Coach 9 - Official Work Thread

[Philip Marshall]

We used white oak specifically because it has closed capillaries which do not allow air to leak readily as opposed to red oak, which could leak air readily.

These structures are technically known as tyloses. They're lateral ingrowths of xylem parenchyma (often from the rays) that fill up the conducting vessels over the course of the first growing season after each growth ring is laid down. Tyloses are also why white oak is used for barrels and casks, which are never made from red oak if you want them to hold liquid, and why white oak tends to be more decay resistant than red oak - which is almost certainly the value of tyloses in term of evolution. You will often see old red oak trees with rotten hollow trunks, but white oaks are almost always solid even at hundreds of years old.

Harold, I'm amazed at your craftsmanship. Bravo!

[Mike Fox]

Meanwhile, back in Sheepscot, this is the current condition of the frame. Marcel has also been working on the truck assemblies, but I did not get a picture of them.

[Mike Fox]

Marcel and company have been working on the truck frames..

[Ted Miles]

I just read in the newsletter that Harold Downey moved from Texas to Maine in order to be closer to the museum! Now that is what I can a dedicated volunteer!

Harold, Thank you so much for all that you do; the new WW&F #9 should have a brass plate somewhere to thank you. I know it would have been built later; but thanks to your shop and your skills it will be much sooner!
Ted Miles, WW&F Life Member 

[Keith Taylor]

I just read in the newsletter that Harold Downey moved from Texas to Maine in order to be closer to the museum! Now that is what I can a dedicated volunteer!

Harold, Thank you so much for all that you do; the new WW&F #9 should have a brass plate somewhere to thank you. I know it would have been built later; but thanks to your shop and your skills it will be much sooner!
Ted Miles, WW&F Life Member

Ted...Harold’s son Alan moved to Maine...not Harold.

Keith

[Harold Downey]

Yup, I'm still in Texas.  I completed the doors (two of them), here's a couple of pix:

[Bill Baskerville]

Harold,  You are truly talented, dedicated and a boon to our museum.  Thanks for all that you do.

[Bill Reidy]

All I can say is WOW!

Thanks Harold.

[Stephen Lennox]

Double wow! Harold those are some damn fine looking doors..... Thank you.

Steve Lennox

[James Patten]

The door seems narrow - is it the camera distorting the image somewhat?

[Mike the Choochoo Nix]

Those look nicer than store bought ones for a house.

[Graham Buxton]

The door seems narrow -

Not to worry - its designed to go in a narrow gauge car! 

[Harold Downey]

The door seems narrow - is it the camera distorting the image somewhat?

The camera does make it look narrow, but it is certainly not wide.  21-7/8" to be exact.   Not quite up to ADA standards, I'm sure.

[John Kokas]

Think of the bright side, it's about an 1 1/2" wider than the economy seats on some of the discount airlines. 

[Jeremy Jordan]

That is some amazing workmanship!