scince you are finishing more projects in the workshop, you may want to start on 3007's wooden parts due to the whether and humidity and such.
and then the steam department will take it from there.
why i gave this idea in the first place is because it is known to be a candidate for restoration.
i know what you said on the other email about 2050, but you guys were really itching to restore it fully ever scince you obtained it in 1995 ( when Raphael, [the one who sends nick these emails about new ideas] was born.)
maybe you guys can start buttering it up.
howa boutit :-})
I think the short answer is that everything in the IRM collection is a 'candidate' for restoration. In many respects the woodshop is somewhat of a service arm to most of the other departments and we get involved in a lot of projects.
Any project needs two major things - funding and volunteer resources to do the work. Even a crew of one guy committed to working on nothing else can accomplish much, but probably not even a 'cosmetic' restoration on most items.
Something seemingly so simple as the recent tank car restoration we did took almost five years due to a variety of unforseen hurdles. As the complexity of a project grows, it makes good sense to assemble a good plan and estimates for cost and timing - if nothing else as a reality check before things start getting dismantled.
Off topic, Eric, but tell us about the violins.
Bob Kutella
As to Home Depot or Lumber Liquidators they are not in the business we need. NONE of what I have seen there is any stock or species suitable for use in car restoration work. Even for home repair and handyman projects I would walk away from most of what they sell.
As to steam, we can only hope that someone in the steam department can give you a firm answer. But there are literally YEARS of work in the pipeline now. First, the 1630 which we all hope can run this 2010 season. Whether it does or not, the tube time is about expired and it may well be down for a few more years starting in 2011. Next in line is the Shay which is hoped will be operating in 2011. The UP 428 is ongoing but best case would be 1-3 years, depending on how much time is spent (lost) on the other two locomotives. There is still interest in the 26; firebox, smokebox, tubes, and running repairs on the 101; and the little American Creosote engine has been stripped down and would be of a more manageable size to complete the needed work. It has always been a favorite of mine, despite the fact it will never run fast or pull 10 car trains.
Above comments from what I hear discussed - NOT a plan from the DEPT.
Bob Kutella
yeah with ACW 7,
it can be what it was built for and that is a switcher to work with Joy #2. i was kinda thinking about 201 doing the same.
since you where thinking on 101, why not C.E. #5 too?
this came up to me. that for each project, you can have a piggy bank for each one that you elect.
and you can have a sign that says High school/collage students/graduates welcome to volunteer.
and for replaceing the fiberglass on 1630's firebox, there is some fiberglass in menards or the home depot.
i saw this car on ozark mountain railcar and that is a replica ( except for the 2 ends ) of Abraham lincolns funeral car for $10,000.
As for a 'piggy bank' that is how we are set up now to receive and accumulate donations in restricted funds for each piece in the collection.
High school kids may not be a good choice without adult supervision since you must be 18 to work as a volunteer, and sign the waiver.
Insulation? We use rigid blocks and I have not seen such material at the big box stores.
Bob Kutella