December 2015

December saw work continuing on the end platform tie rods as well as installing trim on the roof.

There are several tie rods in each platform, and in this photo Bob and Bill L. are reviewing a photo of the configuration taken prior to dismantling of the platform.

This photo taken in January 2011 shows two rods next to the (near) inner sill and one along the inside of the (far) outer sill.  It is apparent that the rods were bent and did not extend straight through.

Bill and John are pulling a rod through holes that have been drilled in the wood and steel.  Note the steel on the end sill of the car not present previously.

Bob was in the pit under the car pushing, twisting, and pounding the rod through.  Some bending was needed to get through the holes as mentioned in the previous post.

Meanwhile Craig was fitting trim pieces on the roof.  A little chisel work was needed to make it right.

And on it goes.

Don and Debbie were working on the upper sashes of the windows putting pegs in the frames.

Finally Santa stopped by for a visit and Debbie welcomed him to our project.  Hopefully she got to give him her Christmas list.

Goodbye, Santa.  Have a good trip!











Thanks to Tom for some of these photos.

November 2015

In November we continued working on the roof, underside, and platform tie rods.

Don and Jim are installing the finishing pieces on the soffit.  Access was an issue but working from the inside of the car seemed easiest.

Not a lot of room to maneuver through the windows but it worked.

Looks good, guys.

Tie rods extend  from the underside of the car out through the platform framing and are threaded at the end of the platform to hold the framing in place.  Here Bill K. is drilling for one of the rods.  Another hole can be seen at the right edge of the photo.

In this photo Bill K. has gone below to push and pound the rod through while Bill L. and John help direct the end.

A little bending was necessary to make it through all the holes in the wood and steel.  The hook on the end to the left in the photo hooks on to the bolster.

The rod is in place but needs to be cut where John is pointing and then threaded.  A hole will be drilled in the end sill that Bill's left hand is resting on and the rod will be passed through that hole and a nut and washer installed.

Finally, two photos showing the bolster and needle beams bolted in place.  Here the top and bottom plates of the bolster are shown with an oak wedge between them at the end for rigidity.

This photo shows one of the two needle beams bolted in place.  More bolts will be added at the ends.

October 2015

This work session took place on October 31st and the weather was still mild.  Work continued on the bolster bottom plates, window trim, and the roof.

Craig has been installing the window sills as shown here.  They are notched and fitted around the posts which are located between the pairs of seats that will be facing each other.  The window frames are in place as well.

Between the seat backs (which face in opposite directions) there is a wider separation as shown here for some added privacy(?) between berths.

Plastic sheeting was placed over the window sills to keep the wood clean before sealing.  Here Debbie is cutting a sheet to fit.

The other bottom plate, I believe at the east end, was installed.  The platform sills had to be notched for it to fit, and Bob is doing this with the reciprocating saw (defying gravity again).  The sill close to the viewer has already been cut.

Now the plate can be lifted into place,  It was placed on blocks and rocked up alternately on one side and then the other.  Blocks were placed under it as each end was elevated.

Finally one end is in place and Tom is placing a nut on the bolt to secure it.

Work continued on the roof. After installing the bendy plywood and applying filler, the roof was sanded.  Good reach there, Craig.  A dusty job, however.

It is looking good - smooooth!

Tom and John are inspecting the roof (I guess).

Finally, coffee break.