Freight Car Department

In the Freight Car Department we try to limit the number of active restorations underway at any one time, to keep resources focused and get results in something less than five years.  But we are always planning the next project.  In this case, WELCOME to a tank car used by the Great Northern Railway. 

GN X 1390

The car was built in 1956 by American Car and Foundry in Milton, Pennsylvania and is a 20,000 gallon car of fairly modern construction.  All welded tank and sills, roller bearing trucks.  The tank, underbody, and trucks are all black, with an orange dome and safety panel near it on the top of the tank.  Large GREAT NORTHERN lettering is on the the tank to the left of the dome and ladder, while the reporting marks  GN X 1390  are to the right.

We feel this is a good candidate for our work since it has not deteriorated to the point of needing rebuilding.  Also it has NO windows or doors to complicate the work, no rivets (thousands of them) requiring detailing and extra attention during painting.

The plan is to hire a contractor to completely clean the car and then to apply two coats of primer and two coats of finish paint.  This will result in a good job and be completed in a timely fashion, compared to the option of having our volunteer crew use a needle gun and hand paint the car.  The trade off is that we need money to do the job.  We are actively engaged in the bidding process and it seems this work will cost us about $12,000.  A small price to pay considering our limited staff.  Many of you reading these reports often say you wish you could help - I am guessing you would want to take a turn on the needle gun in 95 F weather.  No?  Then you may still help with a donation to fund RX1390 to top off what monies we have on hand.  The mailing address is:

Illinois Railway Museum

Box 427

Union, IL 60180

The car is mechanically in good condition and has been used in our demonstration freight trains and special events this year.  Amazingly, some (most) of the original GREAT NORTHERN lettering is still visible (with some work).  We are now documenting and tracing all of that so it may be reapplied to the painted car.  The scheme was all black, white lettering, and a bright orange dome area.  The car was needed by the GN to ferry diesel fuel oil to the various on line service facilities as the rush was on to dieselize and a great deal of that fuel was needed in many locations.  The X before the number indicates it was a company service car and not part of the interchange pool of freight cars.  After the merger into Burlington Northern, the car remained on the BN roster until it was acquired by IRM.  Here are some detail shots of the remaining lettering.  The captions will note the areas of interest and what you are seeing.  This is the type of documentation and detective work, sometimes working through layers of paint, to assure the finished restoration will be an accurate and authentic job.

Test Data

On the right hand end of each side it was required to display test data for the tank integrity and safety valves.  This was retested and renewed during the life of the car, typically every ten years or so.  In this case the required testing was done by the Union Tank Car Co (under maintenance contract) at their facility in Laurel, Montana.

ICC Class

Above the test data was the designation of the ICC class for the type of car - in this case 103-W.  Below that is ACF indicating the builder, American Car and Foundry; and its birthday, 1-5-56.

DIESEL FUEL ONLY

Here is some of the needed detective work.  Faintly, in this photo you will see lettering for DIESEL FUEL ONLY which was as the car was built.  It has been painted over and WASTE OIL stenciled in the vicinity by BN.  But if you know where to look - - -  Below the WASTE OIL add on stencil is the original  "TOTAL CAP'Y 19458 GALS."

Documentation

The remnants of the above lettering are traced out in detail and then mylar taped over it to trace again.  This includes the necessary steps of locating the lettering compared to various notation points on the carbody, ends, or underbody.

Length

Since this car was not in regular interchange service it did not carry a lot of the familiar lettering seen on other cars - such as capacity, light weight, or load limit.  But it did have "49 FT. 2 IN."

Weight

Some of the familiar data is not where expected.  On the center sill is "WT. 64500".  It is astounding that this original GN lettering in size and style survives 67 years after being painted.

