A new sandblast cabinet has
greatly helped our work. It can
hold larger items, it’s
freestanding saving the
operators back, and most
importantly, it works!
Car 135 "The Birney" Work
Wayne Russert continues
working on the electrical
components for the car. He is
dedicating one day a week
doing the work in his shop at
home. He has numerous
tools there unavailable at the
barn. He’s fabricated metal
panels for the operator
controls for the lights and
indicators. They will probably
be black crackle painted to
appear as the same era as
the car. The panels will hold
controls and indicators not
originally used, such as air
brake low pressure warning
indicators, required by
modern safety requirements.
Once these are installed and
wired the next step involves
restoring the two seriesshunt
controllers and the
heavy gauge wiring
underneath the car.
When tour groups pass
through the barn the Birney
receives numerous admiring
comments. The work of Jeff,
Neil, Vince, and everybody
else on the Birney crew is
much appreciated.CS&IR No. 59 Restoration Archeology by Greg Roberts
With warmer temperatures the work pace on ’59 picked up. Not only do some materials
require warmer temperatures, so do fingers. Structural defects in the lower frame are
being repaired one by one. Some of these have contributed to the historical record of
the car. A charred spot on the interior of one end sill was about 5 inches across and
just over half an inch deep. Located where a choke coil and the lightning arrestor were
mounted it indicates lightning gave ’59 a nasty jolt at some time. Given the
thunderstorm activity in Colorado Springs this is no surprise. Adding to this Mr.
Dodson, who purchased the car body in 1932, storing dynamite in the car during its
service as a work shed we’re lucky to still have it. Good thing lightning didn’t hit the
car with the dynamite in there!
Where one center sill and a bolster sill join, a small piece broken off of the center sill
had been nailed back into place. Since the repair was under the original flooring the
repair was done at Laclede during construction of the car. Due to some added
deterioration around the broken piece it had to be removed so a new piece of wood
can be spliced into place, called a Dutchman. Since the long sills were Long Leaf Pine
the same material will be used for the repair. The replacement pine came from a
World War II warehouse torn down in Texas over a decade ago. While paring down the
center sill spot to fit the new piece the smell of the resin in the pine wafted up.
Shavings were collected and put in a bottle. How long it will last we don’t know, but
for now we have preserved a smell the workman at Laclede who built the car would
have experienced 110 years ago.
Removing the floor revealed a nasty looking hole just over an inch in diameter passing
through a center sill at a 45 degree angle. It had been plugged with caked in mud.
Such a defect in any structural member would not pass any building or structural code.
Properly cleaned and filled with structural epoxy it will pass muster. The origin of the
hole: a knot in the timber which apparently worked its way out years ago.
The ends of the car were covered with vertical Poplar wood panels covered with heavy
gauge sheet metal. Removing the sheet metal on one end revealed faint pencil writing.
It was where some workman marked the number of the panel on the car during
construction. Although this piece can’t be reused, it will be preserved.
Some added information about the car’s future history. Uhrich Locomotive Works has
completed the replica U.S. Type 6 trolley base. Improvements to the original design
include roller bearings, grease fittings, and shunts to pass the current around the
bearings instead of through them. The base is undergoing tests for proper pressure on
the harp. A minor problem with the spring guide twisting is being resolved with an
added keyway. The base, pole, and the trucks will ship to Colorado Springs in June.
Greg Roberts
Car Barn Stuff
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