B&SR Box Car 56 - Official Work Thread

[Wayne Laepple]

From the photo above, it appears the "windows" are actually doors hinged on the outside. They could be secured from the inside with a bracket on each side and one in the center so that they could not be opened from outside. In fact, if one on each end of the car was a dummy door, the other one would certainly admit sufficient light.

[Mike Fox]

Yes, that is all they are. Very easy to secure then.

[Bob Holmes]

The livestock being transported must have loved being able to poke their heads out the windows!

[Marcel Levesque]

The stripdown began last Thursday evening with the siding and ironwork being removed from the South end.  Last Saturday the roof was stripped of the asphalt rolled roofing and tarpaper along with what was left of a blue tarp.  I would say that the roof is 90%+ salvageable.  Applying the rolled roofing material whenever it was done did this car a great service.  There is some rot along the West side edge along with some insect damage.  Looked like the work of carpenter ants.  The fascia boards were removed along the entire perimeter and some rotted siding was removed for the North end.  The East door was removed and a general cleaning on the inside.  I evicted along of stink beetles.  Wow, what a stench!  My intent now is to remove the remaining siding to see what is salvageable before next weekend.  I, unfortunately, did not bring my camera so images are not available.  Early darkness now does not lend itself well to photographs after work.

[Jeff Schumaker]

I'm sure some photos can be taken by the week day work crew, Marcel. It sounds like some of the car is salvageable.

Jeff S.

[Brendan Barry]

Some pictures to go along with Marcel's post.

[Mike the Choochoo Nix]

Any idea why there is an extra stud on the end of the car?
Mike Nix

[Bill Piche]

Any idea why there is an extra stud on the end of the car?
Mike Nix

My guess is that's where the ladder attaches.

[Ken Berlo]

That would be the original as built ladders, each rung being bolted directly to the car side. The US Safety Appliances standard ladders would be mounted on the left side of the ends.

[John Kokas]

I'm very surprised at how good the roof boards look.  The asphalt really saved a lot of work.

[Mike the Choochoo Nix]

Now I know what I'm looking for I can see the bolt holes where the ladder rungs attached.
Thanks,
 Mike Nix

[Brendan Barry]

56 progress

[Mike Fox]

Marcel has been carefully removing the siding, making his restoration plan.

A shot of the framing, where the angle brace was cut to form the opening of the window.



This brace that goes to the corner is very solid. He will not know until the roof is lifted how good the tennon is on the bottom of it.



What I find interesting are these brackets. They are on one side of the car only. I think they were for a ramp, and were added when the windows were cut in. Possibly the ramp was only needed on one side. Time to dig out a book and look..

[John McNamara]

It amazes me how derelict that car looked, but what excellent "bones" it has - and the roof is fabulous!

[John Kokas]

Like the old saying:  never judge a boxcar by its cover .....