Sill replacement 9-18-10

Today effort was devoted to isolating the sill on the corner of the car under the dripping icebox.  On the right the deterioration of the wood is evident.  Approximately the 6 or so feet of the wood on this end is unsound, and the decision was made to splice in a piece to replace the bad part.  The hardware had to be removed, but was rusted.

On the left, above, a truss rod is shown in the floor framing extending from the left into the opposite sill on the right of the photo.  The rod was cut and pulled out to the right.

The sill is mortised into the floor framing as well as the vertical framing for the wall, so it cannot be easily removed by dropping it down or pulling it to the outside. 

This end of the car is being braced in anticipation of cutting the sill at point where it is sound for removal.  The metal truss piece passing through the sill also will be cut.  Blocks were placed under the corner of the car on the concrete of the pit.  A post was also placed from the floor to the ceiling (kindly lent by the Trolley Museum) to keep the ceiling in place.

More next time.