Car Preservation & Restoration
Here are some images of our car acquisition, preservation and restoration activities. Choose different cars from the drop-down list to see a particular car's restoration photos. Most of the time, clicking on an image will result in a larger version being displayed.
 315 Enters Shop December 6, 2003: Chicago, Aurora & Elgin car #315 entered Buehler Shop under its own power. 315 experienced minor fire damage several years ago. The damage will be repaired, and badly rotted wood on the platform of this 1907 Kuhlman Car product will be replaced by our woodworking volunteers. |
 315 is brought to rest looking out the back door of Buehler Shop. The car will occupy this spot for at least the first half of 2004, as other cars such as York 163 and Johnstown 311 will visit the front of Buehler Shop. |
 Liquid overhaul December 5, 2003: Our Central of Georgia caboose X-39 received a long-overdue liquid overhaul inside a heated plastic workspace. The caboose, which is used as a bunkhouse, has its original plywood exterior, which does not tolerate neglect very well. |
 Custom metalwork for 355 November 11, 2003: One of our highly talented metalworkers has replicated the badly rusted enclosure for Johnstown 355's line switch, the main power contactor which hangs under the car. The new box--complete with real rivets and felt gasketing--fits like a glove and will protect the complicated line switch against all kinds of nastiness. |
 Basic restoration November 8, 2003: While #172 is still away, we have been preparing many items which will be needed upon its return. Step castings and other parts have been repaired, grit blasted, and primed. A shop volunteer learns about the US-13 pole base while rebuilding one for use on the car. We expect to soon have new springs made for several pole base styles in use on our fleet. |
 Four paperweights available October 26, 2003: Motors and gearcases from last weekend's truck disassembly have been temporarily placed outside Buehler Shop. Bearing caps and bearings are being cleaned and put back with the motors, which will then be moved to storage. |
 A grueling, dirty job finished in short order October 26, 2003: Hard on the heels of our recent retrucking of Johnstown #355 (see below), our shop volunteers took on the ugly task of removing old motors from trucks which will go under our coming D-39 line car. Despite the tough nature of this job, our volunteers went into overtime and overdrive, and saw its completion in just one day. |
 The most important tool on the project was by far the thermal excitation device. Large amounts of heat were applied to free bolts which have been rusting outside at another museum for many years. Other items of importance were large wrenches, big hammers, prybars, and a crane. |
 At the end of the day, the shop lights illuminate two trucks which are suddenly without traction motors. Notice the newly-exposed bull gear at the right end of the near axle. With the motors gone, the trucks can be moved without worrying about the condition or lubrication of four gear cases and sixteen motor bearings, all of which will become a real pain to access once under the car. We'll give our volunteers a break and wait a month or two before the next backbreaking truck work... Thanks, guys! |
 Within a short time, the car began to look like a trolley car "low rider", as one end was raised and placed on jackstands and blocking. |