Coach 8 - Official Work Thread

[Bill Baskerville]

Here is an update for both the away crowd and the Maine crowd who only see the Coach 8 part of this project.

Randy Beach, Jason and I have been doing preparation work for the Spring Work Weekend project to install Baggage (handicap) Doors on Coach 8.  We are using the attached Jackson and Sharp drawing of how the W & Q modified the coach as our guide.

Randy is working on Coach 8, I am creating the doors and Jason is keeping us on track and coordinating our efforts.  There was a picture of Randy working on coach 8 posted earlier on the forum, but I have lost track of where it is posted.

If you look closely at the attached picture of the new door frames you can see that the mortises have been cut into the two stiles and the bottom, mid and top rails.  The next task is to cut the tenons into the rails and mullions.  Then slots for the bottom panels and the top glass will also have to be cut.  The bottom panels have not as yet started yet, but I have located a large board to be planed down for that purpose.  Parts for two doors are at the stage in the photo.  I couldn’t get white oak, so the wood is red oak.

One of the issues I have been struggling with is how to get the doors, which are becoming heavier and heavier as the parts are created, from Virginia to Maine.  At first I thought of putting them on carrier rack behind my larger car.  That however, would create a lot of wind drag.  I then thought of putting them on the roof, but I now realize they will be too heavy for that also.  The good news is I just found someone who will lend me a small trailer upon which to transport them in April.

The plan is to open up the Coach 8 side and install one or two of the doors during the SWW.   I am sure Randy will be looking for help making the final modifications to Coach 8 and mounting hardware, painting and staining.

Brakie Bill

[Mike Fox]

I am so glad this is finally being done. I have been pressing this idea for years. I know our handicapped patrons will appreciate it.

[Thomas Evans]

Is it going to have the gold striping & say "Smoking Car"?

Tom E.

[Ed Lecuyer]

FYI, a much better scan of the Coach 4 drawing is in Two Feet to Tidewater, page 253.

Is coach 8 going to be modified so that there is a handicap door on both sides of the car, or just the east-facing side?

Will the partition be moved to the point indicated in the drawing (closer to the baggage door), or will it stay where it is (at the center of the car?) Will the baggage end windows be closed off (as indicated as "probable" in the drawing.)

[Bill Baskerville]

I was originally asked to only make one door.  I am making two because it is easier to only set up one time.

I don't think the partition will be moved.  I think Randy's plan is to only remove two windows for the new door.  It does appear that he is working on both sides.

Bill

[Mike Fox]

I took this on the 3rd of February

[Bill Baskerville]

Mike,

What did the other side look like?  My understanding was that the South side of 8 was going to receive a door.  If Randy is only doing the North side, perhaps the plan is to turn Coach 8.

Is that water damage stain just under the roof?

Bill

[Bill Baskerville]

Mike,

Also, how do you post a picture the size that you posted within your reply?  When I us the "additional Options and attach a file it puts it under my text and I can only use a very small picture.

Bill

[Mike Fox]

Bill, I use a photo host website.

The south west side is the only side Randy has worked on so far. The plan is to turn the car so the door will be on the North East side.

[Bill Baskerville]

Mike,

Thanks, that makes sense.  That way the Baggage (Handicapped) Door will be where the freight shed is widest which is where folks in wheelchairs tend to congregate.  It is also nearest to where the ramp is stored in Fred's Office.  It is nice to know that someone up there is always thinking things through.

I think the eventual plan is to put the second door on the other side at a later time, yet before the Saw-Shingle Mill siding facilities are completed so those who need special assistance can get off there on the West side to view our activities.

Bill

[Paul Uhland]

Since two doors are now being built, will be hauled to site,  and  similar install mods can easily continue across the car, why not just hang both doors when they arrive and be done with the whole project, easily in time for this season's run schedule? Also, it won't matter which way 8 travels , would  provide access/egress on either side.

[Ed Lecuyer]

[Moderators Note]
Portions of this discussion have been moved to the "Members Only" section of the WW&F Forum.

[Dave Crow]

Bill,

I'm not sure if you remember, but when Coach 8 was at Edaville, vandals set fire to it and it had a major rebuild from the floor up.  Others can correct me, but I believe the damage to one end of our Coach 3 (if you look inside the access hatch into the platform roof area, there is charred wood) occurred then, as Coach 3 was coupled to then-numbered 26.

Nice work on the doors!

Dave Crow

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

Door installation on the other side of the car would take more work because the steam heat pipe runs under the bench.

[Paul Uhland]

Having handicap doors on both sides of 8 would be a great advantage  and well worth the extra work re-routing the steam pipe. How often is steam heat used?