CAR 59

During the past year most of the work funded by  the latest grant from the Colorado State Historical Fund (SHF) has been on the Taylor truck being rebuilt at Uhrich Locomotive Works in Strasburg, Colorado. Denver Electric, the subcontractor for the traction motors, reassembled them in June. Both field and armature windings turned out to be fine without any shorts or opens. Our only problem became the wool material used to lubricate the bearings. It couldn’t be reused and Denver Electric couldn’t find a supplier. Marlin Urhich called his brother-in-law, Bruce Thane who has rebuilt Taylor trucks for organizations back East. Bruce knew of a rug company in Minnesota who could supply the wool skein as it’s called It’s apparently a by product from rug making.
Uhrich has now reassembled the truck except for the motors. The first truck was already restored under a previous grant from the SHF. Sometime this winter the two trucks will return to Roswell and be joined to the car body. It will be the first time No. 59 will be mounted on wheels since the CS&IR ceased operations in 1932.
Almost two tons of hardwood, on order from Chicago since January 2009, ran into a problem. The ancient kiln at the supplier died. The kiln has been started again and the wood should be at  the proper moisture content and ready for shipment in December or January.
Meanwhile work proceeds on the roof and the lower frame. Everything on the lower frame should be ready for when the trucks arrive.
Greg Roberts