January 2026

The new year saw work continuing on the roof edges with installation of the nailers (trim pieces on the letter boards).  Also, copper flashing was fabricated and installed around the base of the clerestory.

The interior ceilings are finished.  We had visitors peering in the door of the baggage car while on tour with a Trolley Museum docent.

This photo shows how the lower roof edge was finished with the outside row of decking overlapping the nailer piece.

Fastening the nailer in place.

Then it was sanded.

A completed edge.

This is a detail of one of the roof corners showing the side trim pieces beveled and the end pieces not yet installed.

This  photo shows Ron at the brake bending the copper sheeting for the roof flashing.

Strips of copper flashing ready to be installed.

The copper is bent to conform to the wood.

Moving right along.

Interior paint removal continues.

We are close to starting to cover the roof on the overhangs.

This is a bundle of "bender ply" which is very flexible plywood, aka "wacky wood," which will be used to cover the curved roof of the overhangs.

This photo shows that it does indeed bend.

 

 

December 2025

 By the end of December the clerestory ceiling and most of the letterboard were installed.  Paint removal from the interior also continued.

About half of the clerestory ceiling remained to be installed.

The boards were cut to length with the chop saw.

Then "blind nailed" through the tongue with an air nailer.

This photo shows one end of the clerestory ceiling.  The underside of the decking above is seen on the left.

For comparison this is a  photo of the interior end of the car before dismantling.

Earlier I had shown this crack in the lower clerestory sill.

This has subsequently been repaired with long screws.  In addition the weight (number of people) allowed on the roof has been limited.

Installation of the letter board has begun.

These were fastened in place with screws.

The lower roof decking overlaps the letterboard.

In the last work session of the month the ceiling was being completed.

For a job like this it helps to be tall!

By the end of the work session the ceiling was completed.

Looks like the letter board on the south side is finished.

The north side is still in progress.  This photo shows how the lower roof decking will overlap the letterboard.

Next is sanding.

Paint removal from the interior continues.

November 2025

At the first work session in November work continued on the clerestory roof decking.  The edges need finishing off and the southwest corner is not completed.

The east end looks good.

A view from the inside looking east.

This is looking toward the west end.

Our shelter has a fair amount of head room.

By the end of the work session the clerestory was covered.

Meanwhile paint removal on the inside walls continued, a tedious job!

The wood on the interior walls is mostly in good shape.

At the second work session in November work started on the interior clerestory ceiling.

An air nail gun made it easier but still a reach.

A good start by the end of the session.

The platform overhangs are framed but not covered.

These will be covered with bender ply, which is very flexible plywood, to conform to the curves of the roof in these areas.

This is an original window frame from the clerestory that Craig used as a pattern to make replacements.

This is one of the new windows.  The glass will be held in place by quarter-round fitted into the frame, here held in place with tape.

Ron has made copper flashing that will be installed below the windows.

Many thanks to Don Atkinson for help with the photos.

 

 

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.