Weak 2 of 2024...

January 19:

Well, we are having another snow bomb day here in southwest PA.  I took some more photos this weak so I'm adding them on here.  I posted this page Tuesday but I did not publicize it.  Lots going on in the shop with 8042, 73 and 1713.  Yesterday, Howard, our new volunteer finished up the painting and then rust killing under 1713.  I was there on Wednesday to have coffee with Unkle Artie and said hello to Bill Fronczek who was putting another coat of varnish on the double platform sliding doors from Mon-West Penn 274.

  

Later on Tuesday afternoon I talked with Michael, Louie and Jack and discussed work projects for 8042.  Jack offered to paint the wood roof and Michael asked about installing seats.  Wednesday it was great to see that both jobs had been completed.

 

The guys also removed the next cross seat back from the center doors where we have started cleaning and rebuilding the walls and area around the heater including refinishing the steel grates and wiring.  Stay tuned for a photo of the roof.

January 13:

 I started writing this blog Saturday afternoon here at the Chateau (high above the Arden Valley tracks) during the BOMB-Cyclone.  I find it interesting that 4398, with its overpowering horn, has made several trips this morning.  4004 has been the car most all of last weekend and yesterday.  I learned that Louie Mariano was the operator for Saturday's 2 birthdays.  Not much snow laid during the day blizzard conditions on Saturday but waited until overnight. 

Jack Jost shows off new guide brackets for the rollers that go inside the control rod duct on 1713.  PCC cars have 3 rods that connect the power, brake and reverser from the motorman position to the master controller.  The controller is located under the car (no kidding!!!) just forward of the center door steps.

Above is the end result of Jack's effort.  These will be inside a duct like the one to the right in the next phase of the work.

Here's a before and after of the interior with the floor removed showing the control wiring exposed (above) and then enclosed in the new duct work which Michael Buchta and Jack Jost installed between January 9 and 14.

This is the overall picture of the rebuilding underway seen in the close-up above.

 

Shown here is the master controller that is the destination for the rods which connect to the levers near the right center of the unit.  The levers actuating the reverser, the power and the brake.

 

 In the weather

Sarah Wells woke up Sunday morning to find snow covering the ground and temps in the teens. There was a birthday party at 10 in the V&EC for which she was the operator.  She grabbed something with which to brake up the ice and freed 4398 from Track 13 of the Founders' Car House. 

 

Michael Buchta did a great job cleaning up at the W&EC so that everything was ready for the birthday party visitors in the morning and the 18 or so brave souls who visited and rode in the afternoon.