VP Lonnie Dickson aided and abetted by President Chuck Whitlock’s grandson Cadu have been hard at work stripping the east side of “our” caboose. They have also been creating magical fireworks displays grinding down the old rivets on the frame. My pics aren’t the best but I think you can see the progress:
The east side with scaffolding in place for the highest sections
Looking down the east side
Last piece of the old siding on the east side
This shot shows one of the rivets awaiting removal
Thes pics give you some idea of the magnitude of the task ahead of our club to restore #11 to operating order.
These pics give you some idea of the magnitude of the task to bring #11 to operating condition.
I just knew it! Chief Operating Officer Frank Davis has unearthed pics of Caboose #11 “back then”. The pics can be seen below.
Today we had more good historical info on #11. An old CWR/Union Lumber Company employee came to visit. He told us that #11 was built in 1936 on an old Southern Pacific frame. How about them onions!!!!!
Caboose #11 in 1936
Caboose #11 in 1963
Caboose #11 in 2018
This gallery contains the rest of the pics Chief Electrician took soon after work began.
Since these pics were taken Club Member Steve Worthen has put on his pinny and done a Grade A job of cleaning the inside. Thanks Steve.
Jim Williams is the club’s Chief Electrician. As chief electrician he made a bee line for the electrics in Caboose #11, Here’s whet his camera saw …..
Battery box in Caboose #11
The battery
Outside of Battery box
Wiring
Electrical Control; Panel
Me thinks our Jim has a bit of work here!!!
Chief electrician Jim Williams took these pics soon after we started the renovation work. As you can see the exterior is a mess. In due course what’s there now will be removed and replaced. The replacement will not be “as is” ……. to make it more passenger friendly three new windows are planned.
East Side of Caboose #11
Extreme south end of east side
South end
South end of west side
The Redwood Route insignia has been removed and will be replaced by Master Cabinet Maker Joe Cooper.
North end of west side
I’ve signed up as chief observer!!!!!!
President Chuck Whitlock and Chief Electrician put some elbow grease into clearing the detritus from the inside of Caboose #11. Stuff stored in the caboose was removed along with a a seat and a cabinet. Jim Williams strung up lights so that workers can see what they are up to.
This seat base was removed
Jim and Chuck working under the lights installed by Jim
Seats in the cupala and the ladder to climb up to them
A sample of the detritus
More rubbish
Brake pressure gauge
Us Mendocino Coast Model Railroad & Historical Society members are largely a bunch of decrepit old codgers. We bemoan the state of our bodies frequently and loudly!!!! That said the work on day 1 of Caboose #11 renovation was spent making the area around #11 safe and replacing the wood of the steps at the south end – the steps at the north end are broken.
New Walkway over the rails
Club member Lonnie Dickson did the dirty on the walkway.
New Step
Chuck Whitlock and Jim Williams fabricated a new step from plywood that was attached to the vestibule.
New floor for the vestibule
This photo not only shows the new floor fabricated from plywood that was in the vestibule but also the deplorable state of the outside skin of Caboose #11.
There’s a long haul ahead of us to get her running – that’s for sure.