One of our members is working on the restoration of a semi-trailer at our museum. He is unsure of the color of the roof. White? Silver? Gray? Or.....? Anyone know for sure?

Thanks.

Les Beckman (Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum/North Judson, Indiana)

Les.. ( and the group ) ..

thought you wouldn't mind if I posted the REA semi trailer at North Judson that I beleive you mention from my recent visit... Sincerely appreciate the hospitality during my most recent visit with you and your group, and I really must say if you have not taken the time to visit with Les and the group in North Judson while in Chicago ( or in the area ) , it is something that is absolutely worth the short drive...

thanks again Les....


Dean Levin

Dean -

Thanks for the very kind words.

Yes, this is the REA trailer that has been moved into the Shop building in the background of Dean's photo, and which HVRM member Tom Travis has begun restoring.

Les

Sooty black from the exhaust of the tractor is all I've seen. You probably won't go wrong using aluminum trailer roof coating for heat reflection and longevity on top where it won't be visible, and run the basic side color right up to the edge of the top.

dave

Thanks to all for the infomation on the REA trailer. Dean thanks for posting the REA
picture. The bottom half of the trailer has been wire wheeled and primed. The REA
signs are coming off and polished. The signs have baked enamel lettering and just
shine up real nice. I have 2 side doors that need to come off the trailer and totally
rebuilt. The rust comes off real easy and I've got a couple of good spots for the
green sides. Some surfaces need to be covered over, as one spot had a fork lift
pierced the end. Some metal work needs to be done where rust has completly ate
away the metal. The rear fold up door needs work, it won't stay up, springs may
be detached. I have not looked at the top, but I was thinking aluminum trailer
paint is a good idea.

Anyone wishing to help on this project, HVRM, North Judson IN, Saturdays 8-5PM.

Now if only that Mack truck we had could be returned to pull it around, only wishing.

Tom Travis HVRM Restoration Dept

Just out of interest, what is the make of the trailer, and do you know about when it was built? The "REA Express" lettering suggests a late-REA era piece of equipment.

Nonetheless, very very neat. Trailers are one of those things that you don't see restored, or preserved. Now, just find an REA tractor, or you can pose it backed up to the freight door at the depot.

I will check the make an date next time I go to North Judson. I will ask a member
at HVRM, who is a truck driver, where I could find a good used tractor for display
purposes. Good idea. Thanks

Tom Travis HVRM Restoration Dept

http://hoosiervalleyrestorationpage.blogspot.com/

Visit the HVRM Blog

Another thing we have talked about doing is putting it up on our Trailer Train (ex-PRR) 50' flatcar as a display. Tom deserves a lot of credit for taking on this project.

Les

Nah, I'm not going to go visit Les until they have their Model 40 running. :-)

Just kidding, somehow I'm going to figure out a way to get a trip to that area.

Greg

Greg -

Well, we actually DID have it running (on one engine) a couple of years ago. I have a couple of photos of it running up and down one of our spur tracks. Unfortunately, the "powers to be" said it was smoking too much and shut it down and the young man who was working on it has not returned. I still have some hope that maybe, some day, we can get back to it.

Les

[quote="Les Beckman
Greg -

Well, we actually DID have it running (on one engine) a couple of years ago. I have a couple of photos of it running up and down one of our spur tracks. Unfortunately, the "powers to be" said it was smoking too much and shut it down and the young man who was working on it has not returned. I still have some hope that maybe, some day, we can get back to it.

Les[/quote]

I remember that. But it is such a cool engine for switching and training because of is great visibility and small size and really simple engines that its a shame they don't use it. If the electrical is intact and works, you can pull one engine out, and literally rebuild in a garage. Done that more than a few times. And it runs great on only one engine.

Greg

The 40 is out of the question for now, it needs 4 new wheels to start with, and needs some serious work. Yes it did run, and it put out as much smoke as a tire fire. Being that we run on the general system, it is out of service for the time being.

Yup, bad wheels are pretty much a game changer. But having operated one for round about 20 years, it still is a sweet engine for what it is intended. A little long in the wheelbase and you feel it going through short turnouts, but those big windows make for a nice airy ride.

Jason -

Thanks for the comments. Yes, the wheels on the Model 40 are bad. And yes, it needs some serious work. And yes it smoked, but as much as a tire fire? Photos are attached. No one ever expected it to run on the general rail system, but it would have made a nice shop switcher.

Les

Just out of Curiosity, does anyone know of any other REA truck, trailer or boxcar (or a railroad box truck) needing restoration? I think it would be a fun little project.