It was off to a good start for 2012 as we had our first work session of the season. Our top priority was to start the project of replacing staybolts on #4. With drill bits in hand we got underway.
Those in attendance today were: Joe and Jay Monty, Bob DeWachter, Colby Miles, Kyle Collins, new recruit Tim Jones, (recruited by Kyle, thank you Kyle) and Hans Brandes. Not everyone could work on #4 so we tackled additional projects outside since it was a nice day and there was little to no snow on the ground.
Joe, Jay and Colby worked on the drilling staybolts. Colby and Jay took turns being inside the firebox while Joe was on the outside. The process was to drill using increasing drill bit sizes until the stay could be separated from the sheet. Once the stay was out, the sheet was then prepared using a cone grinder. Joe had determined which stays were to be removed. Once things got underway, stays started coming out. Today, we were able to removed 3 stays and we think we can do 4-5 day. Given, that we have to do 20 stays, we should be able to get through this during the spring,
In the mean time, work on box car 60 continued. Hans, Kyle, Colby and Tim were able to move all of the seat cushions to car 55 (the roof on 60 leaks badly). Once done, Kyle and Cobly worked on removing old tar and felt paper that was on the roof. The showed that a large portion of the roof is rotten and will need to be replaced. Some more siding was also removed. Bob finished powder coating the fittings for the new door. They look great.
Tim also did a good job of cutting up the pallets into firewood and putting it into the wood box car. We will continue to work on cleaning up the yard area by either cutting up, salvaging or getting rid of junk piles.
Bob and Hans looked potential ways to shore up the older portion of the engine house that has sagged. No real perfect solution at this time though it looks like using some of the extra ribs lying around will be the most cost effective way to go. No one wants to spend money on a structure on property that we don’t own.
Our next work session is officially in two weeks on Saturday, February 11 though there might be some people down there next Saturday. Until then.
