Monday, February 13, 2012

At the Carpentry Shop...

The Carpentry Shop at McEwen was built by volunteers in Baker City and used to restore Heisler number 3 to service. After the locomotive was completed, the shop was dismantled and reassembled at the yards where it was used as an engine house for the number 3 until the backshop was completed. Volunteers from the Sumpter Valley Railroad and the Western Railway Preservation Society have been cleaning up and improving the facility for several years with the intention of making it a useful resource for the restoration and running repairs to the heritage and excursion fleet.

The main project under repair in the Carpentry Shop at this time is Denver & Rio Grande Western outfit sleeper number 04951. This car is owned by the Western Railway Preservation Society and is being rebuilt to full service, as well as being improved for use as crew quarters for the volunteers of both organizations. The above photo was taken in the summer of 2010 and shows the condition of the car prior to restoration. It had lost its original trucks when it was put on the ground as a bunk car in Monarch, Colorado and is seen here temporarily riding on a pair of Stoddard Lumber Company trucks that were originally from the Colorado & Northwestern. 

To acquire an appropriate set of trucks for the the number 04951, a trade was arranged with a private collector in Kansas for an original set of Denver & Rio Grande arch bar trucks. In this photo the replacement trucks have have been delivered and are waiting for the boxcar, Colorado & Southern number 8027, on the left to be lifted on to them. 

Up off a pair of Denver & Rio Grande trucks.

Down on a pair of Colorado & Northwestern trucks.

When the original siding was removed, it was found that there was a door in the "A" end of the number 04951. It was decided to rebuild the car with this feature to improve access. The new siding is an exact copy of the pattern used when this car was originally constructed.

New side doors needed to be constructed as well as the originals were in terrible condition. 

An improvement over the original design is the addition of insulation throughout the car. Not only does it massively improve the overall comfort for people staying in the car, but it also helps reduce fire danger. During the dismantling stage it was found that the only insulation the car carried previously was limestone dust and a few old newspapers. 

New couplers for the number 04951. This car had what is known as continuous draft gear where the couplers are connected by a rod that runs the full length of the undercarriage.  

 New end brackets for the roofwalks, the one on the left is an original.

Another improvement is electric lighting and outlets. While the car will retain its historic exterior, the interior is being rebuilt with comfort and utility in mind. However, steps are being taken to ensure that the interior will appear period when completed. 

The original boxcar flooring was overlaid before the new flooring goes in. 

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