Entries by Robert Kutella

The project has seen considerable work being done more or less behind the scenes.  To give a short summary of the progress, below is an approved concept sketch of what the front of the building might look like.

Facade

We have settled on a site, three lots, on our Main Street alignment, and developed a pretty good description of the building specifications.  It is envisioned as a steel framed permanent structure with clear span of 50 x 70 feet.  Those specifications have been sent to many possible contractor bidders and prices have been coming in.  There is the building of course, but also the other things that go along with new construction.  That includes, site preparation, electrical, concrete work, mechanical and heating, specialty windows and framing, the masonry work, storm water remediation, insulation, finish site work and grading, etc.

Interior

We have also developed a very preliminary Space Use Plan for the interior space.  I stress that this is preliminary and many good ideas are on the table.

But of course, the next step is to get the building.  It looks this will run between $125K and $150K so donations are urgently needed to accumulate funding.  We will not go for a building permit and place orders until we know we have enough on hand to pay for that.  As a reminder, donations may be specified to restricted fund RMRD.

Rapid Transit Restoration

To change the order of things a bit, I thought you would all like to see the west end of Chicago Rapid Transit 1797.  Tim Peters has been working on this end and now it appears to be complete, shiny paint, all the extras installed and in place.

East End

And here Tim is being helped by Victor Humphreys as new end panels are getting installed.  Sharp eyed viewers here may notice that this car was moved to a new spot over the weekend, and is now on Track 42.  Tim is rapidly approaching the point where the majority of this car exterior is done, from the roof down to the bottom of the car sides.  Do not worry, Tim is not one to take a rest and most of the car interior still needs attention.

More Herald

The Great Northern 70104 hopper also shifted its spot.  Victor set up a relocated scaffold and I managed to transfer the remaining artwork to the car side and started on the white lettering.  You will note the guide lines for adjoining letters and border.  Why am I so slow?

Art Work

Bill Leider is restoring lettering on an early photo mural showing Pennsylvania Railroad steam.  The item was damaged and if you read these entries regularly, Henry Vincent has constructed a frame and mounting backer.  Bill is a talented graphic artist and he is painstakingly touching up damaged areas.

Windows

What would shop work be without WINDOWS?  Early in the morning we reassembled and glued up one of the clerestory windows from the Sand Springs 68, and Victor here is sanding a repaired window sash for Boston & Maine 1094.

Beading

Whenever new sash are made, and in many cases when sound sash have to be reglazed, the small 'beading' must be recreated.  You simply cannot go anywhere and purchase the correct cross section and in matching specie of wood.  Victor and I fabricated something over 100 feet of this small mahogany molding for some of our Pullman car windows.  In this case it resembles a quarter round with 5/16 inch radius but is cut assymetrical with two differing straight sides.

Rear Bench Seat

The worker bees for Cleveland Transit 4223 were not idly watching the other work, although many of them continued to receive the safety review and training.  But Lorne Tweed has cleaned, primed, and painted the sheet metal box for the rear seat in this PCC.