The first photo shows preliminary placing of the flat steel bracing with the lower cross piece in place. A second will be added in the upper left part of the panel, and all will be welded together to form an "X", and to the upper plate and lower angle piece. This will be done to all four end panels.
In this photo Craig has made the spacing blocks for the sills and they have been assembled as shown. There are mortises between the blocks and the sills to add stability.
Next we began reinforcing the needle beams with steel. Earlier, Craig had spliced wood into the ends replacing portions that were rotted. The steel is a squared U-shape that will be recessed into the beam. Cuts were made longitudinally in the beams and the center routed out so that the steel will be flush with the wood.
We had to chisel out channels for the steel as shown in the photo at right. It was a very tedious process and Craig and I worked on it for quite a while. Greg ("shop foreman" at the Trolley Museum) contributed a mortise chisel as well as some labor.
This photo shows the steel in place in the beam on the left. Craig took the other one home and shaped it for the steel in much less time on his table saw.
This gives me an opportunity to thank the folks at the Trolley Museum for all that they do for us in letting us occupy space, providing help or equipment when needed, etc. We got to return a favor on Monday the 19th of August when they received this PCC from Pittsburgh, and Craig and Lenny helped unload it. The interior is in as good a shape as the exterior, and hopefully one day it will travel the streets of Colorado Springs. Thanks to Ron O. for the photo. The TM will be receiving some equipment from Denver soon, and some of us hope to give them a hand with that as well.
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