I'll post the status here of SRI's coach #5447 to keep from cluttering up the discussion of C&NW #175.
Like many passenger cars, #5447 experienced leaking window gaskets for many years prior to its purchase by SRI in 2019. This leakage allowed water to enter the space between the inner and outer sides, soak the insulation and precipitate corrosion of the lower body panels (much like an automobile's rocker panels). When the rusted side steel was cut out, various structural members (sides and flooring) were also discovered to be badly corroded. All of this has been replaced with new steel, the outside sandblasted and primered, new flooring and insulation installed. Welcome to the world of passenger car maintenance & repair.
There is still a ways to go, but when completed coach #5447 will be repainted into SRI's yellow-blue-gray color scheme reminiscent of the post-WWII "Pere Marquette" streamliners. We are standardizing our single-level coach fleet with ex-CNR equipment (CC&F, 1954); we own eight of them.
SRI Coach #5447
SRI Coach #5447
Bob Thatcher
Re: SRI Coach #5447
Thank you for the info thatcheb!thatcheb wrote: ↑Fri Aug 04, 2023 9:59 pmI'll post the status here of SRI's coach #5447 to keep from cluttering up the discussion of C&NW #175.
Like many passenger cars, #5447 experienced leaking window gaskets for many years prior to its purchase by SRI in 2019. This leakage allowed water to enter the space between the inner and outer sides, soak the insulation and precipitate corrosion of the lower body panels (much like an automobile's rocker panels). When the rusted side steel was cut out, various structural members (sides and flooring) were also discovered to be badly corroded. All of this has been replaced with new steel, the outside sandblasted and primered, new flooring and insulation installed. Welcome to the world of passenger car maintenance & repair.
There is still a ways to go, but when completed coach #5447 will be repainted into SRI's yellow-blue-gray color scheme reminiscent of the post-WWII "Pere Marquette" streamliners. We are standardizing our single-level coach fleet with ex-CNR equipment (CC&F, 1954); we own eight of them.
#5447 for some reason is the car I have ridden the most in for SRI excursions. Glad to hear it is getting some TLC!
Re: SRI Coach #5447
All of the rolling stock (passenger cars and cabooses) into which we put passengers get TLC. Our work priorities have always been #1 - Safety (couplers, brakes, trucks, pretty much everything from the frame down); #2 - Passenger comfort (HVAC, restrooms, windows, etc.); #3 - Cosmetic. The FRA motive power and equipment inspectors know this, and know we won't send a car out that is out of service or isn't in safe condition. Great Lakes Central Railroad also knows this and for the same reasons.
We can always use more volunteer hands. If you have skills/experience (or would like to learn), feel free to contact us; you will be welcomed. Our mechanical crew works on everything - all four locomotives on property, about 15 passenger cars, four cabooses, etc.
Also, we have a need for volunteers to guide visitors around our facility during public hours. We have informative reference materials for our Tour Guides and you will be mentored as long as you need it. Also, you get to meet a lot of very nice people.
Bob Thatcher, Safety Officer
Steam Railroading Institute
We can always use more volunteer hands. If you have skills/experience (or would like to learn), feel free to contact us; you will be welcomed. Our mechanical crew works on everything - all four locomotives on property, about 15 passenger cars, four cabooses, etc.
Also, we have a need for volunteers to guide visitors around our facility during public hours. We have informative reference materials for our Tour Guides and you will be mentored as long as you need it. Also, you get to meet a lot of very nice people.
Bob Thatcher, Safety Officer
Steam Railroading Institute
Bob Thatcher