The shop at Sheepscot has been a very busy place over the winter, with major work continuing on No 9, but also seeing the creation of an entirely new reproduction refridgerated boxcar. Car 65, a recreation of the original car 65, has basically materialized from thin air over the last 4 months inside the shop!

A few photos taken as the project began last fall, and then yesterday, showing Stewart Rhine applying primer to the interior of the car. No 65 will see brief service on the railroad before being trucked downtown, where it will be displayed on the Wiscasset waterfront.








All photos: Stephen Hussar

Sweet piece!

There's nothing static about the WW&F Museum. They've always got something new cooking up there. Looking forward to seeing their latest creation out on the line!

/Kevin

Its fantastic. I so envy you guys getting to work on that stuff at the WW&F.

What kind of wood are those timber sills?

Which coupler shank is on it, the two-rivet of the three-rivet?

You guys are awesome!

Stephen -

As usual, I am in awe of what you guys are doing. But, I just looked at the photos a second time and noticed the windows in the replicated refrigerated boxcar #65. Did the original car actually have windows, or is that just what was needed for the future display in Wiscasset?

Thanks.

Les

Les, yes the original car had windows. Apparently there was a dispute between the railroad, and the creamery over the creamery attendant riding for free each day on the train. Windows were added to the car so he could sit inside the reefer and be able to see out!

David, the sills are of oak harvested from the property.

Car 65 is being lettered as seen in the photo.

Stephen

Nothing thrills me more than seeing a new milk car!

:-)

Rob

So, Car 65 was not only built within a four month period, but was built using materials harvested from the land along the WW&F? That's smart! If only every museum had such a source of materials in ready supply in their own back yards, then restoration of wooden coaches wouldn't be an issue. I believe the term "green with envy" applies here.

Stephen,

Great photos as always. I had the pleasure of briefly stopping by the museum last Saturday (the shop was a busy place!) it was great to see this project and the progress on No. 9 - in the flesh if you will.

Mega Kudos to the crew!

The sills are douglas fir resawn at a Maine sawmill from beams shipped in from the west coast I believe. The end sills and carbody framing is oak from the museum's property sawn at my friends sawmill in Massachusetts. The flooring is pine from trees cut down for the museums new parking lot, cut at the same mill in Mass. The couplers have 3 rivets.

If this works you can see how fast this car came together. This is a link to the oak logs being sawn for the car in early October 2011. http://s148.photobucket.com/albums/s5/b ... =slideshow

The crew at WW&F is truly an inspiration to us all!

Craig Brinkman
www.arpcp.org

Great pics Brendan, thanks for posting the link here!
Yes, end sills are oak and stringers are fir, sorry for any confusion.

Stephen

Can you imagine being forced to ride inside a refrigerated car in winter?

Also, note the close up photo of the beam end. Note the large wood grain. This is the difference between today's wood and original wood.

In Maine, in winter, it's warmer inside the reefer.

dave