Wood Shop

I would like to introduce Mr. Paul Cronin.  Paul grew up in Boston and did  volunteer work for the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine when he lived out east.  Fast forward to today when Paul has relocated to our area in the Midwest.  He is now becoming a regular volunteer in our shops on both Wednesdays and Saturdays, and we are happy to have his help.

Priming

Paul started the day by applying primer to the new tack molding for Lake Shore Electric 810.

Windows

With the tack molding finished, Paul moved on to add the first coat of deep rich maroon finish paint to three new windows for our Chicago Great Western X 38 snow plow.  He seems willing to tackle almost any job, and is a careful and thorough worker.  To end the day, Paul helped me a bit planing and sawing a new front panel for a wood toolbox.  WELCOME ABOARD, Paul

Windows Again

Speaking of windows, we got some more done, this time for two new front windows for the CGW X 38 plow, these to go in the elevated cupola cab.  Some tricky fitting, depending on how lucky you are, and then gluing.  Victor Humphreys has squared up the frames in the glue press and applies one last squeeze with the handwheel.

Paint Removal

Ray Pollice was on hand to do some more of what is becoming his specialty.  He is removing layers of old paint down to bare shiny metal, and he really does a GOOD job.  This piece is a handhole cover from the table saw that Henry Vincent has been working on.  Ray also did three more items for the motor and drive set up on this saw.  Thank you, Ray - stop by anytime!

End Beam

Tim Peters has moved on in full swing to his THIRD all wood elevated car, this time the Chicago Rapid Transit 1024.  One of the next things to address are structural issues, and in particular the car needs its wood end beam replaced by a new one.  First step, make a paper template showing size and shape, and the locations of multiple holes.  Next he transfers that to a rigid piece of thin tempered masonite, as shown here.  I expect it will not be too long before the sawdust will fly.  That itself is not a trivial task as the first step is to move and setup the first cuts on a massive 12x12 timber salvaged last year from the demolition of a feed mill in nearby Huntley.