Afternoon everyone. Will be starting regular updates for the Huckleberry Railroad back shop here in Flint MI. I'm going on my first full year with the railroad, and hopefully many more to come! Not much news is commonly spread here in the back shop anymore about what's going on so thought I would share.
After completing a successful 2021 season after a year off from Covid, things have been slowly getting back to normal here with work progressing. Work continues this winter with annual work.
All the passenger cars have been washed, cleaned, prepped for storage, and car annuals. Ex Alaska Railroad No. 152 has been separated from its tender and is currently receiving its 92 - day service inspection. In the restoration shop cars 20, and 104 are currently receiving some heavy overhaul work.
Also, propane heaters are being affixed to the shop for more adequate heating. I will try going forward to provide monthly reports of what's going on around the Huck. Things are looking good!
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December 30th was the last day of scheduled Christmas runs. No. 152 did a fine job. Here she is backed in the shop for cooling, soon annual maintenance, and other items will be addressed.
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Last week here 152 sits on track 2 in the main shop building. Work regarding 152 has been sidelined so other crewmembers can finish washing, and storing the passenger cars. Since then washing of cars is complete. When I'm away from The Henry Ford next week I will start its 92- service day inspection, starting with a boiler wash.
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In cold storage awaits the freshly washed, and cleaned cars for their annual inspections. 1 one of the cars is awaiting its turn in the restoration shop.
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Here in the car shop, I spent a couple of days last week assisting Brian and 2 others working away on car 20, and ex EBT flatcar 104. The cars were only supposed to receive minor touch-ups...
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Car 20 was only supposed to receive a new end beam and to have the walls raised so water could have a drainage point. Here in the photo that is not the case. Upon further inspection, the car was in worse shape than thought. The work has been upgraded to new posts, end beams, intermediate sills, new flooring, and new sides.
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Car 104 will most likely be taken out of service due to the extent of damage due over the years that the car has accrued. I will not cover it all In this post. The most notable is the framing of the car is in dire need of repairs in some spots. Under the belt rail and paneling, it was revealed that water has seeped through over the years and has caused the square tube framing to deteriorate. I and Brian have found other various points along with the car with issues just as severe as this one. We will be splicing in new sections, and welding them in place to reinforce the good material left.
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With the shop boiler providing inadequate heat at times and no longer being a reliable source the decision was made to install propane unit heaters. There will be several throughout the main building.
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The fan-favorite of the Huck Ex D&RGW 464 is sitting in the newly constructed storage barn awaiting its mandated 1472 inspection. We haven't forgotten about her. We are currently reviewing details, and gathering data for what the scope of work is that we want to address during the rebuild, stay tuned.
There will be more to come in this February!
Take care.