September-October 2025

During this time installation of the decking on the lower roofs was completed and work begun on the decking on the upper roof.  On the third Saturday in September the Trolley Museum sponsored a "Be a Friend, Bring a Friend" open house in which the Friends of the C&TS participated to help increase interest and volunteering in our organizations.  Car 163 was cleaned and prepped for display on the prior work session.  Paint removal inside the car continued also.

Part of the temporary floor was removed to show the framing for the display.

Part of the side platform on the south was removed as well to better show the construction features.

One of the door headers with the car number was also on display.

At the west end the lower roof decking is nearly complete with a little work remaining on the outer edge on the south (right) side.  The center under the clerestory also remains to be done.

A later photo showing decking in place under the clerestory.  One board remains to be fitted.

The last one is the most complicated!

This photo shows a crack in a lower clerestory sill which needs to be repaired or reinforced before the clerestory decking can be installed.

These lag screws were inserted across the crack through the clerestory pillar from above and below the crack to stabilize it.  Weight limits on the clerestory roof were also observed.

In October work began on installing the clerestory roof deck.

It looks like they are starting on the west end.

Don Atkinson posted this photo on his email summary of the work session showing some of the original hardware on the car.  I think it is a good example of the fairly primitive (by current standards) but sturdy construction techniques in use in the 19th century.

More decking material has been brought up to the clerestory roof.

The lower roof over the platform on the west side is now complete.

The decking was cut to length with the chop saw inside the car.

Fitting the boards.

Making progress.

Here is a look at  the progress at the end of October.

Meanwhile paint removal from the interior wall continues.

 

August 2025

 The lower roof decking is largely complete on the north side and work began on the south lower roof.  Installation of the ceiling underneath the lower roofs was also initiated.

Craig brought the material for the lower roof ceilings.

This was stacked inside the car.

The crew started installation.

Another view.  The outer boards were put up first.

The chop saw was brought into the car to save some steps.

A nail gun is better than hammering upside down!  Most of the north side was done by the end of August.

The new upper roof carlines have been installed.

We welcomed Dean back for a visit after a horrible accident last spring.  It was wonderful to see him standing on two healing legs.  He and Craig are looking at the carlines for the platform roofs.  They are cut at different angles in cross section to create the sloping curves of the roof.

This photos shows how some of the carlines are angled.  Most could be reused.

Carlines are being installed in the platform roof.

This photo shows the platform roof with the carlines in place.

This is a view from below.

Thanks to Don Atkinson for some of the photos.

June-July 2025

Work continued on the lower roof decking and the overhangs at each end.  The clerestory ceiling was removed and the carlines replaced.

 The chop saw was brought into the car to save some steps.  The lower roof decking on the left (north) is nearly completely installed.  We are looking toward the east end of the car.

This view is toward the west end of the car.

From above a view of the north lower roof looking east.

The north side looking west.

The south side looking east.

The south side looking west.

This is the northeast corner  from the inside.  The steel angle piece is bolted in place and will eventually be covered.  The birds have been busy over the door.

This is a view of the west end overhang showing new framing for the roof.

The east end framing has been replaced as well.

The southwest corner showing the overhang framing from above.  A couple of deck boards have been installed.

The northeast corner where almost all of the decking is installed.  The drip edge has yet to be done.

A view of the ceiling shows considerable water damage from roof leaks.  The ceiling boards will be replaced.

This is a look at the top of the ceiling at the west end after the roof decking was removed.

The same view looking east.

It was extremely dirty between the roof decking and the ceiling so cleanup was required prior to removal of the ceiling.

Vacuuming as well as scraping.

Mike is installing one of the edge boards.

Holes had to be drilled in the edge boards to accommodate the heads of the tie rods.  The blue arrow points to a tie rod and the corresponding hole is just above.

Craig and Mike are drilling one of the holes in an edge board.

By the end of July the ceiling was removed.  It looks like the upper deck carlines have been replaced as well.