Illinois Railway Museum Blog

Roof Slat Installation and Side Window Replacement Continues!

Jeff Brady is shown below belt sanding the first layer of rear roof mounted wood slats.  In the blazing heat this summer, he is nailing the second and final layer over the first.  The front and rear will both have two layers of slats that create the contour of the roof.  The center carlines of the roof were covered with formed Masonite hard board that has now been painted with a flat black primer.   Holes were recently cut by Walt Staffa (not pictured) for the roof vents that will be added following the installation of the canvas roof covering.   Shown below is Doug Johnson removing the vent louvers inside the car before Walt cut the holes in the Masonite roof.

Norm Krentel continues to disassemble the window sash openings to repair or replace the numerous pieces of wood stops or guides, and metal post caps while the sashes are out for restoration.  Upon their return, the sashes are fitted with latches or lifts that will allow the passengers to operate the windows.   Several window openings have been completed with the restored windows.

Ray Schmid is shown below installing the latches and lifts to the restored lower sashes.  Also shown is Ray’s process for cleaning each pane of ornate upper sash glass before he sets them into the restored frames.  There are interior and exterior upper sashes that span a set of two lower sashes.  Ray has installed several cleaned panes into the waiting frames.  Several of the pressed glass upper sashes have been installed on the car this summer.  The press glass exterior upper sashes were painted white while the car was used as a cabin in Michigan and did not allow light to pass into the interior of the car.  After paint removal and cleaning, the newly installed sashes make a huge difference in the appearance of the car.  The before and after result is amazing!  See for yourself in the above pictures in front of Norm.