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.



This wider tread will help the car ride more smoothly and safely on our open (non-street) trackage. The wheels were forged by McKees Rocks Forgings near Pittsburgh and the axles are completely new. The bull gears are "new-old-stock" from our collection, and were re-bored to correctly fit the new axles.


But it fits almost as well as the old, and will be better supported and protected from shock and vibration.


October 4, 2003:

Not looking particularly impressive on the shop floor, this new airbrake piping nevertheless represents many hours of volunteer labor. It will pay off by making the car safer, more durable, and easier to maintain in the future.


September 21, 2003:

Volunteers have been learning another useful set of skills, figuring out how to use a new hydraulic pipe bender to fabricate new trainline piping for #172's airbrakes. All piping is being replaced with US made galvanized pipe and fittings, to ensure as long a life as possible.


September 4, 2003:

Volunteers completed cleaning of journal boxes for 355 and reassembled the truck. Bearings are being packed with new waste, and the trucks will soon be ready to go back under the car for the first time in many years!


August 30, 2003:

While looking over 355's trucks, we discovered journal boxes on the #2 truck were not cleaned as well as desired. Each wheelset was therefore removed from the truck using our Burro crane. Journal boxes were removed from each wheelset, sandblasted, thoroughly cleaned, and then replaced. The journal bearings were then packed with new lubricator pads.


August 23, 2003:

In conjunction with work to prepare Johnstown #355 for a move from Buehler Shop, its trucks were moved from Carbarn 2 back into Buehler Shop, where they will soon be placed under the carbody.

Although dusty, the trucks have rebuilt motors and new wheels and axles. The motor and journal bearings were never packed with wool waste, so those messy jobs are underway now.

At left, the trucks are shown entering Buehler Shop with the silhouette of #355 in the background.


August 23, 2003:

Rockhill volunteers visited the shop where car #172 is receiving new wheels, axles, and frame work in order to remove its air brake piping while the car is up in the air.

172 is supported by a steel cradle resting on oak blocking.


The piping will be duplicated in our shop and hopefully reinstalled while #172 is still off its truck, for ease of access.


August 17, 2003:

With final paperwork submitted to PennDOT for bidding of work on car #355, we are preparing to move the car from the rear of Buehler Shop where it has resided for a long time.

Volunteers completed drilling dozens of new rivet holes and installing bolts which will temporarily hold the #2 end of the car together until further steelwork is completed.

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