Brake Hose

The other end.

Welders Helper

The group of Wednesday Special Projects guys are working on the recently acquired CB&Q smoothside baggage car.  Bill Leider is setting up for Neil S to do some welding repairs.  Bill was also working to repair bodywork on the car.

Welding

Neil Schwingbeck is welding on one of the end door frames.

The Roof

One of the newer guys on the crew is working on rust and deterioration on part of the roof.

Meanwhile Victor Humphreys painted some more of the URTX 26640 roof and re-did one of the corner posts on the car.  But he was too fast for me and completed those tasks before I could snap a pic.  Then he moved on the IC 9792 caboose and was removing the crumbling cupola windows.

Hopper Repairs

Our skilled 'master of metalwork', Mile Alterio, has been working his magic on our hopper GN 70104.  Here, Victor Humphreys and John Faulhaber inspect the new tack board holders, straightened grab irons, and other work, including new brake bleed levers.

Other freight car work included completing wood work on four new windows for IC 9792, with the help of John Faulhaber.  Now they are off to the paint shop.

Dodging rain showers, Victor Humphreys completed painting the roof on the URTX 26640 boxcar.

Pilot

Two 'visiting firemen' were on hand to toil on the Michigan Electric 28.  Here, Terry Borden is working on the catcher/pilot which was fabricated last year.  With assistance form Walt Staffa, the beast was hung and in place, later in the day.

Illuminating

Eric Lorenz continued work on CTS 4223.  The headlight housing has been installed and here the fitting of the light itself proves troublesome.  Later the crew worked on final mounting of the tail/stop lights on the rear, and then more work on the new doors.

We finally found some time to work on the SS 68 and a new replacement window was fitted to the car opening, as well as some minor repairs to the window posts and paintwork on the upper sash.