LIRR P72 Coach Renovation

eehiv · **Joined:** Tue Feb 28, 2006 8:54 pm **Posts:** 1336

CMRR P72 Coach 2949 (formerly 2977)

In 2023 the CMRR renovated P72 Coach 2949. Work consisted of replacing most of the floor, the heating elements, and windows. Some photos of the renovation are shown below:

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=278008
http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=278009
http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=278010
http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=278011
http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=278012
http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=278013

EH

JAA · **Joined:** Sun Oct 15, 2023 4:25 pm **Posts:** 3

Always nice to see one of these given a proper renovation. Was it expensive to replace the whole floor? I've heard bad floors are the reason so many of these cars ended up stored or scrapped by tourist lines.

eehiv · **Joined:** Tue Feb 28, 2006 8:54 pm **Posts:** 1336

Not expensive but tedious! We did the same renovation with our P72 No. 2911. We also had lots of shorts with the baseboard heaters so replaced them with new ones that use a thermostat control.

All of the P72s have had floor issues mostly near the trucks. We have been told that road salt from highway crossings was the culprit.

EH

Alan Maples · **Posted:** Tue Feb 13, 2024 8:55 am

Looks like nice work. I believe Western Maryland Scenic has recently renewed the floor in one of their P72s. We've done two complete floor replacements in old CNJ clerestory roof cars. Sometimes it's just better to start over than try and patch what's there.

- Alan Maples
Everett Railroad

diningcartim · **Joined:** Fri Sep 20, 2013 2:34 pm **Posts:** 197

eehiv wrote:

All of the P72s have had floor issues mostly near the trucks. We have been told that road salt from highway crossings was the culprit.

EH

The road salt issue is why the LIRR built a new car wash in Babylon, upgraded the car washes in Ronkonkoma and Richmond Hill, and is planning a 4th one in Long Island City. My understanding is that the Feds have demanded regular car washing just for this reason to protect the Federal money involved in purchasing the equipment. Car washing is now considered to be part of regular maintenance.

eehiv · **Joined:** Tue Feb 28, 2006 8:54 pm **Posts:** 1336

When the floor was removed quite a bit of steel that supported the floor needed to be replaced. We also replaced the sheet metal that held the insulation under the floor, but did not put any insulation back in. We noticed that the insulation retained moisture which contributed to the deterioration of the floor as well. EH

Richard Glueck · **Posted:** Tue Feb 13, 2024 11:49 am

Often rode these cars while in LIRR service. Curious, how will the exterior be painted?
Nice job, and thank you!

eehiv · **Joined:** Tue Feb 28, 2006 8:54 pm **Posts:** 1336

We paint them CMRR Burgundy with a black roof and a white stripe on each side.

Here is the 2911:

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=227260

You can see them during Polar Express in this video:

https://youtu.be/LG0bR43au5w?si=64mCExBK0kcGajLF

EH

PMC · **Joined:** Sat Oct 17, 2015 5:55 pm **Posts:** 2872

eehiv wrote:

CMRR P72 Coach 2949 (formerly 2977)

In 2023 the CMRR renovated P72 Coach 2949. Work consisted of replacing most of the floor, the heating elements, and windows. Some photos of the renovation are shown below:

EH

For the heating elements, do you use the existing power cables on and between the cars, HEP power cords between cars, etc.?

eehiv · **Joined:** Tue Feb 28, 2006 8:54 pm **Posts:** 1336

We installed HEP throughout the cars. We have replaced the heating elements in 2 of the 5 cars so far. EH