Freight Car Department

Buzz Morisette is one of those volunteer members who contributes to many varied projects, while somehow finding the time to move ahead on those favorites of his.  Here are some pics and notes he submitted about recent work on two cabooses sitting outdoors in Yard 10.

Weatherproofing

Dave Hybicki and Buzz are taking steps to stave off continued deterioration on caboose CNW 10494.  As a stopgap they are covering the south side of the caboose with tarpaper held on by wood battens.

Batten the Hatches

This may look odd, but it will help this side, what is left of it, survive another winter.

Floor Repairs

Switching to another caboose sitting outdoors in Yard 10, we find ATSF 1400.  Buzz has worked long and hard on many restoration tasks and here we see that the caboose now has a complete floor again - lots of rotted wood replaced with new stock.

Stove Work

And Buzz has managed to exercise some seldom used muscles to get the cast iron stove back in place.

New Windows

If you read these BLOGS on any regular basis you will remember entries a year ago of Buzz working in the wood shop making new windows.  Here they are finished, glazed, painted, and installed on the caboose!

Both of these cabooses (cabeese?) sit outdoors and are very subject to deterioration from the extremes of weather we have in the midwest.  They are wood bodied cars 89-97 years old and deserve to be protected and saved.  You may help with a restricted donation to the INDOOR STORAGE fund for the Freight Car Department.  Another Barn is in the plans and would be started already with more funds on hand.  A substantial amount of money has been raised, let's help push this over the top.

Saturday saw some work continuing on several smallish aspects of the restoration project and one much larger effort.

Tracing History

The day started by taping up a sheet of mylar to the south side to trace and document some of the lettering.  Who knows what future generations will want with this equipment?  It is important to document and preserve its history at any stage.

In the Shop

In the woodshop, Buzz Morisette volunteered to help me out with both of us fabricating several new pieces of millwork for the project, and Buzz prime painting some of them.  This view shows the remaining stop jambs needed for the south door, and three pieces of drip caps that Buzz made for his work on Milwaukee Road equipment.  We also made two small stop blocks for window framing and two large nailing timbers for the rear two inside corners of the plow.

Rear Wall

A big thank you to Fred Ash who spent virtually all day on the rear wall, on the business end of a needlechipper.  Almost all of the remaining old paint is gone as we race the calendar to get this wall primed and finish painted.

This project is an interesting study in volunteerism at IRM.  In just four short months of summer work, a new crew has made remarkable progress in preserving and restoring this plow.  They have developed new skills, a strong sense of ownership and pride in their work, and made new and lasting friendships.  It shows what can be done with limited financial resources but with a willing and ample supply of volunteer labor.  Wouldn't you like to part of such an effort?

Come on out and join this TEAM, or if you rather, see me about putting together a few of your friends to start work on your favorite car in our collection.  We have plenty to go around!  And do not let the approaching cold weather stop you.  We plan to work indoors throughout the winter fabricating new doors and windows for the plow, and there are several other varied and diverse projects waiting in line.