Chicago Great Western X 38 Russell Snow Plow

Framing

Good progress again yesterday on the X 38 snowplow.  We installed eight new pieces of interior wall framing, on the rear wall, shown here, and on the north side.  The next three pieces were cut drilled and are ready for paint.

North Side

Jim Leonard took to the high scaffold and continued the last little bit of needlechipping, wire brushing, and priming on the north side.  Most of that should be done on Saturday, weather permitting.  Then the focus will shift to the finish color coats.

Air It Up

Jim Leonard, Dave Rogan and Victor Humphreys are hooking us shop air to the plow for the first time since it arrived at IRM.  Several volunteers have worked steadily over the past few weeks, to reassemble air piping which had been dismantled, to replace and add new piping where needed, and now it was time to try it out.  Baby steps.  We blew out the lines to eliminate debris or scale, then the last few nipples and fittings were installed by Dave.  As expected, a number of minor leaks and fittings needing attention were discovered and these will be addressed.  Still, a milestone in the restoration process.

I am pretty much behind in offering more photos and history of our Chicago Great Western Russell plow.  But here are some great images from the Joe Pierson Collection for your enjoyment.  They provide interesting details and clues needed in our restoration work, even though right now the intent is not to repaint this into the yellow scheme.

THE YELLOW YEARS

Joe Pierson Collection

May 16, 1982, Butler Yard, Milwaukee, WI

Joe Pierson Collection

May 16, 1982, Butler Yard, Milwaukee, WI

Joe Pierson Collection

1984, no location

We continue to make good restoration progress, but as with all such work at IRM, donations are appreciated, yes, even required to maintain the pace of the work.  We have assembled an energetic team of volunteers, the money is what is missing.  Please send your help to fund RX38 .

Still no rain so a good crew made continued progress yesterday.

Corner Post

John Faulhaber is holding a new interior corner post for the rear end of the plow.  Lest you think this looks like the same thing in the previous BLOG ENTRY, that one was fabricated and installed in a single day, last Saturday.  This was just another stick of lumber at the start of the day.  You can see the many steps and reliefs needed for fitting around interior rivet heads.

Prime

Victor Humphreys immediately set about prime painting it, and by the end of the day it was dry enough to install and bolt into the car body.  Tally - two work days, two new corner posts in and done.

Clean and Paint

Jim Leonard worked again on the high parts of the north side of the body, needlechipping, wire wheeling, and priming the areas.  Dave Rogan focused on replacing disassembled parts of the air piping inside the carbody.  Yes, it was only 89 F in the shade outdoors in the breeze, but easily 15 degrees warmer inside the uninsulated box.  John F also did a good job making a lintel and fitting mortise and tenon joints for door framing for the second side door on the plow.