Well, we are still chipping away at CNR 6167 in Guelph, Ontario.

One of our volunteers has been busy pretty much singlehandedly restoring the cab. When I was at the site this past Tuesday for a work session, he had recently finished cleaning off the brake stand, using Oven Cleaner and Vinegar to strip the paint and remove decades of crud, with absolutely fantastic results. Perhaps we should have just clear coated the entire brake stand and left it natural!

Last year, a small roof was constructed over the coal bunker, which we plan on using as a storage space. On Tuesday, some of our members were busy painting the inside of the coal bunker with Silver paint, to brighten up, in its roll as a storage space. Next we will construct a floor and shelving in the coal bunker.


Lastly, any ideas on Squirrel repellant? There is a squirrel living inside the turret of the engine and he's been dragging all kinds of crap underneath the boiler jacket.

I had a sweet little kitten a few years ago with one gimpy leg who was a mighty hunter of squirrels. She supplied us with many rear clips with plumes intact, but by the time I found them I didn't want to use them for Brunswick stew. I'd look for a good hunting feline, they also make very good company for the crews.

dave

Ammonia seems to work as a Squirrel repellant, spray a 50/50 water - sudsy ammonia or old gym socks soaked in ammonia.

-Hudson

Try the stinkiest moth balls you can find. They work on skunks as well as squirrels, etc.

An old pest control trick for attics and under house treatments.

Harry

Mothballs are a great idea. See? You remove the asbestos and extend the lives of squirrels. Is there no justice?

beautiful work. and that fence doesn't look tall enough to protect anything. and no fence on the other side? brilliant.

Yep, sheer Brilliance!

I've had the best luck with .22 repellant.....mld

Nice job on the brake stand. Would the original finish be gloss black?

Some kind of black I guess. after seeing what a nice job my buddy did of cleaning them off, I almost wish he just give it a shot of clear coat and leave it as is!

Were you guy's able to find replacement brake handle's?

I think Dave S picked some up somewhere Peter.

Joe,
While it looks pretty, considering where you locomotive is (on public display, no security cameras, etc.) I would HIGHLY recommend that you paint over ANY brass you find. Better to have painted brass than to have no brass!!! And don't paint it brass color--the vandals aren't that bright, and would mistake brass paint for real brass.
With battery powered tools (saws-alls, etc.) stuff can be removed in a hurry--they don't care what damage they might do in the process. We had a number of whistles stolen off displayed locomotives out this way by just cutting the special (expensive!) heavy brass elbow connecting them to the steam turret. Haven't found them yet, and that was a number of years ago. I think I know who did it, but no proof. . . . .

No kidding!

I've tried stressing these sorts of points to the people who made the decision not to build a fence around the locomotive, to no avail.

I wonder, if everyone in the preservation community were to write to them with their own horror stories, it might at least make them realize what a terrible thing they've done.


Peter: Grant and I managed to cobble up a set.

Joe,
I think the posters here would be happy to write--give us the contact info!
I have more horror stories than just those two--and these are locomotives within fenced and lighted park locations.
WP 164 on display in park in Oroville; about 12 years ago, fence cut, Tender WP porcelain logo plates removed; never recovered, Windows constantly broken--in spite of plexiglass covers; all gauges taken, 6 years ago Whistle sawn off, cab electrical components removed. (these were partially recovered later!). Cab often used for homeless shelter/teen drinking??.
FRR Shay, Injectors stolen (same time as whistle on 164), Generator regulator, Displacement lubricator, Sight Glass (does this sound like a parts search??). Injectors recovered with 164's electrical parts--Sight Glass sold on eBay, couldn't get local police to back me up to recover (and at the time I was the City Curator; in charge of taking care of the locomotive displays!).
And yours has NO fence?????? EGADS!!!!