We Get Around

Today Frank Sirinek accompanied me on a road trip to Rockford to deliver samples for brass castings, since he's worked with them before and has a good relationship. We took the two CA&E parts I showed you earlier and one part needed for the 1268. They will call us with a quote in a few days.

This foundry is an interesting old place. My grandfather, Frank Hicks, worked for many years at the Lindgren Foundry in Batavia, which was a much bigger plant and did only iron and steel, I believe.

While we were driving, Frank told me about his recent trip to Scranton with Nick and some others. Electric City has offered to sell us a Rio double-truck open car, which Frank and the others very much want to get. It needs a lot of work, but the price is right and we may not get another chance like this. I'm told a majority of the Board have already approved this acquisition, so it seems likely to happen. Frank says this will be a "heart-warming challenge" and he will personally follow the car back to Union once the local roads are opened again in May.

Back at the farm, I installed the hardware on three windows I had finished painting last time, and then installed them in the 319 with their window shade tracks. Six are now complete.

Then I decided to install the new roof fuse box. Here's a view of the current trolley boards. They don't look like much and don't even line up, but they are sturdy and firmly attached, so we should be able to use them temporarily. Lacking a fuse box, evidently, they just bolted the two leads together with this three-hole clamp. So while this car was running in the subway, they had unfused 750V power coming into the cabinets. It took some effort, but I removed the clamp and installed the repainted fuse box.

Ah, that looks much better. I haven't put the actual ribbon fuse in yet, but we don't have DC power in Barn 2 anyway, so there's no hurry.

And I noticed these panels, obviously a test of the Aurora Gray color with lettering for the 451. We're looking forward to a bright Futura!

Then I went to Barn 4 to repaint some more window shade tracks. At the same time, Rich Witt was painting his frame for the 409's sign box, which he adjusted for fit today. And while we worked, Rich and Scott were discussing various types of fine cigars, a subject about which I knew nothing. IRM is always a very educational institution!