Milwaukee Road 649

Here is the current update on the Milwaukee 649.  Steve has removed many of the window frames on the south side.   In doing so he has also cleaned the car body frame, primed and  top coated each opening.  He also manufactured eleven new white oak lower wood frames in the museums wood shop.  They were made because many of the old pieces were badly rotted and discolored.  He then took them home sanded and applied clear spar urethane to them.    The next two weeks were devoted to gluing them in the interior  of each affected window.   That phase of work is now completed and we are waiting for new glass for the window frames.  New glass will be purchased in the next budgeting period of 2019.   Then the process of reinserting new gasket  material into each frame can begin.         Thanks  Roger

The picture views speak for themselves and are very impressive.  Howard, Mary and I finished spray painting one side of the Milwaukee coach in early September.  Steve, unfortunately, was not at the museum this day, but since then has been working on the exterior windows.   That project along with the repair of interior fluorescent  lightening will be covered in the next blog report.   Meanwhile with all these changes the new look of the 649 gives you an idea what the coach will eventual look like when completed next year. If you want to help us preparing this coach for next season we are here every Wednesday and Saturday.   Why not come out and join us.    Thanks   Roger  

We are still proceeding on the goal of having the 649 ready for the Happy Holiday Railroad this Christmas Season.  The work has been slow and somewhat tedious but progress has been made on all sides of the coach.  With a small and dedicated crew of three, to five, we have made real inroads.   The project was progressing slowly when a new volunteer joined the coach department and began working on the 649.  Steve Dobberfuhl is the newest member of the coach department.   He has shown us what working on a project two or three days a  week can do.  Welcome to the Passenger Car Department, Steve! After prepping the car body it was ready for priming.   Howard was on vacation so inorder to continue the progress I decided to prime the coach.  With the help of Steve, I applied two coats of Sherwin Williams grey primer to the  body.  Helping us on this project would greatly be appreciated.  The small team meets every Wednesday and Saturday.   Come on down and join us.                            Thanks    Roger