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355 work progresses September 28, 2002: While woodworking volunteers have (so far) avoided the camera, there is lots of activity refinishing and rebuilding components of Johnstown 355 which will be needed for its contract restoration. Here, a volunteer fights with one last hidden screw holding a piece of electrical gear. September, 2002 |
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Johnstown #355 trucks apart again 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, 2003 |
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Johnstown #355 sees its trucks again 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, 2003 |
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Working on Johnstown #355 again 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. August, 2003 |
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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. October, 2003 |
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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. October, 2003 |
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| Before starting the retrucking process, the carbody looked like this, sitting on jackstands. October, 2003 |
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| 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. October, 2003 |
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Jacks were moved to the other end of the car and it was raised an equal amount. The jacking had to be carefully coordinated to prevent wracking (twisting) the car frame, which is relatively flexible. October, 2003 |
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With only a few hours work, the carbody seemed to be levitating more than 3 feet off the ground In actuality, it was securely supported on two lengths of 4x4 steel tubing. The height allowed plenty of clearance to easily move the trucks into place October, 2003 |
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In this view, the far truck was already in place as our skid loader towed the second under the car. In the distance, a volunteer guides chains pulling the truck into place. October, 2003 |
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With the trucks in place, the tough work began when the center bearings of the car and truck were found to be considerably out of line sideways. Here the wisest volunteers puzzle over strategy for shifting the second truck from outside the truck... October, 2003 |
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