From The Headlight March-April 2014
Central Pacific 29
Starting the 2014 Restoration Season
By Mike Manson
Last year the Society submitted a grant application for $1,200 to the Union Pacific Foundation for funding of replacement panes for CP 29’s clearstory windows. In early February the Foundation notified us that they will not be able to fund our project due to budget limitations. Being turned down in our request this time is unfortunate. But we will apply again this summer for funding of the pedestal pattern and castings. As received from Channel Lumber in 2012 the four end beams, four wheel pieces, four transoms and eight safety beams were sawn to the correct profile but slightly longer than the original pieces. Last fall the ends of each piece were rough-shaped with a large band saw to match the original. Then we began the final shaping. Each tenon has to be trimmed, shaped and beveled on its leading edges, and the corresponding mortise must be enlarged and deepened with hammer and chisel as necessary to get a tight-fitting joint. The process is a slow one because the oak timbers are dense and tough.
This January we continued with the final shaping. A few more work sessions will be needed before all the joints are properly fitted and assembly of the frames can begin. Just as when we worked on Caboose 1, the ten pieces of each frame will go together quickly and be pulled tightly together with new and refurbished bolts and rods.
