Chicago Great Western X 38 Russell Snow Plow

Another unusually nice weather day saw many volunteers going on and in the Chicago Great Western X 38 snowplow.

WOW

WOW - the iconic CGW Corn Belt Route herald was completed today and it really sets off the north side.  Some of the crew for today are seen here, Dave Rogan, John F, Victor H, Jim Leonard, and Bob Kutella.  Thanks go to Rich Witt for volunteering to snap this image, mostly one of us is behind the lens instead of in front of it.

Control Cab

Jim Leonard went up on the roof quickly to take advantage of good weather and he set to work removing rust and paint from the window posts and framework on the north side windows.  Dave Rogan also pitched in here on the 'high wire' work.

Herald

John F pitched in with me on the painting of the CGW herald.  Not done yet in this pic but we were focused on the end zone throughout the day.

Progress

Jim L is working to close up the open windows on the control cab at the end of the day.  You can see some of the roof cleaned and primed, the headlight mounting plate, etc.

In Closing

I just cannot resist another shot of the plow showing the new herald, the two new windows installed and lacking only the new door (already made) to pose this view as 'done'.

Other progress on the plow today included installation of some more of the interior lining, and removal of the two operator's seats up in the cab.  This was done now to get fabric on order for re-upholstery and also to make more room for the window work.

It is time to start separate entries for our snowplow work again.  Yesterday was perhaps the first Saturday with weather good enough to move outdoors and resume work on the snow plow - our coming out party at the Spring Cotillion.

Rear Wall

In the plow interior Victor Humphreys is nailing in the last board for the interior wall wall lining at the back of the plow.  Some tricky work as we neared the top and had to be creative to get the boards in place.

Backlit Photographers Society

Yes, this is a poor image - but I get a free one month membership in the Backlit Photographers Society if I use it here!  The second new shop made window was installed on the north wall - all the trim mitered and fit almost perfect.

Framing Timber

Bill Peterson is at the radial arm saw to cut new framing timbers for the plow interior, these destined to allow interior lining for the roof.  Buzz Morrisette went out of his way and showed up early in the AM with a car load of new wood, and we wasted no time in taking the measurements and creating short pieces from long pieces.  Then Bill and I planed these to thickness, cut notches to clear structural angles, and drilled recesses to clear rivets.

The Tally

Here is a pile of new parts cut and fit, ready for painting during our next session.  The two new framing timbers, and 23 short pieces of new lining to start that work on the south side wall.  Add to the count the completion inside the plow of the rear lining, one new window, and then Victor installing four more pieces of wall framing on the north and south sides.

OH NO DEPARTMENT - In the background of the picture is Nick Kallas on his cell phone working on a new equipment acquisition for IRM!

I said we had a large turnout and we also had an aggressive work plan for the X 38.

Moving Time

The first order of business was some cleanup and relocation of pieces of our new lumber stock so the Berlin Sander could be used.  Three new windows were previously glued up and now it was time to sand them finished.

Oiling Around

As John Faulhaber put it, "Any of you guys want to beard the lion?"  John is mentoring Dave Rogan and Jim Leonard on their first exposure to this 12,000 lb machine.  First step is to lubricate and check the 96 bearings on the machine.  Another one of our great collection of wood shop machines, many from the Milwaukee Electric Cold Springs, WI shops.  In due course the machine was started up and the three new window frames were finished successfully - that is not always a given with a machine now 98 years old.  No pics of those steps as I had my hands full.

Trim

With the windows sanded we went to the table saw and trimmed off the stiles, and then put a bevel on the bottom rail.  They are ready for prime painting and here Dave Rogan and Jim Leonard are cutting and mitering some of the 1/4 inch quarter round we made to retain the glazing.

Had Enough

I guess this is a rhetorical question with this crew.  Time for some fussy work to set up a jig and use the table saw to cut all the tenons for four more 'kits' for new windows.  John Faulhaber is doing the careful work of slicing thin pieces off the rail to create the cheek of the tenons.

Assembly

Final fitting was done on the kits for two more plow windows, these destined for the rear of the control cab.  Then on to assembly and gluing with John Faulhaber doing the honors.

Two More Done

There they are, all glued up, squared up, and clamped in our gluing press.  John checks square again and makes some fine tuning adjustments.