Lots of Fresh Paint

A couple of weeks ago we were happy to host an United Way Day of Caring group of systems engineers from Pratt and Whitney. Among other things, they got some painting done on 18. They touched up the sides where John and Steve completed the patch panels and added fresh stripping to the ends.

Completed patches and new paint

The Operations Department has jumped on to helping out with improving the appearance of the operating fleet. They have started with 1326. Operations Manager Justin Chasse and Chief Motorman Roger Pierson touched up paint on the sides and added the missing striping and number to the south side. Motormen Aiden Nies and Owen Dalton repainted the floor.

1326's newly added number and stripes

 Owen at work on the floor of 1326 (photo credit Aiden Nies)

Finished floor in 1326

Work also continues on 3001. The armatures from motors 1 and 2 have been sent out for rewinding. The field coils have been removed from the motor casings. The end caps and gear cases have been cleaned.

Adam, Brian, and Galen work on removing field coils

Lou and Galen work on separating field coils

3001's East End Truck Further Disassembled & Back to Work on 18

Today the crew jumped right back into working on disassembling 3001's east end truck. Galen cut out the stubborn bolt holding motor 2 in place and it was removed. The truck was rolled outside and, with help from Tim and the Pettibone, the frame was lifted off the axles and placed on supports in preparation for sand blasting. The crew, Galen, Adam, Lou, and Brian, completed some further disassembly on the truck, removing the brake shoes and other details. They also removed the armatures and brush holders from motors 1 and 2. Elsewhere, Fred continued working on preparing interior pieces for refinishing while John worked on a door mechanism.

Tim lowers the truck onto supports using the Pettibone

Lou works on disassembling the truck

Motors 1 and 2 are partially disassembled

Fred works on removing old paint from an interior piece

18 was moved back into place outside the shop so work could continue. Kelly and John finished welding the last patch panel on the south side. Then Kelly did the first patch on the north side. Both patches got a coat of primer to keep them from rusting.

John works on 18

3001 Transferred to Shop Trucks

Yesterday saw the completion of an important milestone in 3001's restoration. With the help of the Trolley Care Program participants, the car was transferred to shop trucks. To start the day, Kelly, Galen, Adam, and Katy shuffled 3001 over the pit to remove cotter pins from the ends of the center pins. The car was then returned to its home side of the shop and the team was joined by Christopher, Julia, and Lou. The car's east end was jacked and the truck rolled out. Using the Case loader, the truck was shifted to the pit track and a Type 5 shop truck was loaded onto the track in front of 3001. The truck was pushed under the car by hand and the car was lowered, wood spacers being added to level the car on its new truck.

Shuffling 3001 to the pit track (Video by Adam Kruase)

Lou and Adam jack the east end of the car (Second photo by Katy Krause)

East end truck out from under the car (Photo by Katy Krause)

Setting the east end truck down on the pit track

3001 was then towed outside with the diesel and the jacking and truck transfer process was repeated on the west end. 3001 moved past the switch and its west truck was rolled onto the pit track before the car was pushed inside. The diesel then fetched both trucks and pushed them inside the shop after the car.

West end jacked and truck removed, east end truck is already replaced

Katy and Lou rig up a shop truck to the Case while Galen's watches

Galen lifts the shop truck to bring it to 3001 (Second photo by Katy Krause)

After a short lunch break (Thank you to Larry Bryan for coordinating our lunch this time and to Rob Brogle for starting our day off with doughnuts!), the team went to work on the trucks, starting with the east end one. By mid afternoon, motor 1 had been removed from the truck. By the end of the day, motor 2 only had one stubborn bolt between it and removal. Unwilling to drag out the torch so late in the game, we'll start next week by cutting this bolt out.

Katy, Lou, and Galen work on removing the gear case from motor 1

Adam, Lou, and Galen remove more of bolts that are holding motor 1 in place

Motor 1 is hoisted out of the truck (Photos by Katy Krause, Adam Krause respectively)

Inspection of the 4 motors reveals damage to all windings on the armatures. We will need to send the armatures out for repair. This costly step will be helped by a grant, although additional donations to the project are highly appreciated.

Diesel 1 is looking sharp in its new primer, thanks to John. The winter rebuild he performed proved its worth as the little locomotive has regained all of the power it had lost over the last few years. The fuel tank makes a very nice addition.

Diesel 1's nice new primer