DOWN BY THE SHOP
A group of Society members meet every Saturday morning in the back shop of the Canada Science and Technology Museum on St. Laurent Blvd. These dedicated people work to preserve our extensive collection of railway equipment. Painting, sanding, welding, scraping and woodworking are just some of the tasks performed by these members. Our work not only serves to preserve but to fully restore our equipment to operating condition, especially for the summer months. This section will give you a glimpse into the ongoing work that is being performed "down by the shop". The seasonal descriptions below of the work being done are just snapshots of all the work the volunteers do. There is much more that goes on behind the scene by these dedicated members
If you currently are a member with an interest in working to preserve railway heritage, then contact us and we can get you started. We're always looking for an extra pair of hands!
Updates
For "up-to-the-minute" detailed reports on Society restoration work at the museum visit the BRS Blog. For a brief overview of activities during the last year, see below.
Also see our Photo Gallery for more pictures.
Spring/Summer 2010
A lot has happened since our last report and the "Dirty Hands Club" has been very busy continuing their work on the Society's equipment. In early 2010, projects focused on inside jobs but with the early spring, work could start earlier than usual on outside work.
Below: In May, volunteers were busy chipping
away at the paint on the tender side using needle guns.
There was significant emphasis on the crane's tender to finally get it completed this year.
At the start of the year, there was still a lot of metal work to be done. However, much has been accomplished, including new access panels for the tank, new cross members in the tank and a metal floor covering in the coal bunker. A cold water sealer was applied to the inside walls of the tank and more primer painting was done on other parts of the tender. There were lots of other "odd jobs" to do and still more to come as the tender restoration nears completion.Despite all the work on the tender, volunteers managed to move forward on the restoration of our ex-CN baggage car, #9627. The immediate emphasis has been to visually restore it on one side so Museum visitors can see it (from the parking lot) as it once looked. At the end of April, the car was moved into the shop so the diaphragms could be installed. While inside, some sandblasting was done for eventual painting. Once the car was moved outside again, the roof received a coat of black paint and one side of the car was painted green. In the meantime, patching and sand blasting continued on the other side of the car and more work was done on the two ends.
Despite all this work, other pieces of equipment were not neglected. Work continued on rewiring the former Ottawa Central Railway speeder and this proved to be quite complex. However, the crew assigned to this work have done a great job and the speeder will be as good as new. Other volunteers continued to work on our hi-rail car (No. 26) after the engine was returned and the rear axle replaced. Car 26 will be in top condition once all the work is completed. At the same time, some work was done on the ex-CP caboose and our pride and joy, Car 27.
When summer arrived, the Dirty Hands Club gang also had to take on the various duties in the operation of the Museum's Shay locomotive. Nonetheless, work continues on our equipment. There is still lots to do so.
Fall 2009
The focus for the Fall season has been the tender again and our ex-CN passenger car No. 4977. More work was done on the tender tank in preparation for the installation of baffles. Like any restoration project, unseen deterioration was discovered after sand blasting and cleaning. Small pin holes were found in the tank that required patching. However, the work was completed ready for the baffles and sealing of the interior. The wood decking has been completed on the frame ready for reinstalling the tank and coal bunker. The baffles have also finally been installed. On October 21, the crane was fired up and the tank/bunker repositioned on the tender deck as it should be.
Next was the 4977 with the removal and replacement of the rotted nailing strips or tack boards along the top side of the car (for nailing the roof canvas). The canvas was then renailed along the edge. The dutch doors were restored and reinstalled following sandblasting and painting. Some of the moulding on the window frames was replaced (an ongoing battle with wood on cars stored outside). It is hoped to finish up some of the painting and other work before it gets too cold as the car has to remain outside.
Work also continued on several of the speeders. The trip to Wakefield was a success (see the October issue of Branchline) but illustrated some of the mechanical problems still present on some of the speeders. The new fuel and brake lines arrived for Car 26, our hy-rail car. So there's still lots more to do.
Several members of the Society's "Dirty Hands Club" discuss what needs to be done next on the crane's tender.
Summer 2009
Emphasis for work during the summer of 2009 focussed on the baggage car and the tender. Of course there was still the operation of the Museum's steam train with the Shay and BRS equipment to consider, but much work got done on restoration as well. Work got started on the baggage car's doors including new plywood and applying the metal skins over the panels There was more sandblasting and painting to be done along with welding of patches on the sides of the car. The replacement diaphragms were found in Capreol Ontario and had to be picked up. There was also door hardware that had to be removed and cleaned up.
On the tender, the frame was primed after the tank was lifted off having been stored on the frame during the winter. The trucks were shimmed to ensure the frame was balanced, a task that sounds easier than it actually was. Work began on the tender decking.
In July, there was a push to work on several of the Society's speeders to get them operation so the Dirty Hands Club could participate in a speeder run to Wakefield Quebec on the Hull Chelsea Wakefield Steam Railway. The event took place on August 15th. This include our newest acquisition, the former Ottawa Central Railway (OCR) speeder. There was a lot of work to get them in shape but the crew of volunteers made it! In some cases it was quite challenging as there had been a number of modifications by previous owners. In addition, participants in the excursion had to ensure their speeders were properly equipped, including brake lights which required a search for the appropriate ones.
Several other pieces of equipment weren't neglected despite the efforts on the baggage car, tender and speeders. Volunteers also worked on the CP caboose (painting, lettering, and installation of storm doors), crane (cleaning of ash pan and brake work) and Car 26 (the overhauled engine had been returned and new engine mounts had to be made).
This photo shows the results of painting the CP caboose by the "Dirty Hands Club" during the summer. It looks almost new with a fresh coat of paint and lettering.
Spring 2009
The volunteers have moved some activities outdoors with the warmer weather although there had been much to do inside as well. The crane tender continued to get attention with new baffles installed inside the tank. Most of the work on Car 27 was done and the painting was pretty much completed. Several new metal plates were installed in the frame to reinforce it. Car 26, our 1958 Pontiac Hy-Rail is getting its engine completely overhauled. The transmission has been rebuilt and the radiator will be next. The car should be in great shape when all the work is done. The Jordan Spreader had one post replaced and the new one was painted to match the rest. Work was also done on the baggage car including sandblasting.
VIDEO
Don't forget the short video of our ex-CP spreader in operation (our thanks to John Bryant)
Last updated: August 9, 2010
