January 2025

 The New Year saw work wrapping up on the floor framing and tie rods therein.  Work continued on installing a temporary floor in the car and elevated platforms alongside the car for work on the roof area.

The needle beam bolts were installed.  Here a nut is being threaded onto the bolt underneath the car.

Then it is tightened.

But it is a two person job!

The beams were held in place with pipe clamps while bolts were placed.  This clamp can be removed now.

This shows the heads of the bolts in the intermediate and center sills.

Another item to be completed before the temporary floor is installed is replacing the horizontal tie rods.  This one goes across the end of the car on the west.  Holes were drilled in the sills for the rod.

The holes have to line up.

Ron is drilling the outer sill for the rod.

These are the chainplates where the truck chains will be attached.

This shows the rod in place detoured around the chainplate.

Now the temporary floor can be installed.  Dean is putting down 2x4's so the floor can clear the various bolt heads in the sills.

The elevated side platforms were installed as well.

December 2024

 

The shelter fabric worked loose in the winds.  It is held in place by rachet straps around the base and some of these had to be reinstalled and/or tightened.

It is a long way down there for a big guy!

Mike is cutting one of the supports for the side platform to length.

Ron is drilling for a horizontal tie rod.

The washer and nut will be recessed.

Installing a block between sills.  Note the cutouts on the ends for tie rods.

The two needle beams under the car are deteriorated and need replacing.  These are held in place with bolts and are used in conjunction with the long horizontal trusses to support the center of the car.

This one is removed.

The new needle beams are white oak.

Craig is predrilling a spacer block for the fastener to hold it in place.

Predrilling makes putting the screws in much easier.

Two new spacer blocks in place with cutouts on the ends for tie rods.  The square washer for the rod on the left is at the bottom of the photo, in the end sill.

Thanks again to Don for help with the photos.

More to come!  HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

November 2024

 November was a transitional month with the lower framing largely complete.  Preparations were made for work on the upper part of the car as well as continuing with installation of floor spacers and tie rods.  New plates were fabricated to attach to the inner sills on the west end.  Those on the east end are still usable.

This is a view of the inner sills on the east end showing the plates extending from the end sill toward the center of the car.

A closeup of the east bolster area.  One bolt is still present in the side plate on the left.

Cutting the new plate to size.

Cutting a notch for the horizontal tie rod.

One new plate in place.  Notches were made for the bolster in the upper part of the photo and the horizontal tie rod in the lower part.

This shows the tie rod better inside of the end sill.

After the side plates were installed spacers were placed which were a different size than in the rest of the car.

Another view of the spacers.  They were made by laminating 2 inch boards.

Platforms were planned along both sides of the car to work on the upper part.  First the car was centered in the structure using pipe rollers.

Not sure what the outer end of the come-along was attached to...

Care was taken to insure the care remained level and square.  In this photo they are measuring a diagonal.

Fitting of the fascia board over the east door.

Work was begun on the side platforms by installing temporary rails on the side of the car.  These are at the same height as the horizontal pipe of the shelter behind John so that the platform will be level.

Yup, it is level!

Craig has made the platform supports that will attach to the car rail and rest on the shelter pipe.

This photo shows the platform supports in place.

The platform supports are hooked onto the rail by beveled surfaces.

Work continued on the plate on the north side of the west end center sill.

Again, notched out for the bolster as well as the tie rod.

Looks good!

The plates were then attached to the center sills with lag bolts.