B&SR Box Car 56 - Official Work Thread

[Ted Miles]

What is purpose of the single ladder rungs at the corner of the car?

It is looking great guys!

Ted Miles,distant but still very interested

[Mike Fox]

The single rung is a handle. There will be a stirrup below the car and the bar is needed to hang on to if the brakeman should need to be there for what ever reason (shove move for instance)

[James Patten]

It's for people with REALLY long legs to get to the top of the car.

[Ted Miles]

Everytime I look at that box car; it gets better! You guys have done a great job re-building that car into apple pie order! and I am sure it will be very useful along all the miles of track. Maybe there are some oxen in the neighborhood that need to be moved?

Ted Miles, WW&F Life Member Build 11 Contributor

[Brendan Barry]

Marcell put a coat of primer on 56.

[Wayne Laepple]

Was No. 56 one of the cars originally painted gray? That would be a nice contrast to the all red boxcars.

[Dana Deering]

From the Bridgton News, April 12, 1889:

“The first lot of cattle ever sent over the narrow gauge went down to the Junction Monday. There were two carloads of them;  18 head of fancy working oxen, belonging to W.W. Hall of East Dixfield, who, assisted by F.D. Hanson and Eden Cross, had bought them in this place and vicinity. Among them was a nice pair bought of Darwin Ingalls weighing 3900 lbs., and another pair of the same, of choice 4 year olds, white faced;  one pair of nicely matched, of 3500 lbs. weight, bought of R.O. Moulton of Sweden; and one pair, twins, very fancy, bought of Nathan Palmer”

[Mike Fox]

[Mike Fox]

The darker boards are what he was able to save of original wood.

[Ted Miles]

It has been a lon time since there was an update on this box car; I hope that the finishing work on this box can get done so it can clear the Bay for boiler work on #10 and #11!

Ted Miles Build 11 Contributor for 2023 

[Mike Fox]

I took this a couple weeks ago. The numbers are just stuck on the car. They will be traced onto the car.

[Bill Reidy]

Jay Wiley and Marcel Levesque were busy today working on No. 56.  One photo as they discussed the day's work.

[Mike Fox]

[Bill Reidy]

Saturday, May 13th photos.  A poor one showing much of the roof metalwork installed.


Marcel Levesque continuing work of the roof.

[Bill Reidy]

Marcel Levesque and Jay Wiley were busy today (June 17th) working on the car's roof walkway.  In this photo, Jay is on the roof, holding down a walkway support, and Marcel stands inside the car drilling pilot holes through the ceiling for bolts to secure the support in place.