A friend of mine recently sent me a couple of photos of the new tool and support car which is going to be used with Soo Line 2-8-2 #1003. I thought I'd try to post these since I haven't seen them yet on RyPN. Nice thing is that MILW 10559 has been pretty much restored "as built" with running boards, friction bearing trucks, original lettering, etc. Hopefully the photos will come through okay.

Les

Thanks for posting this Les. My new todo list is get out and see this SOO #1003 in action and maybe see about volunteering with her maintainence crew. Until recently I only glanced over postings and pics of this locomotive. Not sure how I missed it, but she is one good looking and much larger than I remembered Mike. Saw a few pics of her out recently and I was impressed. And in my own backyard. I am ashamed that I haven't been paying more attention to #1003 or the group keeping her alive. This group is impressive for all the accomplishments they have had. Hopefully she will not need heavy bearing work, now that she is ready to go again.

Cheers, John.

John -

I should have also reported that MILW 10559 was given a ABDW brake valve upgrade, COTS and a full mechanical inspection before the repainting. Also, a couple of members of the 1003 group cleaned, inspected and repacked the cars journal boxes.

Les

Can you re-post the pictures at higher resolution? I would love to look at the details.

I see a refrigerated boxcar...... Where is the tool car??? ;) Old wood interior....no windows, no ventilation, no cutting, no grinding.... Not very useful as a tool car but it will look good in a photo freight.

A note worthy point about this car, IT HAS NOT BEEN RESTORED!!!!! It is as it left service save the new paint job and ABDW (WSOR mandated) brake valves.


Jason

And I'd love to be able to do it Steven. But I am just happy that I was able to get the photos posted to RyPN at all. Most of the time, I am not that lucky. If anyone else is able to do it, please feel free to go ahead.

Les

Jason -

As it was explained when these photos were sent out, tools used for 1003 when out on the road in the past, had been carried in an accompanying caboose, or on the deck of the Mike's own tender. This MILW refrigerated boxcar is what the group decided to use as a replacement for the way they HAD been doing it. It is their decision. To me, it seems a much better option.

Les

Interesting. I see your point, but it begs the question of "what is/isn't restoration?"

Jason, the journal boxes were also cleaned, inspected and repacked.

I think there are different degrees of restoration:

1. A car is in decent shape except for its paint job. Repainted and miscellaneous items also taken care of at the same time = Restoration!

2. A car is in decent shape but is repainted into an earlier paint scheme and miscellaneous items also taken care of at the same time = Restoration!

3. A car that is in a horrible, rundown condition that is heavily restored and then repainted = Restoration!

There are a lot of degrees in between. I guess it is all in the semantics. In the case of MILW 10559, the car was repainted but will not be used for its original purpose (I don't think). I still think this is a restoration. Maybe others will disagree.

Les

Looks and sounds to me as if they are using it more as a "tool storage car" rather than what usually associates with a "tool car" (former baggage car, with shelving, work benches, machine tools, generator, etc.)

For some operations, you don't need to take the whole machine shop with you, though in some cases, it helps.

It always amazed me how long the old Southern program got away with using the "possum belly" on the tender, and tender tank top for their "tool car" on over the road trips.

Lighten up, guys! Remember that the 1003 group has just come off their 1472 day inspection. It is pretty impressive that they have the resources to even acquire their new tool car. Give them some time to customize it into something that more closely fits the definition! I volunteered on a trip a couple of years ago and believe me, using their immaculately restored cabooses for hauling tools and supplies is NOT the way to go. Anything is better than what they were doing. And now they have a "real train" to haul behind the locomotive instead of just a couple of cabeeses!

I guess that is worth pointing out....though so common place in the world of entering a car back into service I didn't think of mentioning it. I was there as all of this was being done but that was months ago and I've slept since then.



To keep proper credit going in the correct direction.... The "group" (The private owners) only allowed the locomotive to go through the 1472 day inspection. The project was proposed and payed for by Mr. Bill Gardner and the Wisconsin Southern Railroad.
Having said that, the volunteers that had been involved with the locomotive over the course of the project really made it possible to be completed in the amount of time it was. I cannot even guess how many, many thousands of hours were cumulatively contributed.

And yes, it will look quite nice behind the loki with either caboose. In terms of an actual restoration performed by the group of owners and volunteers completely unassisted from contractors.... I do fully wish they had an online gallery for the milwaukee caboose depicting the before, after and process between. That car was an absolute disaster when acquired and to see it now one would never know or even guess the lengths which were gone to.

Cheers, Jason