Wood Shop

Window Sills

Next on the list for new wood for our CGW X38 snowplow is to fabricate three new windowsills.  Rich Witt has cut out a template and is examining new southern yellow pine stock for the next step.

Routing the Profile

We first routed two round overs for the outside lip of the sill, and then used the table saw to mill a groove to serve as a drip lip.  Then back to the router.  Here, Rich Witt, Jim Leonard, and Dave Rogan are taking turns at removing a 5 degree taper from the bottom of the sill stock.

Hot Work

Here we see Mike Alterio working on new locking bars to be used to secure doors for our Chicago and West Towns 141 streetcar.  Nothing like fire and red hot steel to grab our attention.

Clean Up Crew

The real grunt job for the day was to do a very thorough annual cleanup of the shop area.  This is in preparation for the weekend event where IRM hosts a meeting of a group devoted to Old Wood Working Machines.  Several of those on hand pitched in willingly and with vigor and the shop space is cleaner and ready to go.  As a reminder, shop work will be on a restricted basis Saturday and Sunday as attendees will be on hand conducting clinics and demos in the shop.

I am going to stick with the title and category we have used before, although this entry is spread across many areas of work.  All was in and around Barn 4 and the shops.  A lot of work and effort was invested in presenting operations for Museum Showcase Weekend but the volunteers soldiered on with many projects.

Trolley Boards

Another photo and update from Lorne Tweed - Eric Lorenz is up on the roof of Cleveland Transit System 4223, squeezed in a sort of well in the roof mounted sheet metal shroud.  The new trolley boards are being installed, and here he is fishing a new power cable through the entry fitting.  Some of the trolley board pedestals can be seen on the right side.

Patchwork

Victor Humphreys continues work on our B&O wagon top boxcar.  He has just cut out two more severely rusted out areas, and is fitting a new patch into place for welding.  He also repainted the number one truck frames black, that had previously been cleaned and primed.

A Cushiony Job

John Mc Kelvey is replacing upholstery on many of the cushions in our latest passenger car acquisition, the LAKE CITY.  While much of the interior is meticulously and 100% restored, not so much the case in the worn and torn seat cushions.

And we did make some sawdust this weekend also.  Three new window sill blanks were roughed out, and four new window framing timbers were prepared for our CGW X 38 snowplow.

Roll Siogn Box

Big news coming up for Chicago Rapid Transit 1797.  Tim Peters is in the home stretch on this massive restoration and here is working on a roll sign box.

Interior

The interior of the 1797 really looks magnificent, clean, fresh.  From my perspective, restoring one seat from the ground up, so to speak, represents hours of work.  Yet in a relatively short time, the entire interior of the 1797 has been re-done!

Lettering

The interior is complete with vintage lettering and information.  Sharp eyed viewers here will be able to look through the window of this motorman's cab door and see the words applied to the end door on the inside, by the always friendly Chicago Rapid Transit.  HANDS OFF

Museum Showcase Weekend is now upon us and those able to attend will see a sight not experienced in 64 years.  There will be an operating two car train of wood cars, in the classic brown paint scheme, as it is planned to pair up and operate the 1268 and 1797.  Don't miss it!

Upholstery

John McKelvey continues to prove invaluable with his upholstery skills.  Here, a passenger car lounge chair is going through the shop.

Roof Stuff

That is the highly technical term for the work being done for Cleveland Transit System 4223.  Lorne Tweed is assembling the many parts to be mounted on the roof, - trolley boards, stand off insulators, inductance coil, lightning arrestor, fuse box and trolley pole base.

Seat Work

Meanwhile, Mike Stauber and Frank Sirinek continue work on Shaker Heights Rapid Transit 63.  Piece by piece this car is getting closer to being able to try out as a running PCC car.

Electroliner

There will be many special displays and events for the upcoming Showcase Weekend.  The North Shore Electroliner is making a rare appearance.  It is spotted at our high level 50th Avenue platform, here seen through the picnic area near Central Pavilion.

And do not forget to check the restoration work on our latest Freight Department acquisition, Chicago Great Western X 38 snow plow.  We have largely cleaned and repainted the north side - the unit now sports its first coat of finish paint.  AND - at 1:30 PM Saturday there will be an operating demonstration of the plow wings, with a chance for YOU to participate!  See you on Track 40, at the east end of Barn 4.