Hi all-

I have been remiss in posting updates on projects from the Alexander Chapter/NRHS and our efforts toward building the SE Narrow Gauge & Shortline Museum. In November, 2015 after about a year's solid work, we moved our narrow gauge log car into our covered Pavilion.

The car represents an important facet of narrow gauge railroading in our region and its role in the associated rise in the furniture industry that our area of NC was built upon. We searched high and low for a narrow gauge log car with a true SE heritage, but ended up using this ex-Westside Lumber car that we purchased out of Oroville, CA. In our museum, it will represent the Hutton-Bourbonnais company, a local firm that operated in the region after the W.M Ritter Lumber Company pulled out of the territory. We purchased the car for $2500, moved it across country for another $3000, and spent another $5k restoring her. The three 9" x 9" x 32" oak timbers were custom cut and were a real bi&ch to move around and keep from warping. Drilling 1" holes, straight, across the full 27" lashed up were another challenge we had figure out as well.

We need to touch up the paint and gray stain and still install the brake rigging, but essentially, the car is now complete. Photo collage below, more photos and explanation at http://www.tarheelpress/logcar

Impressive effort on all of your parts. Reminds me of our own car shop folks and their endeavors at MC RR museum. Nice work. Regards, John.