Center Sill

The reporting marks in 4 inch letters are also on the center sill  "G.N.  X-1390"

Truck Bolster

Some railroads identified the trucks on the car and which car they belonged to.  It is not a consistent practice on all railroads and even not consistent for a single railroad on all their cars.  Above see  "X 1390   A END"

Lube Data

Lube data is recorded on the right end of the center sill.  Here we can make out at least three layers of that data.  Hieroglyphic detectives are welcome to help us peel back the layers.

Logo

Car builders often applied their logo somewhere on each new car as it left their plant.  That only survived until the car was first repainted.  Look at this.  WOW!  The original ACF logo remains visible on the center sill.

End Marks

The original GN reporting marks, also in 4 inch letters, comes through high on the dished tank ends.

End Data

Each end has three lines of 3 inch lettering, one of 2 inch wheel data, and five lines of smaller equipment details.  Who wants to trace all that and cut the transfer pattern?  More importantly, WHO WANTS TO PAINT IT?

Yes this is a very long entry and I have worked along on it for more than one day.  Please help with a donation to the project.

They say that time flies when you are having fun.  I did not have so much fun yesterday at home, and yet the time flew by.  So another day turns on the calendar and I need to post this foreshortened report.  Today THOMAS debuts for 2013, so plan to come out and see the spectacle if you never have done so.  Or to come out and volunteer to help support the event.  And of course to tell all your friends and neighbors to buy tickets and bring their families.

Up in the Air

We have made much progress with the use of the Buildings and Grounds bucket truck this summer.  Here however, Jim Leonard is stuck up in the air when the truck mysteriously stopped running and we could not get him back on the ground without some climbing.

Changing Gears

So we went to PLAN B.  Jim Leonard and Victor Humphreys are up on the front end of the plow roof applying the first coat of finish black paint.

The Cutting Edge

Jim Leonard worked with a brush to cut in the separations and detail around rivets, etc.  But Look!  You will see a new headlight installed on the front of the cab/cupola thanks to Dave Rogan's work earlier in the day.

By a Nose

We continue to chip away at restoration work on the front nose of the plow.  Lots of hard to reach areas around the anchor casting and coupler.  Remember, the entire coupler and train line air pipe were to be removed when plowing snow.  Jim Leonard is down off the roof and adding primer.

In the Shop

John Mc Kelvey is making good progress in the shop as he reupholsters the second chair for use in the cupola.  The frame has seen repairs, steel surfaces primed and painted, and the aluminum brushed and clear coated to protect it.

This sure is not the same summer as last year.  More rain and only a few hot heat wave temps so far.  Clear and pleasant Saturday and Sunday.  So we spent most of the time Saturday working on the Chicago Great Western X 38 snowplow outdoors, and Sunday rubbernecked like a tourist at our Vintage Transport Show.  If not a record setter, surely one of the largest in my recent memory, with over 500 vehicles on display, and seven different trains running for riders.

First of the Ceiling

Victor Humphreys is nailing up the first of the long awaited new ceiling boards inside the rear cabin of the plow.  Just a few boards at a time but a big visual impact.

Rear Roof

Bill Peterson worked in the shop the morning, cutting and fitting the next ceiling boards, and then moved on the enjoy the weather on the roof of the plow.  He made good progress attacking the rust and old paint to the rear of the cupola/cab.  Behind him you can see the last two of the eight new windows installed in the cupola, the old rotted frames still resting on the roof after being removed.

Front Area Roof

Tom Bernacki and I (mostly Tom) went to work on the roof to the front of the cupola.  As you see here only a small area remaining, then priming and the black finish enamel.

A Prime Crew

Tom and Victor are up on the roof and they primed all the new areas to the front and in the rear of the cupola.  A number of other tasks moved along including installation of the last remaining new window on the north side of the rear cabin. And the second seat frame for the cupola got some finish paint, aluminum polished up, and more new wood parts primed inside the shop.

More Roof Work

It was not all fun and games on the snowplow.  I walked by Chicago Rapid Transit 1024 and handed my camera up to Tim Peters who got this view of the south hip roof area.  Nearly all repairs are complete - new tack moldings up, and letterboards replaced.